5 Helpful Fertility Tips To Boost Pregnancy Chances

Getting pregnant can be more challenging than you think. Many believe that simply eliminating all blockers, like birth control, and amping up intimate time will do the trick. This is simply not the case. There are a lot of elements involved in getting pregnant, such as natural science, fertility, and lifestyle at play.

Did you know that you have around 12 to 24 hours after ovulation to potentially get pregnant? And only 85 percent of women will actually get pregnant within a year of trying to conceive. Yes, it could take a year.

“About 85 percent of all couples will get pregnant within a year, but it’s also wise to have some realistic expectations,” Dr. Robert Stillman, medical director of Shady Grove Fertility Centers told WebMD. “The average time it takes to conceive, for instance, is about six months, and women under 35 should wait until they’ve tried for a year before they consider calling their doctor or a fertility specialist with concerns.”

The good news is that there are a number of things you can do to boost fertility. It is always important to discuss this with a doctor before making any physical or nutritional health changes. That being said, let’s dive in!

1. First things first, talk to a fertility doctor

If getting pregnant is harder than expected, the first step is to schedule an appointment with a fertility doctor. During your fertility doctor visit, you will learn more about what you can do, what you shouldn’t be doing, and any physiological issues in your way.

Finding a fertility doctor near you is a pretty painless process. Since fertility can be a touchy issue you may not want friends and family recommendations for, you can turn to Google instead. Let’s say you live in or close to Toronto, start your Google search with something like, “Best fertility clinic Toronto” and get search results.

Once you have a list of potential Toronto fertility doctors, begin your due diligence. Read reviews, ratings, and also visit the website. Once you have compiled a short list, start calling the fertility clinics and get the information you need to make a decision.

2. Start tracking your cycle very closely

Since pregnancy is all about timing, you should start tracking your cycle. Typically, a normal cycle is 28 days in duration. If your cycle is interrupted for any number of reasons, you could miss a period or have too frequent of periods. If this is the case, you should discuss with your doctor.

If your cycle is regular, you should track it in order to know when the most opportune times to conceive are. Luckily there are some pretty innovative apps you can utilize to stay on top of your cycle. Apps like My Calendar and Clue Period & Cycle Tracker could serve useful.

3. Change a few unhealthy lifestyle habits

If getting pregnant is an issue, you may want to begin looking at lifestyle choices. Mainly smoking and alcohol consumption. And the same goes for your partner. Research published in Postgrad Med (2015) noted that, “The current evidence suggests that men should be advised to abstain from smoking in order to improve reproductive outcomes.”

Alcohol consumption has also been found to affect fertility. According to the Mayo Clinic, “Heavy drinking is associated with an increased risk of ovulation disorders. If you’d like to get pregnant, consider avoiding alcohol completely.”

If you are trying to conceive, smoking and alcohol use should be avoided. Sure, there are plenty of people who get pregnant while smoking and consuming alcohol regularly. However, to make fertility a priority, it may be a good time to quit.

4. Skip the morning coffee

This could be a very challenging fertility tip to abide by for some. Coffee is part of many people’s morning routine, but the high amount of caffeine could be affecting your fertility. Doctors recommend keeping caffeine consumption under 300mg per day. This means switching to decaf, and avoiding sodas or other caffeinated drinks, like energy drinks.

5. Start heading to yoga class

Yoga has been found to be an effective fertility booster. There are even specific yoga poses that are geared toward increasing fertility. Researchers found yoga to boost blood flow to the pelvic region, reduce stress, and put the mind at ease.

Yoga may also be beneficial for women who are having IVF treatment, or those who have had a failed IVF treatment. This is due to the reduction of stress and the peace of mind yoga may have. Yoga is generally great anyways, so it wouldn’t be a bad habit to pick up, even if you’re not trying to conceive.

In conclusion . . .

The above fertility tips for boosting pregnancy chances are not the only ones out there. Exercise, better nutrition, and other tips and tricks to get pregnant are out there. However, there is no cure-all when it comes to fertility. The best first step is to talk to your doctor, get a check-up, and start implementing a plan. What fertility tips worked for you? Let us know.