Even in the 21st Century, fertility remains a fairly taboo subject, which means that lots of couples feel unprepared and uneducated when they decide they want to conceive a baby. For instance, many people think that as soon as they start trying for a baby it will happen almost instantly, but that is not always the case. So, even if you are not planning on becoming a parent in the imminent future, it is still worth educating yourself on your fertility and what you can do to boost it. Read on for some further information and advice from a fertility clinic in London.
Reduce Stress
Stress can have a negative impact on your fertility and worrying about your fertility can make you feel stressed, so it can be a vicious cycle if you’re not careful. Of course, reducing stress is almost always easier said than done. After all, you can’t help it if your boss is piling it on you at work, or if an elderly relative is sick. However, you can find ways to manage your stress, such as therapy or meditation either at home, somewhere local or online.
Avoid Caffeine & Alcohol
Studies have found that too much caffeine can increase the length of time it takes for a couple to conceive, so if you’re hoping to have a baby, you should cut down on the coffee. Alcohol is also a bad idea because it can change the hormonal balance in both men and women. In other words, ovulation and sperm production can both be affected by alcohol intake, and both are crucial elements of conception.
Exercise Moderately
Vigorous exercise and low BMI can affect a woman’s ability to conceive and may even prevent ovulation. For men, too much exercise can harm sperm production and reduce sperm quality. With that said, try and keep exercise to a moderate level when trying to conceive, such as a short walk each day as opposed to an intense workout at the gym.
Consider What You’re Eating
There are lots of vitamins and minerals that you could introduce into your diet to help boost your chances of successfully conceiving a child. Calcium, for example, is very important in the development of an embryo, so you might want to start drinking full-fat milk rather than skimmed. Vitamin C is great for improving semen quality and vitamin D can boost testosterone, so make sure you’re getting your 5-a-day.