If you and your partner are planning to try for a baby, there are few things that you can do that could increase your chances. Of course, there are no guarantees that you will become pregnant with these changes, but medical professionals all agree that they will give you the best chance. Both you and your partner must make lifestyle changes as men play just as an important role in the process as women!
If you have been trying to conceive for more than one year and had no success, it would be a good idea to speak to your doctor. They may recommend some further changes to your lifestyle or suggest that you visit a reputable fertility clinic in Bangkok, which could conduct some additional tests. However, if you are still at the planning stage, here are seven relatively small changes that you could make from the outset.
- Preconception checkups
It is always worth consulting your doctor before you actively start trying to conceive. They may be able to recommend certain prenatal vitamins or folic acid, which may improve your rate of fertility. Also, these supplements can reduce the chances of your baby having any congenital disabilities. Your doctor will also probably do some blood tests and other health checks to be sure that you don’t have any underlying health issues which haven’t been diagnosed.
- Healthy living
We all know that we should lead a healthy lifestyle, but it is even more important if you are trying for a baby. Eating a balanced diet and doing moderate exercise will help you to maintain a healthy weight, but you mustn’t do over-exercise as this can affect fertility in men and women. For women, one sign that you are overdoing it is changes in your menstrual cycle, most commonly that you have a shorter second half of your cycle. A healthy female should have a period 14 days after ovulation, anything shorter than this may be caused by too much exercise. The old adage of “everything in moderation” is definitely appropriate.
Of course, avoiding tobacco and alcohol is also strongly advised.
- Reduce stress
We all lead increasingly stressful lives, but this stress can affect your fertility. Trying to conceive in itself can cause additional stress, but this can interfere with ovulation. Of course, being told to relax is easier said than done, but it will significantly increase your chances of getting pregnant. Doctors suggest that 85% of women become pregnant within the first year of trying. How you de-stress is very much a personal thing, but we would strongly advise against resorting to alcohol, tobacco or any illegal drugs. Yoga, acupuncture and massage are far better alternatives.
- Understand your menstrual cycle
Although it may not sound particularly romantic and a little too scientific, you both should become familiar with the female’s menstrual cycle. Knowing when ovulation is taking place and timing sexual intercourse around this is by far the best way of increasing your chances of getting pregnant.
It is recommended that you take note of physical changes such as the cervical mucus becoming thinner and more slippery. Another sign could be a one-sided pain in the abdomen. Still, the most reliable indicator is to purchase a home ovulation predictor kit which you can buy at most pharmacies.
A slight aside from this would be to allow your body to recover and settle down again if you have recently stopped taking birth control pills. The pills are designed to alter your cycle, and if you have been taking them for any length of time, your body may take time to adjust and return to a more natural cycle.
- Sexual positions have little impact on your chances of becoming pregnant
We have all heard the old wives tales regarding the best positions for getting pregnant, and while they may be fun trying them, they are just myths. It is only in very rare circumstances where the woman’s cervix is in a position where altering how the female is penetrated will make a difference to her chances of becoming pregnant. If the male has a lower sperm count, some gravity-defying positions may actually reduce your chances of conceiving so are perhaps best avoided.
- Remain laid down after intercourse
It is advisable to remain laid down for 10 to 15 minutes after the male has climaxed to give the sperm the highest chance of reaching the egg. There is no need to keep your legs in the air or adopt any other strange positions which are again commonly repeated myths that are passed down from one generation to the next. Doctors suggest that any sperm that will make it into the cervix will do so within 15 minutes, so there is no need to remain in bed all day – unless you want to!
- Don’t try too hard!
If you have sex every day, even if that is just the pattern around ovulation, it is unlikely that it will increase your chances of getting pregnant. Indeed, it may actually have the opposite effect. Many experts recommend having intercourse every other day to increase the chances of conception, although regular sex is advisable. For the record, sperm can survive for up to five days inside the female’s body.
Men should also avoid wearing tight underwear in the three months before you actively start trying for a baby. Keeping the testicle as cool will also help to increase sperm count so minimising time in a hot tub of Jacuzzi is advisable. Avoiding soy-based products is recommended for the male by some experts, although there is insufficient evidence at this time to support this.
Do you want more advice?
If you would like more information about increasing your chances of becoming pregnant or perhaps you have been trying for some time without success, you can contact us. Our team will be happy to listen and offer any help and advice they can.