There are a number of lifestyle variables that can affect your capacity to reproduce. Research has concluded that around 84% of couples conceive naturally within one year if they have regular unprotected sex every two to three days. Whereas one in seven couples struggle to conceive, this being approximately 3.5 million people in the UK (NHS, 2017). There are certain lifestyle habits that can have an effect on your body and therefore, minor changes to your daily lifestyle can help to improve your chances.
To help with natural fertility below are five natural lifestyle changes you may want to consider.
Added stress can interfere with the way your body’s hormones function, and during a crucial time of conceiving you want to make sure they are all working properly. If you are dealing with a lot of stress your cortisol levels are elevated which can lead to physical and mental problems.
One way to reduce stress is to take a look at your priorities, find out where the stress is stemming from and if possible eliminate it from your day to day life. If you cannot remove the source completely work out a healthy way to cope with it and to lower the stress levels it is causing you.
Making sure the pressure to get pregnant isn’t negatively affecting your relationship is of absolute importance. You won’t get pregnant without trying so, having sex regularly and making sure you have plenty of time together is key. However, sperm does need 2 to 3 days to refresh and mature so, make sure you give each other’s bodies a chance to relax.
You want to be eating a healthy balanced diet full of whole foods that have minimal processing; eating lots of fresh organic foods will help your body absorb key antioxidants and nutrients that are beneficial when trying to conceive. A healthy diet reduces your intake of pesticides, which can have a negative impact on fertility.
Moderate exercise is good for fertility but too much vigorous exercise can have the opposite effect. Some people say they can immediately feel their mood lifted when engaging in exercise, along with better sleep and an increase in their sexual appetite. Regular exercise can help to balance hormones, and release the feel good hormone, serotonin.
If you want to become pregnant it is vital that you maintain a healthy lifestyle, and often exercise is overlooked during this time. Engaging in regular exercise helps to keep your hormones balanced.
If you are considered to be overweight or obese your hormone balance could be disrupted and in some cases lead to fertility difficulties, with obesity having strong links to the stopping of ovulation. In this circumstance you and your partner should help each other out to watch each other’s weight, as weight is not just an issue for women- being overweight can lower sperm count too. It is a good idea to speak to your GP bout reaching a healthy weight for you.
Here at Nurture Fertility, we can help you on your fertility queries, whether it’s for the first time or trying again. For more information on fertility treatments and if it’s right for you, get in touch with the team by visiting our contact page or by giving us a call on 0115 828 0246.
For more information on how Nurture Fertility can help with your pregnancy worries, including lifestyle advice, you can get in touch with a member of the team by visiting our contact page or by giving us a call on 0115 828 0246.
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