METHODS TO IMPROVE FERTILITY | DR RAMA SOFAT HOSPITAL & RUCHI TEST TUBE BABY CENTRE

METHODS TO IMPROVE FERTILITY | DR RAMA SOFAT HOSPITAL & RUCHI TEST TUBE BABY CENTRE

People trying for a baby often make lifestyle modifications to increase their natural fertility and treatment efficacy. And while the impact of things such as stress and obesity are well understood, there are some lesser-known factors that people may not know about:

1. Being Underweight
Being too thin can be just as damaging as being too fat when it comes to conceiving, particularly if ultra-low body fat levels trigger a shutdown of the ovaries. Women with a body mass index of 18.5 or below, officially classed as underweight, may produce lower levels of oestrogen and will often experience either irregular or no periods as discussed by Dr Rama Sofat.

2. Prescription Medicines
High dosages of ibuprofen taken in the middle of the menstrual cycle can disrupt ovulation and like other readily-available, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), its long-term use can affect a man’s testosterone production.

3. Minerals and Supplements
Zinc has long been thought to have a powerful bearing on male and female fertility and while it is particularly concentrated in oysters, as well as milk, seeds and lentils, many would-be parents prefer to take a supplement, explained by Dr Rama Sofat.

4. Timing and Ovulation Cycles
Although you’re most likely to get pregnant if you have sex within a day or so of ovulation, which for many women occurs in the middle of their cycle, the best chance of conception involves having sex far more often than this.

5. Lack of Sleep
While insomnia has been described as the curse of the modern age, fresh air, exercise and regular bed and morning routines are known to help but for couples who are trying to get pregnant, unsociable work patterns are inadvisable.