Often when people set about to have a baby, particularly later in life, they discover that it is much more difficult than they anticipated. This is often because they have a reduced fertility, for any number of reasons. This does not necessarily mean they are unable to have children, only that it requires a bit more effort. Luckily, a lot of research has been done on how to increase fertility, and treatments exist, ranging from medical drugs and procedures to increase fertility, to lifestyle shifts, to natural remedies.
One of the most common fertility problems is a problem with ovulation, and so lifestyle changes that help reduce the risk of ovulatory disorders can help immensely when trying to increase fertility. Diet is a major contributor, and so changing your diet can be one of the easiest ways to increase fertility. While it can take some time to fully shift your diet into more healthy patterns, in the long run is tends to be easier than costly drugs or procedures for most people. Of course, simply shifting diet doesn’t work for all people, but it does help increase fertility for a great many people.
Eating plenty of fiber, especially whole grains, vegetables, and fruits is a good first step. Reducing the amount of refined carbohydrates like white rice and white bread, and removing excess sugar from the diet is another great way to increase fertility. Shifting from animal-based proteins to vegetable-based proteins as much as possible also appears to help. Cutting out trans-fats entirely seems to be linked to fertility as well, and many people add a multivitamin to make sure they are getting all of their necessary vitamins and minerals. Overall, making sure you are at a healthy weight, whatever that might be for your body, if crucial, avoiding becoming either too heavy or too light.
Cutting out things like caffeine, alcohol, and xenoestrogens have all been linked to reduce fertility in both men and women. In fact, alcohol can reduce fertility by up to 50%, as can even one cup of coffee. Adding certain vital minerals and vitamins can also help, with special focus being given to zinc, calcium, and vitamins D and C.
Knowing when you are ovulating can also help increase fertility, or at least help make the most of the fertility that is already there. Many couples find themselves trying to get pregnant when the woman is not ovulating, and so there is little to no chance for her to become pregnant. Keeping track of the basal body temperature can help you know when your body is about to release an egg, and if you keep a steady ovulation calendar you will soon be able to predict your prime fertility times.
Many herbs are also recommended to increase fertility, and some couples have luck relying exclusively on herbs. One herb that has been used in Chinese medicine for millennia is Dong Quai, which helps regulate estrogen levels. Another is chasteberry, which stimulates the pituitary gland and directly impacts fertility. Of course, beyond traditional herbal remedies there are also many Western fertility treatments, and there are medical specialists who can help you take this much larger step.
