7 Ways to Help with Infertility
Infertility is a condition that lowers the chances of a couple conceiving despite having regular unprotected sex. It is a condition that affects reproductive organs of both men and women and interferes with the ability to bear children. Research estimates that around 10% of women of ages 15 years to 44 years, experience challenges conceiving or carrying a pregnancy to full term. Additionally, across the world, 8 to 12% of couples face fertility problems. The main symptom of infertility is the failure to get pregnant despite a couple having frequent unprotected sex for at least a full year. Various risk factors cause infertility including age, smoking, alcohol, eating disorders, being overweight, poor diet, lack of exercise, mental stress, exposure to certain chemicals, or sexually transmitted infections. While many people are aware that fertility decreases as one gets older, it is critical to realize that even during the most fertile years, lifestyle choices, as well as external factors, can interfere with a woman or man’s chances of having a healthy baby. This article discusses strategies to help with infertility.
1. Healthy Diet
Unlike other factors that impede fertility that one cannot control such as age and genetics, there are other factors such as diet that one can control. Food habits are closely linked to the quality of life for men and women in regards to their reproductive health. Not only do food habits affect present lifestyles, but they also have the potential to cause disorders such as irregular menstruation, dysmenorrhea, and spermatogenesis.
Furthermore, having an unhealthy weight has been shown to interfere with the production of hormones; which often makes it difficult for women to become pregnant. As a woman exceeds her healthy weight, she begins to experience reduced ovarian function. Also, studies show that women who become obese at around the age of eighteen typically develop polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and experience difficulties with fertility. Further, being underweight can also cause problems with fertility. Therefore, it is imperative to maintain an ideal body weight through healthy diet.
Common diets in contemporary society include high intake of red meat, refined grains, sugary desserts, high sugar drinks, high levels of processed meats, and high-fat dairy products. Further, the diets are devoid of vitamins and minerals. It is advisable to eat more complex/slow carbs and avoid eating the highly processed ones. Highly processed carbs such as cakes, cookies, and white bread are converted by the body into blood sugar. Opting for good carbs such as those found in whole grains, vegetables, and fruits, is beneficial to blood sugar levels; subsequently improving ovulation. Also, it is advisable to avoid trans-fats such as those in snack foods and French fries and instead opt for healthy unsaturated fats.
The ideal protein should be one extracted from plants such as beans. Proteins from red meat are not recommended. Additionally, whole milk is preferable as compared to full-fat dairy foods such as yogurt. It is also important to avoid too much coffee.
