12 Ways to Enhance Fertility Naturally
Ready for a little mini me? Have you been trying to get pregnant but haven’t yet been able to? Before you start worrying about being infertile or the possibility of never being able to conceive let’s take a look at your daily habits to see if there is anything that can be changed to enhance your fertility naturally.
There are tons of natural ways to improve your chances of getting pregnant, many of which are easy to include into your lifestyle. Instead of making you feel overwhelmed by being neck deep in research we simplified the list. Here’s twelve natural ways to enhance your fertility and improve your chances of getting pregnant. As you practice these methods, remember to be patient but persistent.
Eat Better
The more nourished your body is with vitamins and nutrients the better your chances are at conceiving. Make sure you are getting plenty of protein. Instead of getting all of your protein from meat, try beans, nuts, and other plant foods that provide protein. They are low in calories, which will help you maintain a healthy weight.
Drink whole milk or eat whole milk products! That’s right, you can ice cream guilt free! Whole milk aids in reducing ovulatory infertility. Studies show that folate, a B vitamin, may improve ovulation. You can find folate in leafy greens like spinach, romaine, and broccoli. Vitamins are also beneficial.
Iron supplements and vitamins containing folic acid will help your fertility levels. Avoid eating a lot of fish as they may contain mercury. Whole grains are great as they are filled with tons of nutrients, especially folic acid.
Whole grains also regulate your blood sugar as opposed to refined carbs that causes your blood sugar to rise.
The rise in blood sugar can interfere with your menstrual cycle. If you’re wanting twins, load up on yams. Researchers suggest that yams stimulate ovulation and have found twins to be more common in women who eat more of them.
Limit Alcohol Consumption
Calm down, you can still have a glass of wine or a cold beer with dinner. Moderation is key! It is recommended to have less than five alcohol drinks a week if you are trying to conceive.
Drinking more than that will make the process of getting pregnant harder and longer. Your adrenal glands release hormones. Alcohol pushes down on the adrenal glands, thus slowing the release. Alcoholic beverages have also been linked to a low sperm count in men.
Quit Smoking
No surprise! Cigarettes are composed of several toxic ingredients, which damage females eggs. This is especially bad for women, because they are born with a set number of eggs and don’t produce more.
Once they are damaged by smoking, it is almost impossible to repair them. The toxic chemicals in cigarettes even cause the ovaries to age, which will make it significantly harder for a younger woman to get pregnant.
Maintain a healthy weight
The calculation of your height and weight is your Body Mass Index, also known as your BMI. Calculating your BMI will help you determine a healthy weight range. Being overweight and underweight will affect your chances of getting pregnant.
For men, being overweight not only lowers the quality of their sperm but reduces their sperm count. Women may experience their cycle stopping for several months if they are overweight or underweight. A paused cycle means a pause in ovulation.
Choose Sperm Friendly Lubricants
While lube may be great at adding more pleasure and fun, it actually hinders your chances of getting pregnant. In fact, some lubricants are so acidic that they kill the sperm.
The thick texture of lube makes it harder for sperm to travel. If lube is a must for your bedroom, Pre-seed is a great example of a sperm- friendly lubricant. There are also natural lubricants,such as baby oil which are safe and practical.
Drop the Douche
Douching will get rid of odor, itching, and abnormal discharge. However, if you’re experiencing these symptoms it is best to find the root of the problem instead of covering them up temporarily. These symptoms are usually linked to infections or sexually transmitted diseases. Both of which will negatively affect your chances of conception
Stay Calm
With everything going on in your life, it may be hard to reduce your daily stresses. If you’re having trouble getting pregnant, stress could be the leading factor as it has a negative impact on your fertility.
Stress decreases your body’s ability to make hormones, thus decreasing the process of ovulation. Meditate, talk to a therapist, or practice yoga. Find a way to relax that works for you and stick by it. Relaxing will help you to reduce and manage your stress which allow your body to keep the hormone production going.
Cut back on those Grande Lattes
Caffeine may be hurting your ability to get pregnant. Recent studies have found that caffeine negatively affects the cells that transport eggs from the ovaries to the uterus. Cutting back on coffee, caffeinated tea, sodas, and energy drinks may improve your chances of getting pregnant.
Keep track of your cycles
Knowing when your period will arrive will also help you determine when your ovulating. Women typically ovulate around day 14 of their cycle. Once you determine your ovulation days, those are the days your chances of getting pregnant will be higher. You can track your cycle using a calendar, an ovulation predictor kit or an app.
There are a few other changes in your body that will happen when you are ovulating that will also help you keep track. You may experience cramping in your lower abdominal region. Your temperature will rise during ovulation as it is releasing progesterone to prepare your uterus for an egg. Be patient as it may not happen the first time you track your cycle but stick with it.
Catch ZZZ’s
Melatonin and Cortisol, sleep-wake hormones, are controlled by the part of the brain that releases reproductive hormones daily in both men and women. For women, lack of sleep can affect the release of the hormone that prompts ovulation.
The lack of sleep will also result in other problems that also hinder fertility. For instance, it may cause you to gain weight or to be stressed. Rest up!
Stay Hydrated
Time and Time again we’re told to drink water. So it should be no surprise that staying hydrated will aid in enhancing your fertility. Water helps your hormones travel throughout your body. It also stimulates circulation, which improves the quality of a female’s egg. It is very beneficial to the cervical mucus.
The cervical mucus works with the sperm to find the egg, without enough water the mucus gets lethargic. Water will help keep the entire body performing at it’s best, which is crucial if you’re trying to having kids.
Sex!
Have lots of it! The more sex you have while you’re ovulating, the better your chances are to get pregnant. Missionary position, or having the man on top, make it easy for the sperm as they just have to flow into the cervix.
Another position that may increase your chances is doggie style. In this position, the man is able to deeply penetrate which allows the sperm to get even closer to the cervix. Women who reach orgasism will have a better chance at getting pregnant. Afterwards, lie on your back for 15 minutes afterward to make it easier for the sperm to travel.