Improve Your Fertility

Things YOU can do to help your fertility.

There are many things you can do outside of a doctor's office to improve your chances of conception. Here are a few suggestions:

• Timing of Ovulation: Ovulation Prediction Kit (OPK) which detects your LH surge. Your LH surge typically precedes ovulation by 12-24 hrs depending on what type of test kit you purchase. OPK’s can be obtained from most pharmacies and can be purchased individually, in a group of 6, 10, etc. or you can purchase an ovulation monitor. These kits detect the LH (luteinizing hormone) in your urine by showing 2 dark lines at the time of your LH surge. Usually begin checking the kit day 12 of your menstrual cycle, you typically should ovulate the day following your LH surge. Your cervical mucous is usually thin, clear, and abundant just prior to ovulation and at ovulation. Some women feel pain or pressure just prior to ovulation and when this goes away typically they have ovulated.
• Lubrication: If you need to use vaginal lubrication at intercourse, use a sperm-friendly lubricant like "Proseed" which will not damage sperm. In small amounts, K-Y liquid, “Replens”, or vegetable oil can be okay.
• Timing of Intercourse: Studies are showing it is best to be random and spontaneous with intercourse, otherwise couples become too stressed over the process. If you are planning on intrauterine insemination then you may want to refrain from intercourse anywhere from 2-4 days prior to insemination so there is enough good quality sperm available.
• Vitamins: Take a multi-vitamin daily as well as vitamin D3, Calcium 1200mgs/day, Magnesium up to 300mgs/day, and most important Folic Acid at least 800mcgs/day. Omega 3's, zinc, and selenium can be helpful.
• Diet: Eat a well balanced diet, reduce high glycemic index type foods (those that cause high sugar/carbohydrate surges immediately when eaten), increase protein and cholesterol slightly while trying to conceive. Reduce the overall proportions of food in your meals and if you are considered overweight, at least 5-10% reduction in your total body weight will significantly improve your chances of conception and improve the health of your pregnancy. Anorexia, on the other hand, reduces one’s ability to conceive and often stops one's periods. Those who have been on the “HCG diet” need to especially make sure they take higher levels of Vit D3 afterwards before conceiving due to the very low caloric intake.
• Exercise: Exercise helps increase your brain serotonin and nor-epinephrine levels and helps reduce your personal stress and anxiety. Extremes of exercise (such as running marathons or triathlons while trying to conceive can be detrimental to attempts at conception, but generally 45 - 60 minutes of exercise 5 days/week is healthy and can improve your ability to conceive.
• Sleep: Consider getting 8 hours of restful sleep. Frequent night time awakenings, sleep apnea, and frequent short sleeping schedules reduce melatonin levels and may affect fertility.
• Emotional: Stress, Anxiety, and Depression can reduce one’s ability to conceive. One of the stress hormones which is released is cortisol and when it is out of balance, it can adversely affect reproduction as can reduced serotonin levels. If you have gone through infertility or are going through it you already know how emotionally taxing and how stressful it can be. Consider getting counseling from one qualified to provide you with the specific tools you need to improve your well being. For some, Yoga, Tai Chi, Meditation, Massage, Chiropractic, or Accupuncture can provide you with the things you need to feel better physically and emotionally.
• Sperm Supplements: Proxeed, MFS, Fertile Aid, and our own fertility doctor developed product can improve sperm quantity, progression, and sometimes morphology. These supplements contain vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and sometimes certain herbs which have been evaluated or studied and shown to be of benefit in a number of individuals taking them over a 74 day to 6 month period. Sperm takes at least 74 days to develop and be prepared to fertilize an egg.
• For women with low ovarian reserve: Consider taking DHEA 25mgs three times/day which has been shown in some studies to improve pregnancy rates and reduce miscarriage rates especially in women over 37 by reducing chromosomal aberrations in oocytes.

Contact East Bay Fertility Center today to make an appointment to talk with our fertility doctor regarding any of these issues or suggestions.