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Infertility affects millions of people and has many possible causes. One couple in five takes more than ayear to conceive a child, and one in ten couples takes more than two years. One in six couples seeks medical help for infertility , but some of these might conceive without medical aid if they followed simple lifestyle changes and used natural treatments at home.

Looking after yourselves as prospective parents is often referred to as preconceptual care. For a woman this care continues into the early weeks of pregnancy, often before she knows she is pregnant, so many health professionals prefer the term ‘periconceptual care’ , meaning care around the time of conception.

The three most common fertility problems are:

• Reduced sperm count, or sperm of abnormal structure or motility (movement).
• Ovulation problems, which often result from polycystic ovary syndrome, a hormonal imbalance associated with cysts in the ovaries.
• Blocked Fallopian tubes, sometimes resulting from pelvic inflammatory disease.

Other causes include uterine disorders, endometriosis, and cervical mucus that tends to block the entry of sperm . Smoking , drinking alcohol and being exposed to pesticides or other poisons can also affect fertility , as can taking certain medications. For females, fertility declines with age; the older a women is when she is trying to conceive; the more difficult it will be to succeed.

Some fertility problems can be prevented with self-help measures. By improving your general health , you boost your chances of producing healthy eggs and sperm and conceiving when you want. It also gives newly conceived baby the best propect of developing normally.

Many apparently infertile couples actually conceive numerous times, but each time the fertilized egg or the embryo dies. This problem is often due to an actual miscarriage or the fact that the fertilized egg hasn’t been successfully implanted in the uterus, not infertility.

Starting at least six months before you wish to conceive , take the following simple steps in order to give sperm, eggs and unborn baby the best possible start. The advice below applies whether or not you your partner have been experiencing difficulty with conception.

DIET: Some dietry deficiencies are associated with fertility problems , particularly a lack of folic acid, selenium, zinc, essential fatty acids, and vitamins C, E and the B complex family . Eat a diet rich in these substances .Wash , scrub or peel vegetables and fruits to remove traces of pesticides, or buy organic produce , if available.

Too much , caffeine may reduce both male and female fertility. Limit your intake to a maximum of 300 milligrams a day- and be aware that some doctors recommend only 100 milligrams. One average cup of ordinary –strength brewed coffee contains about 100 milligrams of caffeine, a cup of instant coffee about 60 milligrams, and a cup of tea or can of cola about 40 milligrams . However , a recent study , though not conclusive, suggests, that women who drink more than half a cup of black or green tea a day greatly increase their chances of becoming pregnant.

Nutritional supplements:Because it may be hard to obtain the amounts of nutrients you need from food source, supplements are often advised. Ask your doctor about those described below.

• Women should generally take extra folic acid (500 micrograms daily) from the time they start trying to conceive until the end of the 12th week of pregnancy , or, as some experts suggest, throughout pregnancy. If you have ever had (or miscarried) a baby with spina bifida or another neural tube defect, the dose should be increased to 5 milligrams daily.
• Iron may also be needed and is present in prenatal vitamin supplements.
• If you are a women who eats poorly , is underweight, smokes, drinks alcohol or has ever miscarried, take a multiple vitamin and mineral supplement formulated for women. Also check with your doctor to see whether you need additional nutrients. Any multipurpose supplement is suitable for a man.
• For men,L-carnitine, an amino-acid-like chemical related to the B vitamins, can raise sperm count and improve sperm motility.
• The herbs ginseng and Sibrian ginseng can be rotated every three months to aid sperm formation and sperm count; try a twice-daily dose of 100-300 milligram of Siberian ginseng or 100-250 milligrams of ginseng.

Body weight: Both men and women should ideally attain or maintain a healthy weight for their build and height . An overweight women is less fertile, partly because of a higher risk of polycystic ovary syndrome, and also is also is at higher risk of miscarriage if overweight leads to diabetes. A seriously underweight women is more likely to ovulate infrequently or to fail to ovulate at all. An overweight man is less likely to be fertile, since excess fat can interfere with sperm production.

Alcohol: Alcohol reduces fertility by damaging sperm and eggs . it also makes miscarriage more likely. Some experts recommend giving up alcohol completely . others suggest to avoid the risk of foetal alcohol syndrome, women trying to conceive should not drink alcohol at time when they might be pregnant.

Exercise: Both men and women should get half an hour of moderately strenuous exercise at least five days a week . besides being generally beneficial this boosts circulation to the reproductive organs. For women it is especially important to maintain a good blood supply to ovaries : poor circulation in some cases lead to reduced fertility. However, be aware that excessive exercise can reduce a women’s fertility.

