How to Encourage Fertility

Conceiving a baby looks like something that should be so easy to do, and for some it is, while others experience great stress and frustration as they have rack up failed attempts. Some fertility problems stem from physiological conditions that prevent the conception, such as problems with the fallopian tubes, hormonal imbalances or low and no sperm count. There are still other couples that face infertility due to causes that are hard to detect. This does not change the desire to conceive a baby and often propels couples into searching out expensive treatments to help their fertility. However, before making a mad dash to the nearest fertility clinic, there are strategies that can be implemented to encourage fertility.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Ovulation kit
• Fertility kit

1. Know when to try. This will not change fertility, but it will better the chances that a woman will become pregnant. A woman can become pregnant during the point in her cycle where she ovulates, which is when the ovary will produce and release the egg. The egg can only live for 24 to 36 hours, while sperm can live in the lower portion of the woman’s body for up to five days. So once the time of ovulation is calculated, the couple should start trying to conceive 3 to 4 days before ovulation, continuing for 24 hours after the ovulation window.
2. Use ovulation kits to detect and calculate ovulation. Ovulation kits can be bought over-the-counter at most pharmacies. The kit works by detecting chemical changes in the female’s urine to predict the time of ovulation. The ovulation kits should be used every other day for ten days after the woman’s last menstruation, and when the indicator changes color, the couple should have intercourse that day and for the next three days to better their chance of being fertile for conception.
3. Monitor and chart changes in the cervical mucus and the Basal Body Temperature (BBT). There will be more cervical mucus that is thinner in consistency and clearer just prior to the time a woman ovulates. The Basal Body Temperature is the lowest temperature the body will reach during a day and is influenced by the hormones present around the time of ovulation. In fact, the BBT will lower half a degree prior to an egg releasing from the ovary, and then the temperature will increase after ovulation. By monitoring and charting the temperature changes, the woman can map out the best chances for her body to be fertile for conception. She can combine this with the visual signs of her cervical mucus to really better her chances of fertility at the time of attempted conception.
4. Try a fertility kit. A fertility kit works differently from an ovulation kin, because it is not predicting ovulation, but rather making the conditions and odds better that conception will take place. Fertility kits work almost like a do-it-yourself insemination. The kit contains a latex-free cervical cap, which is used to hold a concentration of sperm that is then inserted directly over the woman’s cervix. The idea is that concentrating the sperm directly on the cervix during ovulation will better the odd that the sperm survive long enough to fertilize an egg. These kits can be obtained over-the-counter or with a prescription.
5. Maintain a healthy weight. By maintaining a healthy weight, the woman decreases the likelihood of ovulation problems that can often accompany weight problems, and this is consistent amongst women that are too thin or overweight. So it is important to either lose weight if you are overweight or gain a little if you are underweight.
6. Manage and control stress. Often, those that allow themselves to be overtaken by the stress in their day-to-day lives will turn to other negative vices to battle it. Vices like smoking and drinking alcohol, which can decrease fertility. Stress itself can hinder fertility. So find some healthy vices to help manage stress such as exercise, meditation, yoga, taking part in hobbies and talking to friends. It is important to note that the consumption of alcohol does interfere with ovulation in a woman and it impairs sperm production in men.
7. Consume a healthy diet. Many doctors believe that ovulatory dysfunctions can be related to the type of foods a woman consumes in her diet and that there are even foods that encourage fertility. Foods that increase fertility are monounsaturated fats like olive oil, vegetable proteins, soy proteins, low-glycemic foods, high fiber and whole grain foods. Foods that should be excluded include trans-fats as found in fast food and baked goodies, animal proteins found in red meats, refined carbohydrates and sugars and a moderation on the amount of high-fat dairy products. So eat right and enhance the chances of fertility.
8. Make an appointment for fertility acupuncture. There are numerous ancient Chinese medical practices that have been known to increase infertility, and acupuncture is just one of them. Couples that are concerned with encouraging fertility in an effort to better their chances of conception may find other Chinese medical arts that have been used for just that purpose.

Tips & Warnings

• According to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, encourage women under the age of 35 that have tried for 12 months to conceive unsuccessfully, or 6 months for women over 35, to seek help from a fertility specialist.