How to Prevent Infertility: 10 Natural Ways to Get Pregnant
Putting a baby in your arms is hard -- but not impossible -- to achieve. If you’re struggling with infertility, there are plenty of ways to prevent it and increase your chances of getting pregnant naturally. Regardless of how long you’ve been dating your partner or how serious you are about starting a family, the biological clock starts ticking sooner than you might think. With that in mind, now is the perfect time to get started on your dream family. These natural methods won’t guarantee that you get pregnant right away, but they are proven ways to increase fertility and boost your odds of conceiving sooner rather than later. Even if you’re not trying to have a baby right away, it never hurts to take proactive measures to increase the chances that one day soon, you and your partner can start growing that family together.
Exercise
Exercising regularly helps boost hormone levels, which can increase your chances of getting pregnant. Women who exercise while trying to conceive have increased blood flow and an abundance of oxygen reaching their reproductive organs, which is essential for egg health and development. Exercising also helps boost blood flow to the pelvic area. Increased blood flow means there’s more oxygen and nutrients available for the reproductive organs, which can help with implantation and increase your chances of getting pregnant. You don’t need to go overboard on the exercising while trying to conceive, but make sure to engage in moderate aerobic activity at least three times per week. If you’re an avid exerciser, it’s a great idea to take a break from your typical routine when you’re trying to conceive.
Get Enough Sleep
Getting enough sleep is essential for overall health, especially when you’re trying to conceive. Getting less than seven hours of sleep per night can increase your risk of infertility by as much as 50%. When you’re not getting enough sleep, your body releases more cortisol, which can lower your fertility by decreasing the amount of estrogen in your body. The less estrogen you have in your system, the harder it is to get pregnant. Not only can getting enough sleep boost your fertility, but it can also decrease your risk of miscarriage and help you maintain a healthy weight. Slow down your life a bit to make sure you’re getting enough sleep every night. If you’re not getting enough sleep, take steps to slow down your life and make sure you’re getting at least seven hours of rest each night.
Eat Healthy Foods
Eating a healthy diet filled with a variety of fruits and vegetables is essential for overall health, and it can also help boost your fertility. When trying to conceive, make sure to eat plenty of fruits and vegetables that are rich in antioxidants. Antioxidants help decrease your body’s oxidative stress and free radicals -- which can damage your DNA -- and are essential for a healthy pregnancy. Fertility-boosting foods to add to your diet include avocado, spinach, broccoli, oranges, grapefruit, cherries, peanuts and walnuts. Stay away from processed foods and sugary products while you’re trying to conceive. If you’re trying to conceive, take your diet to the next level by going organic. Organic foods are grown without harmful chemicals, pesticides and GMOs, and there’s evidence that these things can negatively affect fertility.
Boost Your Vitamin D
Getting enough vitamin D is essential for overall health, and it can also help boost fertility. Vitamin D is found in certain foods like eggs, fortified cereals and fatty fish, but it can also be produced by your body when you’re exposed to sunlight. When you’re trying to conceive, make sure to get enough vitamin D by eating foods rich in it and spending a few minutes a day in sunlight. Boosting your vitamin D levels can help with ovulation and the quality of your eggs, making it easier for you to get pregnant. Furthermore, studies show that women who are vitamin D deficient are up to five times more likely to experience infertility.
Stay off the smokes and booze
It goes without saying that you should avoid harmful substances while trying to get pregnant, but cigarettes and alcohol can negatively affect your fertility in a number of ways. When you’re trying to conceive, make sure to avoid smoking cigarettes, as it can lead to an earlier menopause and lower your fertility. And while moderate alcohol intake is fine for most people, if you’re trying to conceive, it’s best to stay away from the drinks. If you’re not sure if you’re doing everything you can to boost your fertility, take a look at your lifestyle and see what changes you can make.
Take a Prenatal Supplement
Taking a prenatal supplement as early as you can after trying to conceive can help boost your fertility. Prenatal supplements contain essential vitamins and minerals that support your reproductive health. In fact, research shows that women who take prenatals have a 33% higher chance of getting pregnant than women who don’t take them. Take a prenatal supplement as soon as you start trying to conceive and continue taking it throughout your pregnancy to improve your overall health.
Grow your eggs with fertility treatments
In addition to the natural ways above to prevent infertility and boost your fertility, you can also consider fertility treatments. Fertility treatments are designed to help couples conceive who are having trouble getting pregnant naturally. Some of the most common fertility treatments include: In-vitro fertilization (IVF): During IVF, your doctor will remove one or two eggs from your ovaries. They will then be fertilized by your partner’s sperm and implanted into your uterus in hopes of getting you pregnant. Intrauterine insemination (IUI): During IUI, your doctor will inject a single sperm into your uterus and hopes that it gets you pregnant. There are also natural ways to grow your eggs and get them ready for a baby. Eating healthy foods rich in antioxidants, getting enough sleep, and exercising regularly can all help boost the health of your eggs and make it easier for you to get pregnant.
Conclusion
Whether you’ve been trying to conceive for a few months or a few years, these methods can help boost your fertility and help you get pregnant faster. When trying to conceive, it’s important to keep stress to a minimum and maintain a healthy lifestyle. But if it doesn’t happen right away, don’t panic: according to CDC data, approximately one in eight couples has difficulty getting pregnant or sustaining a pregnancy. You don’t want to wait too long to start trying to conceive, but even if you’re in your late 30s or early 40s, you’re not out of luck. Manage your stress, eat healthy foods, exercise regularly, get enough sleep, and consider taking a prenatal supplement. You’re on your way to growing your family.
