We have all got our fingers (and toes) crossed that this year will return to some semblance of normal!
If you, like many others have made one of your 2021 resolutions: to start or expand your family, then the City Fertility team are here to help you towards your goal.
Sometimes setting goals though, is much easier than achieving goals, particularly when it comes to getting pregnant – there is no secret it can be a struggle for some.
In these circumstances, sometimes setting smaller goals, like eating well and exercising regularly can be more achievable to start with, than to focus solely on being pregnant straight away. Small goals can often add up very quickly to give your fertility a big boost.
So we asked some of our fertility specialists what are some of their top tips (and potential goals) for patients when trying to fall pregnant, and this is what they said:
- Sometimes it is simple lifestyle changes that can make all the difference. Being in a healthy weight range, not smoking or drinking excessively, are things couples can do to help themselves most. And more sex.
- Try conceiving in the days leading up to ovulation (when the egg is released from the ovary) as they are the most fertile ones in your menstrual cycle. You have a greater chance of conceiving if you time having intercourse one to three days before ovulation or every two days around it.
- If your periods are irregular or widely spaced out then don’t try for too long for a baby prior to seeking help, three to four months at most when there is a clear period regulation disorder. It can take just a few months of treatment to establish regular ovulation.
- Pinpointing the timing of ovulation is important and often doesn’t usually require complex intervention to help achieve pregnancy if that is the issue.
- Don’t wait for too long before seeking expert advice. Often there are some little things we can help you with that can make a big difference to helping you achieve a pregnancy.
- Aim for correct diagnosis and treatment, if you suspect you have one of the more common conditions that can impact fertility like polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) or endometriosis. These conditions can be minimised to a certain degree, thus allowing conception to occur more easily.
- Start trying to conceive earlier rather than later if you can. A female’s peak fertility age is 24 and begins to decline with advancing age. If due to your work commitments or social situation, the time is not right now to try to conceive, consider egg freezing in your mid-thirties.
- While the process of trying to conceive can be stressful, implementing techniques to minimise stress is important. Research shows that women under stress produce prolactin, which can interfere with regular ovulation.
- Pollutants can cause DNA damage to sperm. It’s advisable to eliminate or take safety measures with toxins where possible. While we are all faced with a wide variety of environmental toxins on a daily basis, if you work with paints, diesel fumes or pesticides, to name a few, you need to be using protective face masks etc.
If pregnancy is on your list of 2021 New Year’s resolutions, then keep in mind the above tips and if you need any additional help, then the experienced team at City Fertility are here to guide you. Whether it is just an initial chat, a second opinion or a detailed review, no question is too big or small for our team.
Wishing you all a healthy and happy year ahead of achieving all your goals– you’ve got this!
The City Fertility Team
