Posted on April 3, 2009 - by Marie

Fertility issues

Not everyone can get pregnant at the drop of a hat. There are those women who seem to conceive just by thinking about it. Then, there are women who struggle with conception. If you are dealing with fertility issues, here are some ideas that could help to make becoming pregnant a little easier. They are pretty simple things, but they are very relevant.

1. First, plan a visit to the gynecologist. Tell him or her about your plans to get pregnant. By looking at your medical history, they can determine if there will be any issues or problems that might lower your chances of getting pregnant. Don’t leave out your husband’s medical history either. Any barriers to pregnancy can equally be due to him as well, so it’s important that you let the doctor know about both of you. If possible, your husband should consider attending this initial visit with you.
2. Second, get in shape. The doctor may advise you to lose weight if you are considered medically obese. Added weight can hinder your chances but not in the way that you might think. As long as your menstrual cycles are normal, there should be no issue. However, if you have irregular periods and you are considerably overweight, you may find this is one reason conceiving is difficult for you.
3. Third, think of your eating habits. Not being overweight and eating smart aren’t the same thing. Changing your chances of conception can be as simple as changing your diet too. This goes for both of you. Making a baby is a two-person process. Studies have shown that taking folic acid before getting pregnant and during pregnancy can reduce neural tube defects in newborns. A major source of folic acid is orange juice. It also provides a significant amount of Vitamin C which is helpful to your body whether you’re trying to have a baby or not.

Some overweight women experience hormonal imbalances as a result of the weight. If this imbalance varies the length and time of your cycle from the normal, this could be an issue. Overweight women are at risk for polycystic ovarian syndrome. Not enough female hormones are produced to mature your eggs for proper fertilization. Many women with this condition find they grow hair in places not normally found on women, such as their face, because of the increase in male hormones produced. The male hormone is necessary for conception, but not in high amounts from the mother.

Does your husband like to wear bikini briefs? You may want to buy him a package of boxers. Briefs push the testicles closer to the body. In such a warm environment, sperm can be damaged. He may look hot, but his sperm are paying the price.

A healthier you will lead to a healthier baby, so consider exercise if you haven’t already. Begin a workout regimen to stay in shape and reduce stress. Stress in your life will have negative effects on your body, but they can be eased with a surprisingly small amount of exercise.

If the problem can’t be fixed by changes that you can make on your own, seek help. Doctors that deal with fertility issues can offer several options for having a child of your own from in-vitro fertilization to the use of a surrogate mother.

The most important thing is: Don’t give up on your dream to have a baby just because conceiving doesn’t come as easy to you as it may seem to come to others!

Picture from flickr.

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Last 5 posts by Marie

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