If you are planning to conceive then it is important to know about all the ways to improve your fertility. Planning beforehand becomes imperative to improve your chances of getting pregnant. Infertility cases are on the rise due to lifestyle changes. Maintaining a healthy weight, adopting a healthy diet, avoiding drugs and alcohol, managing stress, and maintaining good oral hygiene are important lifestyle changes that can help improve your chances of conceiving. So let's know about those 7 measures which help in improving fertility.
Weight
Maintaining a healthy weight is important when planning for pregnancy. Hormonal imbalance can prevent ovulation and cause infertility in women of all weights. Hence, it is important to maintain a BMI of 18.5 to 24.9 to avoid complications. Furthermore, male infertility is caused by obesity, which is associated with low sperm count and sperm motility in men. Fertility can be improved by improving lifestyle and taking a nutrient-rich diet.
Sexually transmitted disease test
Get tested for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) before planning a pregnancy, as they can cause infertility. It can also lead to complications, such as preterm labor, miscarriage, stillbirth, and pelvic inflammatory disease (PID).
Quit smoking and alcohol
Smoking and consumption of alcohol are injurious to your health and the risk doubles when you are planning to become pregnant. Drinking alcohol and using tobacco products, including smoking, can harm a man's ability to conceive. Smoking affects both the quantity and quality of sperm in men. It can also destroy the eggs of women. This may increase the chances of miscarriage and ectopic pregnancy.
Reduce caffeine intake
Caffeine is a regular part of most people's daily routines. Most people cannot start their day without their daily morning cup of coffee. However, consuming more than 400 mg of caffeine per day has been linked to both infertility and a higher chance of miscarriage. Start by reducing your caffeine intake gradually.
Oral hygiene
Do you know that oral hygiene also plays an important role in promoting fertility? Poor oral hygiene can be a cause of periodontal disease, which has been linked to prematurity and low birth weight. Therefore, it is important to brush and floss your teeth regularly and visit a dentist for checkups.
Exercise
Exercising regularly is important to keep the body healthy and manage weight. You can go to the gym, do yoga or just go for a walk. However, it is also important to note that you should avoid strenuous exercise as they increase the risk of anovulation, loss, and injury.
Tension
Stress inhibits ovulation and reduces the chances of pregnancy. Hence it is necessary to engage in stress-relieving exercises like yoga, meditation, and deep breathing. Relax and stop worrying about things that may not be in your control. Also, maintain a healthy sleep schedule and do not sleep less than six hours.
However, regular gynecological check-ups and tests are also important. Therefore, a gynecologist must be contacted for regular check-ups to uncover possible risk factors and to know all the factors affecting pregnancy.
