Healthy lifestyle choices not only have a positive impact on your overall wellness but also improve your fertility. Therefore eliminating poor healthy habits plays a crucial role in your journey to parenthood. Keep in mind that lifestyle and fertility go hand in hand, and your lifestyle can significantly impact your parenthood journey, especially if you are about to embark on infertility treatment. Here are some tips for a fertility-friendly lifestyle.

Maintain a healthy weight

Being underweight or overweight can lead to fertility problems in men and women. Obesity is linked to a lower sperm count in men and sperms that don’t move quickly enough. It also causes hormone changes that reduce fertility in men. A woman should also maintain a healthy weight to maintain normal ovulation. An obese woman is more likely to suffer a miscarriage than a woman with a healthier BMI. Note that weight loss of as little as 5-10% can significantly improve your fertility potential. You should see a nutritionist if you need help managing your weight.

Eat a healthy diet

Eating a healthy diet is crucial to ensure your body gets all the nutrients it deserves. That includes eating whole grains, lean proteins, plenty of vegetables and fruits. According to a study, eating a nutrient-rich diet the year before getting pregnant is linked to a lower rate of congenital disabilities. It can also help you cut off excess weight and gain enough energy. 

It is also advisable to talk to your fertility specialist about any unique dietary aspects that may impact your treatment. For instance, if you plan to fast during Ramadhan, your fertility specialist may recommend that you delay a fertility treatment like IVF to wait for an optimal chance of success.

Discuss any medications with your fertility specialist

Some medications can negatively impact your fertility treatment, so it is best to consult with your RCC fertility specialist before taking any over-the-counter medications. This is necessary so that the specialist can review any interactions to ensure the best chances of conception and pregnancy. That includes herbal remedies and other complementary medicines.

Shape up for conception

Regular physical exercise promotes a healthier body and also promotes weight loss. It also ensures that endorphins or feel-good hormones circulate throughout your body. However, too much exercise can inhibit ovulation and reduce the production of progesterone hormone. Therefore consider limiting vigorous physical activity when you are ready for conception.

Take advantage of folic and iodine supplements.

Folic and iodine supplements are helpful when you are undergoing fertility treatment and even early in your pregnancy because they reduce the chances of the baby being born with birth defects like spina bifida. However, you should only take the ideal dose and ensure your fertility specialist is aware of the same.

Avoid alcohol and smoking.

Avoid alcohol and smoking, including secondhand smoke before and during fertility treatment. Alcohol reduces fertility, and drinking during pregnancy increases the chances of a miscarriage. It affects men by causing a lower sperm count, erectile dysfunction, and low testosterone levels. In women, it causes irregular periods and ovulation and reduces conception chances.

The last words

You should see a fertility specialist if you have been trying to conceive for more than six months with no success.