Whilst an infertility book can point you in the right direction of how to get pregnant fast, this article provides you with a practical step by step program if you have decided to start a family and to support you with some basic (but often overlooked) assistance. The reality is that 85% of women will become pregnant within one year of trying. Here we are talking in general about women younger than 35. If you are older than 35 you may need to start by seeking some fertility assistance in the form of seeing a fertility specialist. A little more on that option below.
When you are ready to start trying to conceive it’s often something that couples want Now! Waiting is last on your mind and often after years of trying NOT to conceive it’s no wonder it is an exciting time to contemplate! If you have been trying for 3 months or so and you’re not yet pregnant, there are a few actions that you can take (and some you can avoid) which may assist you in your efforts to conceive.
If you are reading this article you may be in a situation where you are already concerned that getting pregnant is taking too long. Be sure to manage your expectations in combination with the advice given here.
An expectation is defines as a strong belief that something will happen. Your expectation is of course to fall pregnant. The normal steps you know, intercourse, missed period, pregnancy test and that’s it! For many couples the expectation to conceive immediately (or close to immediate!) may not be realistic, especially women in their 30’s and particularly over the age of 35 when fertility shows a dramatic decline as eggs become fewer and age exponentially.
I am not trying in instill doom and gloom or take away from your expectation as being normal, but merely to guide you should it not be happening as soon as you would like or have anticipated.
When conception is not happening, stress can begin to manifest. This can tend to exaserbate the issue as research has shown that women with high stress enzyme markers can take 29% longer to conceive versus lower levels of stress. Stress produces the hormone cortisol and the body is smart as it knows a stressed body is not the ideal place for an embryo to thrive.
If you sense you’re feeling a little anxious about conceiving and even if only to put your mind at ease, see a fertility specialist. This is especially beneficial if you are older than 35. Your gynaecologist may not always run the standard fertility blood marker tests that give you the green light your body is fertile. There are certain hormone levels that measure FSH, AMH and LH which need to be at certain levels to predict the quality and quantity of your eggs. The tests would also involve checking that your partner’s sperm is optimal for conception. This would involve him providing a sperm sample, which allows the laboratory to check sperm numbers and health. The fertility specialist will also perform an internal transvaginal scan, which checks your pelvis and ovaries as well as your uterus.
If you have been trying for some time, there may be reasons why you are not conceiving that a fertility specialist will quickly ascertain with some standard tests and even investigative procedures. A infertility book will explain that a specialist may check that your fallopian tubes (that the eggs travel down to reach the uterus and sperm) are not obstructed. Investigations to ensure you have no ovarian cysts or endometriosis. They are big words but relatively simple and conclusive tests should they be necessary.
Once you have the green light you know you and your partner are in optimal health for a natural conception. It gives you peace of mind if nothing else. It also means that, should there be a fertility issue that needs to be addressed, you are able to do so sooner rather than later. Either way you will be in capable hands and stress can be negated or managed.
A fertility specialist or your gynae will also be able to prescribe a prenatal vitamin supplement for you to take, which will include folic acid. This is important to protect against birth defects such as spina bifida and to ensure your energy levels, via vital nutrients, are available for your body which is preparing to grow new life! You can also discuss any underlying medical conditions that you may have to ensure you are ready to get going with baby making!
This is also a good time for your partner to start taking care of his sperm health. There are a number of factors that can reduce sperm quantity and efficiency in conception. Men are advised to ensure a healthy weight, cease smoking and alcohol consumption especially if conceiving is taking longer than 6 months. Raised body temperature from saunas or steam baths is also not advised. A healthy diet and lifestyle for both partners, as discussed in the FERTILITYDawn’s Conception Mindset Infertility book, means that your body will be in optimal health for conception and a healthy pregnancy. Besides focussing on proven and powerful ways in which to reduce stress that are pro conception, sperm health is discussed and I would like to share some of the sperm pointers worth taking cognisance of and which are discussed in the Conception Mindset Fertility Book on the site.
There is often a misconception that infertility relates primarily to women. This is simply not the case with about 40% of all infertility cases presented being as a result of male fertility issues. The good news is that unlike women who are born with all the eggs they will ever have, men produce new sperm cells daily. This provides an ideal opportunity for men to make the necessary diet and lifestyle adjustments to their lives which will immediately start to impact the quality and even sperm count (quantity) of sperm cells produced.
The Conception Mindset on FERTILITYDawn suggest ways in which men can make positive pro conception changes to their lifestyles where necessary. These such changes include ensuring their body temperature does not elevate which can affect sperm health. Alcohol consumption can have a detrimental effect of sperm with fewer healthy sperm reported in men consuming excess alcohol. Smoking is another lifestyle habit that can affect the sperm health in many ways.
Let’s review some basic diet and lifestyle factors that can hinder or improve sperm in general.
