Steps Towards Starting a Family
Starting a family is a desire that many people have, but if you are worried about your fertility, there are some natural fertility options that you can include in your pregnancy planning to maximise your chances. Read on to find out more.
Monitor your Fertility
In its simplest form, fertility just refers to a couple's chances of becoming pregnant. If you are fertile, then you will become pregnant at some point in time. The first thing to do in order to improve your fertility is to actually monitor when it is that you become the most fertile. Many people have trouble falling pregnant because they are having sex at the wrong times. One way to monitor your fertility is by monitoring your basal body temperature. This will help to let you know when you are ovulating as the temperature will increase just as you are about to release an egg. Keeping track of your cervical mucous and using the rhythm method will help you become more aware of your body's natural cycle.
Sexual Positions and Fertility
Different sexual positions may help as the sperm must be deposited close to the cervix in order to fall pregnant. Avoid sex while standing, sitting, or with the woman or top. Rather, try the missionary position, or rear entry intercourse. Elevating your hips for fifteen minutes after sex may also help.
Smoking and its Effects on Fertility
Smoking is one of the most common causes of infertility. When smoking, the smoke doesn't just go into your lungs and out again. The chemicals and toxins are absorbed into the bloodstream and travel to both the male and female reproductive system. This damages the system and makes getting pregnant difficult. For example, a woman's ability to ovulate may be affected as well as the quality of her eggs, while the man may find the quality and volume of his sperm being affected.
Diet and Exercise for Fertility
It is important to eat a proper diet and get exercise. The exercise will get your blood moving and more effectively transport nutrition, oxygen and vitamins to your body while also removing toxins. Stop eating foods that are high in saturated fats, salt, and sugar. You need to have a good diet to conceive a baby and carry it to term. Eat fresh fruits and vegetables, lean meats, and good fats. Although alcohol should always be avoided during pregnancy, it is important not to drink excessively before the pregnancy as the alcohol will sap the body of nutrients and make it more difficult to fall pregnant. Caffeine should also be avoided.
Being the correct weight will also help with fertility. Being over or underweight can make it harder to fall pregnant as body fat levels have an effect on the production of sex hormones.
Include vitamin C and antioxidants in your diet as these will prevent sperm defects and boost sperm motility. They will also reduce stress on the eggs and reproductive organs. Zinc is important as a deficiency is linked to reduced testosterone and semen levels. A therapeutic dose of calcium and vitamin D may help male fertility.
Stress and Fertility
Stress is a major factor in infertility and reducing stress will significantly improve your chances of falling pregnant. Mental stress will actually cause physical stresses in your body and too much physical stress will cause obstacles in the functions that are necessary for falling pregnant, such as ovulation, sperm production and so forth.
To learn more about this topic, check out this article about natural treatments for infertility. Or you can just consult a natural fertility specialist near you. Some even offer online consultation.
Originally published on Sep 06, 2008
