Unknown Fertility is faced by many couples worldwide. It simply means that there is no obvious medical reason for pregnancy not to occur.. In this case, lifestyle choices may give the couple the best chance at improving their odds of conceiving. Better nutrition and lifestyle choices may assist to increase fertility levels naturally, when there seems to be no other option.
What lifestyle choices can affect fertility?
The truth is, there are many. But some stand out as a common problem, and being easy ones to rectify.
ALCOHOL -- While alcohol is common in most areas of society, if you are trying to conceive it is important to remember that any consumption of alcohol by the male or female can reduce fertility by up to half.
Keeping alcohol to 5 units or less per week (e.g- 5 glasses of wine) is recommended. Drinking more than the recommended amount means a 50% less chance of falling pregnant for women as compared to those women who keep within that guideline. Men who consume more than that have increased risk of less motile sperm, abnormal sperm or a lower sperm count.
CAFFEINE -- Something not often considered by infertile couples is the negative impact that caffeine can have. Just one cup of coffee per day can decrease a couples fertility rate by half. Having similar effects to alcohol on male sperm, lower sperm count and abnormal or less motile sperm can all be caused by caffeine. It is always a good idea for men to stop caffeine consumption three months prior to trying to conceive, as it will take this long for positive effects to show in the sperm.
SMOKING -- Smoking, amongst its other negative affects also plays a role in increasing infertility. Smoking is also known to speed up menopause in women, so for the older woman trying to conceive, it is essential that smoking is ceased. For men, problems again with abnormal sperm and less motile sperm can be caused by smoking. The negative effects of smoking on fertility increase with the number of cigarettes smoked, so for heavy smokers who feel they are unable to give up, decreasing the number of smokes is a help, although in the case of fertility, going without smoking should surely be considered a small sacrifice.
While this is just the tip of the iceberg as far as lifestyle choices which have a negative impact on a couples ability to conceive, these three issues are extremely common place. Undertaking in any of these activities should ideally be ceased months before attempts at conception are made, as it takes our bodies at least 3 months to recover from the issues these practices cause.
If you are trying to conceive and can name even one of the three practices on your list as a daily or even weekly part of your life, while it may seem trivial, it is worth the small sacrifice to give up alcohol, coffee and smoking. If there is a chance that one of these things is standing in your way of having a baby, now is the time to make the healthier choice!
Join Sandra's Free Newsletter HereAfter battling Infertility for 9 years, Sandra has set herself on a journey to assist couples facing Infertility to have access to information to empower them during their journey. She also authors atSquidoo
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