Infertility affects around 12 percent of couples trying to conceive. In fact, even for those who have no fertility or health issues, the chance of getting pregnant is only around 25 percent during each ovulation cycle. While many men and women only think about their fertility when they begin trying to conceive, successfully becoming pregnant begins long before this. Avoiding sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), maintaining a healthy weight, eating well and quitting smoking are some of the best ways to maintain fertility health. When trying to conceive, charting menstrual cycles and utilizing certain fertility tips to ensure the sperm has every opportunity to make it to the egg has helped many couples become pregnant.
It is important for both men and women to practice safe sex to protect themselves from STDs, which can reduce fertility, and to avoid heavy exposure to environmental toxins. It is also important for couples, especially women, to maintain a healthy weight and eat a healthy, well-balanced diet, which keeps hormone levels in check and preserves the health of the reproductive system. While these things are important, perhaps one of the most important fertility tips for both men and women is not to smoke. Smoking as few as 10 cigarettes a day can reduce fertility by as much as 50 percent.
Once a couple decides to try to conceive, they often gather as many fertility tips as possible from as many sources as possible. While this information can be useful, it can also add even more stress to an already stressful situation. For those with no known fertility issues, it’s important to try to stick to the basics of conception.
Women typically ovulate 14 days prior to the start of their menstrual cycle. The days before and after ovulation are when a woman is most fertile and has the best chance of becoming pregnant. While there are several devices available to help couples figure out the date of ovulation, tracking a woman’s menstrual cycle is one of the most common and useful fertility tips.
Once a woman knows when she usually ovulates, she and her partner can plan to try to conceive on the two days before and the two days after the date of ovulation. Having sex at least every 48 hours during this period ensures that there is sperm in the fallopian tubes, ready and waiting for the egg. For couples who are uncomfortable with scheduling intimacy, having sex two or three times a week will typically produce the same results.
While there are certain sex positions that enable more sperm to enter the fallopian tubes, it is most important for a woman to lay down with her hips slightly elevated immediately after sex. This use of gravity can give sperm a little extra help and boost the chances of conceiving a child. While these fertility tips have helped many couples successfully become pregnant, one of the most beneficial fertility tips is for both men and women to talk to their doctor about conception both before and after they begin trying. The inclusion of a medical professional can go a long way toward bringing a healthy child into the world.