Besides having a general effect on health, being overweight is one of the affects sperm health because the body’s extra fat stored converts testosterone (needed for sperm production) into oestrogen. To ascertain whether your weight is an issue it should be under 30 on a BMI calculation. You can google “BMI Calculator” and input your height and weight to ascertain your BMI. If you are overweight reduce your calorie intake, stock up on healthy alternatives and if you are not already doing so, include some exercise at least 4 times a week. Exercise, especially cardiovascular exercise improved the flow of blood to the testicals. Men partaking in sports have been shown to have a 42% better sperm quantities than those we are sedentary.
Cigarette smoking is an obvious lifestyle factor that is bad for one’s health. It can also however directly affect sperm quality, quantity and the functioning of sperm. An egg fertilised by a man who smokes cigarettes has also been shown to increase the chance of miscarriage and even lower fertilisation rates. Incidentally the smoking of marijuana can also affect sperm health. Smoking is not an easy habit to overcome but if having a healthy baby as soon as possible is your goal, it’s worth the effort to try and quit smoking.
You have heard that sufficient sleep is important but did you know that it is during sleep that it is during sleep that the body produces testosterone. Not getting a consistently good nights rest can thus affect sperm production.
Some Fertility Foods for Men include: Zinc which helps to regulate sperm’s overall quality. Ideal sources from food would are oysters, lean red meat (in moderation) and lean poultry. Vit B12 is another important important addition to your diet. Good sources are included in dairy, seafood and liver. Folate is another important vitamin B which you will find in abundance in green leafy vegetables, oranges, pasta, peas and other beans. Whole grain foods are also beneficial. Increases in vitamin C have shown to play a role in male fertility. Here citrus fruit, kiwi fruit and strawberries come up tops. Vegetables to include would be peppers and tomatoes. Leafy vegetables like broccoli and brussel sprouts as well as potatoes and dairy products. An antioxidant which may improve sperm health is Vitamin C. Sources include citrus fruits, plant based oils, seeds and nuts as well as spinach and broccoli.
Overall the message is a balanced diet. The additional of the following foods are common in promoting sperm health: dairy products, nuts and seeds, lean meat, poultry and sefood, plant based oils, fruit and vegetables, especially green leafy vegetables
Of prime importance is to know your cycle. Ovulation is when you are able to conceive and thus knowing when you are most fertile will help you to conceive. You should aim to have intercourse when you are ovulating. You may also find that your body shows you signs of ovulation as the cervical mucus may become thin and slippery when you are most fertile and ready to conceive. Fortunately there are also“ovulation kits” widely available which indicate to you when you are ovulating. The way in which to use the kit is to count Day 1 as the day you start menstruating in your cycle. Start testing on day 9 as ovulation can be anywhere from day 9 through to day 14 and each person is different. Cycle lengths can vary from 28 to even 32 days. When you are in fact ovulating the ovulation kit (similar to a pregnancy test kit) will alert you. This is then the ideal time to have intercourse.
When you are ovulating it is not necessary to have sex every day to optimise conception. Most experts agree every second day, at about the same time is ideal. Sperm can survive in the body for 4 to 5 days. You can even try after the ovulation window. Another question couples often ask is whether there is a “best intercourse position” for conceiving. The simple answer is no, position is not of prime importance in maximising conception. Certainly there is no scientific proof thereof. However the sperm does need to pass through the cervix and having gravity on your side to prevent semen running out of the vagina is suggested. In other words standing up intercourse may not be ideal.
To give the sperm a good chance to move through the cervix it is suggested by some doctors to remain in bed for about 15 to 20 minutes after intercourse. It is not necessary to place your feet in the air as some (myths) suggest.
The commonly referred to two-week-wait is that time from ovulation until the start of your next cycle. Of course your hope is that you will not start menstruating, which could mean a pregnancy has been achieved. A word of advice is not to perform a home pregnancy test too early. I have personally done this and it showed a negative. I was actually pregnant but had just tested too soon with excitement! Wait until you have missed 3 or more days of your period arriving and then you can perform a home pregnancy test. If it shows that you are pregnant it is a good idea to contact your gynae or fertility specialist and to have a blood test to confirm the pregnancy and check that the foetus is growing. The Doctor will usually request a repeat blood test a few days later to ensure that your pregnancy hormones are increasing showing the foetus is growing well.
If is worth mentioning that a negative pregnancy result is more than disappointing when you are trying to conceive. If you are here it may be something that you have experienced. Please remember to be kind to yourself when a test is negative. You can only control that which you can. Mother nature (and sometimes science) has its role to play. You only give up when you stop tying so use the advise given, take a deep breath and don’t give up. I am proof that dreams for a child do come true.
In summary: Put stress and a time urgency to conceive aside, especially as you first start to try and conceive. Secondly, know your cycle and when you are most fertile. Also be sure your partner’s sperm health is being optimally prepared for conception. Thirdly visit a fertility specialist if you have been trying for a few months or if you are 34/35 or older.