Contraception: At least three months before you plan to conceive , stop taking oral contraceptive pills, or have your intrauterine device or hormone implants removed. Use a barrier method of contraception, such as a diaphragm, until you wish to conceive.

Ovulation and sex: Find out the time in the month when you normally ovulate by using an ovulation prediction kit or by taking your temperature each morning and noting the slight rise that accompanies ovulation . Then each month , during the week before you expect ovulation and for a day or two after your temperature rises, have sexual intercourse once a day, ideally just after waking in the morning. At other times, havr sex whenever you wish.

Smoking : Smoking reduces fertility and increase the risk of miscarriage. Smoking during pregnancy can also affect the health of your baby. If you can’t stop immediately , try cutting down, and seek help in quitting.

Stress management: Feeling stressed can affect your fertility by suppressing ovulation and reducing sperm count. If stress is a problem for you, practice stress- management strategies and relaxation techniques. You may also want to try yoga or meditation.

Concerns at work:

The workplace can be hazardous if you are hoping to conceive.

· Check that your employer enforces any necessary safety precautions , for example, having to do with exposure to chemicles or radiation.

· Particular occupations are statistically linked to lowered female fertility. Examples include being a dental assistant , and jobs involving exposure to textile dust.

· Sitting for very long periods (especially with your leg crossed) or being exposed to direct heat may overheat the testes, depressing sperm production is a problem, your occupation-for example , as a bus driver or welder- may be the cause. If so , it may be worth changing to another type of work, if possible, until our partner conceives.

· Some office buidings have poor supplies of fresh air ; higher levels of extra –low-frequency electromagnetic radiation (from computers and other electrical equipment); and heightened concentrations of chemicals in the air , such as formaldehyde, which vaporize (‘outgas’) from synthetic wall and floor coverings. Such an environment could theoretically affect fertility. The same may also apply to some homes. If you live or work in such conditions , spend as much as outdoors as possible.

House and garden: many household products contain chemicals that can inhibit fertility.

• Don’t breathe the vapour from organochlorine pesticide-containing product.
• Don’t inhale smoke from burning plastic that contains polyvinyl chloride (PVC)
• Don’t strip old paint that may contain lead.
• Don’t inhale the vapour from solvents glues, felt-tip markers and paints.

Massage for stress relief

Because stress can affect fertility in both men and women, have your partner give you a soothing massage when you feel tense.

Precaution for women

Tell your doctor or pharmacist that you are trying to conceive before accepting any medications; some can damage a newly conceived baby. Before agreeing to an X-ray , inform your doctor, dentist and X-ray technician that you are trying to become pregnant so that appropriate precautions can be taken, or so that the X-ray session can rescheduled.

Herbal remedies , essential oils, and supplements

Always seek the advice of a qualified practitioner before using these remedies while trying to conceive or when pregnant.

Immunization

If possible, women should avoid immunization with live vaccines, such as those for measles, mumps, rubella, pollio and yellow fever , during pregnancy and in the six months before conceiving. Tell your doctor if you become pregnant soon after receiving such as immunization.

Drugs

Avoid all unnecessary drugs, including non- prescription medicines (except on medical advice) and so- called ‘recreational’ drugs such as marijuana.

Advice for men

Men with fertility problems should :

• Avoid beer, since its oestrogen content may lower sperm count.
• Reduce consumption of meat, dairy products, beans and peas, which may contain oestrogens.
• Avoid spa baths and spa pools. Sperm production is more efficient when the testes remain cool.

Avoiding infection: Because the mother’s state of health can affect a developing baby, it is important to try to avoid contracting infections of all kinds when trying to conceive and throughout pregnancy.

• Both partners should stay away from people who have colds, coughs, the flu, childhood infections or other viral illnesses.
• At least six months before attempting to conceive, a women should check her immunity to rubella and be immunized , if necessary.
• Consult your doctor about precautions against toxoplasmosis, a protozoal infection that can damage a developing baby, if you own a cat, ask someone else to to clean the litter box. If you must do it yourself, wear a mask and rubber gloves to protect yourself from infection. Wash your hands after handling raw meat and eat only well-done meat.
• Take measures to avoid infection with listeria, an organism that can harm a foetus and may cause miscarriage . don’t eat pates , soft, mould-ripened cheeses, blue –veined cheese and feta cheese; soft- serve ice cream; unpasteurized milk, pre-prepared or stored salads; precooked, refrigerated foods such as cold chicken; cold meats; and raw or smoked seafood.

Get medical help – if you are a women who has been trying unsuccessfully to conceive, using the above guidelines, for one year if under 35, or six months if over 35.

See also:

FIBROIDS, FOOD SENSITIVITY, OVERWEIGHT, PELVIC INFLAMMATORY DESEASE, STRESS.

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