If you and your partner have recently started your fertility journey, you may wonder what changes you can make to maximise your chances of a successful cycle.
Of course, fertility health can be attributed to many factors. For women, problems such as ovarian function, obstructed fallopian tubes, or uterine abnormalities are common causes of infertility. Whereas male-factor infertility could result from a testicular or ejaculatory problem or a hormonal or genetic condition.
However, there are factors that patients can control which can maximise your chances of getting pregnant, such as maintaining a healthier lifestyle. At Essential Fertility, we always recommend looking after your body and mind before and during treatment. Here are some ways to do this.
Maintaining a healthy lifestyle
Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is the first step to maximising your chances of conception, which can include eating healthy meals, exercising regularly or cutting back on things that could harm your chances – such as nicotine or alcohol.
You must meet certain criteria to commence with treatment with Essential Fertility. One of the most important factors is maintaining a healthy BMI. For Essential Fertility treatments your BMI will need to be between 18-32, to ensure you react positively to the procedures.
For many of our patients, eating a healthy, varied diet in treatment and during pregnancy will help you get most of the vitamins and minerals you need and ensure you're keeping your BMI within the recommended range.
A few key nutrients can help boost your fertility, ensure you're maintaining a healthy, balanced diet, and in the case of a successful treatment cycle, give your baby the best start to their development.
Senior Fertility Nurse Sister Sam Potts recommends you get plenty of:
- Zinc is known to help eggs mature and to help regulate your hormones during a menstrual cycle
- Folic acid is known to assist in developing the baby's neural tube, which forms into the spine and brain
- Omega 3, fatty acids found commonly in fish, are known to improve the blood flow to the uterus and increase cervical mucus
- Vitamin E is an antioxidant often considered an essential nutrient for pregnant women and those assigned females at birth
Make sure you're taking time to relax
If you have been trying to get pregnant for some time without success or preparing for treatment, it is natural to experience stress and anxiety. However, as your stress levels increase, your chances of getting pregnant can be affected, so do spend time trying to relax.
Human bodies are well equipped to handle stress in small doses. Still, when it becomes too much, it can seriously affect your body, including the male and female reproductive systems, so relaxation is critical.
If you are feeling stressed, you could try channelling your anxiety into a hobby or pastime, such as taking a walk, reading a book, listening to a podcast, meditating, or talking about your concerns – anything that works for you.
Senior Fertility Nurse, Sam Potts, suggested patients take advantage of the complimentary counselling sessions included in our comprehensive treatment packages. She says:
"Fertility treatment can be mentally or emotionally challenging. Our highly experienced team is always available to listen impartially and offer advice to support you through your journey. These are a great opportunity to work through anything causing you undue stress and discuss your situation with someone who truly understands your situation and is empathetic to your needs and concerns."
Start taking vitamins and supplements like folic acid.
We've already discussed the importance of a healthy diet while you're trying to conceive, but did you know there are supplements you can take alongside lifestyle changes to boost your fertility?
We would encourage any couple trying to conceive, either naturally or through fertility treatment, to take folic acid every day, alongside Vitamin D, from the moment they start trying until the end of the first trimester of pregnancy, as they help support the development of your baby in the first few weeks of pregnancy.
The NHS also recommends you avoid Vitamin A and all supplements and skincare products that contain Vitamin A, commonly referred to as Retinol, during your pregnancy - including cod liver oil. As there is no clear understanding of how much Vitamin A is considered 'too much', it is recommended that you avoid all forms for the duration of your pregnancy as it can cause issues in pregnancy.
Work on your sperm health
For our heterosexual patients, it is important that the male partner joins you in staying fit and healthy is a great way to maximise your sperm health before you start treatment.
There are a few ways to do this, but focusing on eating healthy meals together, encouraging each other while exercising, talking about your concerns to reduce stress or abstaining from alcohol are all great starting points to improve sperm health and support each other through the treatment process.
Men and those assigned male at birth may also want to watch for environmental stressors. As heat can negatively impact sperm health, we recommend avoiding long stints in a hot bath, sauna, steam room or jacuzzi. If you'd like to use these, keep your exposure to a minimum and choose the lowest heat option.
Furthermore, ensure you take appropriate measures to avoid exposure to certain chemicals, like pesticides, herbicides or certain medications, if you frequently work with or are exposed to them, as these too can affect the health and quality of your sperm.
For our same-sex female couples who are using donor sperm for treatment, you can take the opportunity to support your partner through treatment by maintaining the same lifestyle changes they are!
Finally, make sure you choose the right clinic for you
If you are looking for an affordable IVF solution, you will find a few options in the UK. So, research each clinic to see what each low-cost package includes, make sure you are happy with success rates, the experience of the team and the clinic facilities, and the location.
Essential Fertility treatment packages include everything you need for the highest chance of a successful treatment cycle – including medication, a range of state-of-the-art add-ons, and a frozen embryo transfer – all in one package price.
By trusting Essential Fertility with your care, you gain a wealth of industry experience and access to an all-inclusive treatment plan designed to maximise your chances of success. Also, our affordable treatment packages are open to any who meet our eligibility criteria, with no long wait lists to delay your treatment.
You can check your eligibility online, call our New Patient Team for a chat on 0345 646 1778 or request a call back via our online form.
