Wellness & Fertility
While there’s no fixed formula to guarantee your fertility, many people are relieved to find out that there are some steps they can take to enhance their chances of getting pregnant.
Quitting Smoking
Both partners should ideally stop smoking while trying for a pregnancy or before starting fertility treatments. If either partner smokes, you decrease your chance of getting pregnant and also increase your chances of having a miscarriage. Secondhand smoke causes a similar reduction in the chance of pregnancy and decreases ovarian reserve.
Limiting Caffeine:
It’s advised that you limit caffeine while attempting to conceive.
Avoiding Alcohol
During a fertility treatment, you and your partner should ideally avoid alcohol, which has been shown to decrease the pregnancy rate and possibly increase the rate of miscarriage.
Eating Well
Eating a balanced diet and taking the proper supplements can improve fertility for both men and women. A healthy diet should include plenty of fruits and vegetables, less red meat, no trans fats (which appear in many fried foods or baked goods) and lots of “healthy” fats (found in olive oil, avocados and nuts).
Taking Dietary Supplements
Every woman attempting pregnancy should take at least 400 micrograms of folic acid daily. Some couples also are deficient in vitamin D. Prior to taking any dietary supplements, please review with your physician.
Maintaining a Healthy Weight
Obesity (having a BMI over 30) decreases a woman’s fertility, increases the chance of miscarriage and increases the chance of premature birth with all of its associated risks for the baby. Even with a successful birth, the odds of delivering before 32 weeks (quite premature) increase by 25 percent when the BMI is over 30. That risk doubles to 50 percent when the BMI is over 35. Such early delivery can lead to a marked increase in the chance of the newborn not surviving or having very significant health problems.
Reducing Stress
Dealing with fertility issues is shown to be quite stressful—and since that anguish and anxiety can greatly affect your fertility, this is exactly the time when lessening your stress levels should be a priority. Our team works in conjunction with wellness partners that provide integrated holistic care, where patients can focus on their physical and mental well-being through a variety of mind/body treatments and exercises.
Certified Counsellors are also available to help coach and guide you on techniques for coping with feelings of depression, anger, and anxiety; resolving conflict with your partner; dealing with the uncertainty and the waiting that accompanies infertility; making tough decisions when you find yourself at a crossroads; and building a strong support network for yourself.