Fertility and lifestyle

Body weight

Being overweight or underweight can affect fertility and your chances of getting pregnant. This is equally true for both men and women. In the cells of the abdominal fat, most of the male sex hormone testosterone is converted into female oestrogen due to cell metabolism. In women who suffer from weight problems, over- or under-production of oestrogen leads to an imbalance in hormones and thus reduces fertility. In overweight men, too much testosterone is converted into oestrogen. This affects sperm quality. Being underweight has the same negative effect on potency. Depending on the starting weight, either weight gain or weight loss can increase fertility in both sexes. However, this needs to be done carefully and slowly.  

Fertility and diet go hand in hand  

Pregnancy is a huge strain on and change for the body. The female body is naturally prepared to undergo this strain. However, a healthy body is stronger and more resilient and therefore even better equipped for pregnancy. Diet, adequate exercise and sleep are the foundations of your health. Everything you eat is transformed and is part of metabolic and cell division processes.   

Especially when you want to get pregnant, make sure you have a healthy and varied diet. If the body is not supplied with all the necessary nutrients, this can have an impact on fertility. Studies have shown that an unhealthy diet can increase the risk of infertility.  

Folic acid: Important for hormone production  

To produce the follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and female sex hormones such as oestrogen or progesterone, the body needs plenty of vitamin B. Folic acid also belongs to this group. Natural folic acid is found, for example, in leafy vegetables or eggs.  

However, the concentration is very low, and the vitamins break down very easily as soon as they come into contact with water. Therefore, women who want to become pregnant are advised to take artificially produced folic acid before a possible pregnancy. Folic acid is essential for cell division and supports the first, important cell division processes of the foetus after fertilisation.