When you are struggling to conceive, is there anything you can do to increase your chances of getting pregnant? There are things that women can do regarding their health to ensure that their body is in the healthiest condition to get pregnant. Women undergoing fertility treatments such as IUI and IVF are especially interested in what they can do to get their bodies ready for a pregnancy. At RMA of Michigan, a trusted fertility clinic in Michigan, we’ll discuss what areas we feel you can focus on.

Diet

We all know that eating a healthy balanced diet is vital for everyone. However, when trying to conceive, it becomes even more critical to ensure that you are getting specific vitamins and nutrients. Taking a prenatal vitamin is essential once you get pregnant. However, it is also advised when you are trying to get pregnant. Prenatal vitamins have folic acid in them, which can prevent some birth defects of the brain and spine in babies. It also ensures that you, as the mom, have all the essential nutrients and vitamins you should be getting. Because let’s face it, we don’t always eat healthy every day.

A healthy, well-balanced diet can have a positive impact on fertility as well. When it comes to foods, research has shown that foods rich in folic acid, vitamin B12, and omega-3 fatty acids can have a positive effect on fertility. So make sure you are filling your plate with fruits and veggies and plant-based protein like nuts, avocados, beans, and seeds. Try to limit carbs to low-complex carbs like brown rice, oatmeal, and 100% wheat bread, and switch up the red meat with fish.

Exercise

Women tend to worry that when they are trying to get pregnant, they are more “fragile” and maybe shouldn’t be as active or exercise as much because it’ll harm their fertility. That is not the case. Being active is always a good idea whether you are five or seventy-five, as long as your doctor gives you the go-ahead. Being active and exercising gets your blood flowing and your heart pumping, which is vital for a healthy cardiovascular system. You may not want to start training for a marathon. However, there is no reason that you can’t continue your regular exercise routine. It may be an excellent time to start exercising for women who don’t exercise or are overweight. Research shows that being overweight can negatively affect fertility in men and women, so exercising can help shed some unwanted pounds and help your fertility.

Another area that can be positively affected by exercise is your mental health. Low-impact exercise like walking, yoga, or riding a bike can be great stress relief. Infertility is stressful to go through, and ensuring your mind is healthy is just as important as your body.

Lifestyle Choices

Some lifestyle choices can make getting pregnant even harder. Smoking is one of those. According to the CDC, roughly 14% of Americans smoked cigarettes in 2018. Studies have shown that smokers are more likely to have fertility issues than non-smokers. Males can have decreased sperm counts and lower sperm motility if they smoke. Smoking affects the quality of eggs a woman produces and causes eggs to die off sooner than non-smokers. Women who smoke are also at a higher risk of ectopic pregnancy and miscarriage.

The recommendation for anyone who smokes and is trying to conceive is to quit. The sooner they quit, the better. Ideally, it would be best if you quit months before you start trying to conceive. Men who stop smoking can reverse its adverse effects on their fertility within three months since sperm replenishes every three months. Women who quit smoking will increase their chances of getting pregnant and their chances of a healthy pregnancy.

Drug and alcohol consumption are other lifestyle choices that can negatively impact fertility. Alcohol consumption harms both male and female fertility. Alcohol can negatively affect the size, shape, motility, and count of sperm. Heavy drinking can raise estrogen levels in men, which reduces sperm production. There have been studies done with IVF patients that state alcohol consumption can lower the likelihood of IVF success. The bottom line is that no level of alcohol consumption has been deemed safe during pregnancy. Giving up alcohol will give you the best chances of conceiving.

What effect drug use can have on fertility is another question coming up more and more now that recreational cannabis is legal in Michigan. If it’s legal, does that mean it’s safe to use while trying to conceive? There have been limited studies regarding THC, the main psychoactive ingredient in marijuana, and fertility. However, a study published in April 2020 by Science Daily suggests marijuana use can lower the quality of oocytes and the fertilization rates in IVF. Other drugs like Cocaine, Methamphetamine, and opioids all have risks to an unborn child if the mother uses them during her pregnancy. Premature birth, low birth weight, birth defects, and stillbirth are all potential risks. Drug use of any kind is not recommended when you are trying to conceive or during pregnancy.