For many couples, deciding to start a family is a joyous and exciting time. While some couples will find their path to parenthood to be an easy one, for others it can be fraught with countless obstacles and disappointments. This is the case for the 7.4 million women in the United States who struggle with infertility.
Luckily, with a few lifestyle changes and some inside knowledge on improving conception odds and fertility treatments (if necessary), these women can increase their chances of being able to build the family of their dreams. Here, the fertility experts of UNC Fertility in Raleigh, North Carolina share five fertility resolutions that can help improve your overall well-being and boost your fertility to bring you one step closer to achieving your dreams of family.
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Take Your Vitamins
Vitamins like Zinc, Folic Acid and Vitamin B6 can be crucial to the health of your reproductive system which can aide in pregnancy, helping women increase the chance that their babies will develop normally. For a full list of vitamins you need to conceive, click HERE.
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Know Your Body
One of the most common reasons couples struggle to achieve a pregnancy is that they aren’t timing intercourse correctly. Try tracking your cycle (there are a variety of apps that can help with that!) so you know when you’re most likely to be fertile. If tracking your cycle the traditional way still doesn’t work, ovulation predictor kits can help you pinpoint the days when you’re most likely to conceive.
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Focus On Your Physical Health
You are what you eat! (and drink). Make sure you dial back on processed foods and caffeine, remove any smoking products and nicotine, and cut down on (or eliminate) your alcohol consumption. Things you should add? Check out this list HERE.
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Develop Some Stress Management Skills
While infertility is not caused by stress, infertility certainly does cause stress! Psychology today has a great guide on how to manage your stress when undergoing infertility treatments. Read it HERE.
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Maintain a Healthy Weight
Being either overweight or underweight has been shown to negatively affect a woman’s fertility. Why? Women who are outside of the healthy BMI range often experience irregular or absent periods, making it more difficult to determine when (or if) they’re ovulating. Achieving and maintaining a healthy weight decreases the likelihood that your periods will be irregular and increase your chances of TTC success!
Whether you’re just beginning your fertility journey, or if you’ve been on this road for a while, we’re here for you. If you have any questions about how to improve your chances of achieving a pregnancy, or just general questions about infertility we’re here to help. If you have any questions or would like to schedule an appointment to meet with one of our fertility doctors, reach out to us at 919-908-0000.