Learn how you can increase your fertility and chances of becoming pregnant

There are many things you can change in your life to increase your chances of getting pregnant. Making as many changes as you can to all aspects of your life will have the biggest impact on improving your fertility. It's never about just changing one thing, making lots of little changes has the best results.

Optimise your diet

Drink no more than two glasses of alcohol a week. Red wine is better for blood. Some people say don't drink any alcohol at all when trying for a baby. I don't agree. Drinking some alcohol a week is good for the body and reduces stress. Of course, when you become pregnant, don't drink any alcohol
Optimise your diet to include more protein, fish and iron. Eat less gluten and refined sugars

Control your weight

Don’t diet. Exercise if you need lose body weight. Use the waist-hip ratio to determine if you need to lose weight rather than the BMI score
You need at least 22% body fat, so don't lose too much weight so to ensure a healthy pregnancy

Take a prenatal vitamin

It's important to take a good quality prenatal supplement that has a broad range of vitamins and minerals including folic acid every day.

Optimise your lifestyle

Don’t have a bath after you ovulate. Have a shower instead as heat around the abdomen can cause an embryo to dislodge from your uterus wall
Don’t lift anything heavy
Don’t smoke
Reduce your use of technology, i.e. cell phones, tablets, laptops as these drain your energy making you weak, which damages your fertility
Sleep around 10pm and for 7-8 hours. Don't sleep later than 10pm as this weakens you
Slow down your pace of life. Going too fast uses a lot of energy that could otherwise be used for your fertility
Wear the right clothes and footwear for the season you are in, for example thermals in winter as this will aid blood flow around your body and therefore the regulation of your fertility hormones

Have regular treatment

Have acupuncture treatment regularly
Take Chinese herbs
Take vitamin supplements

What to avoid

Don't work long hours

Don’t work night shifts as this greatly damages fertility
Don't work more than 40 hours a week as this too greatly damages fertility
I advise against taking your basal body temperature every day as this causes stress, which affects your hormones

Don't exercise to much

Exercise 2-3 times a week, but no more as too much exercise damages fertility
Practice qi gong or yoga

Check your medications

Reduce your use of painkillers and SSRIs (always consult with your doctor first) as they damage fertility

Reduce your exposure to harmful pollutants

Reduce your exposure to air pollution, chemicals, plastics and heavy metals as they all damage fertility

Good fertility is a state of mind

Be positive and use an affirmation board to visualise your new baby
Listen to your body. It knows best. Often we are in our minds and not listening to our body, which can mean we don't listen to our body telling us to slow down and take a break
Practice mindfulness or meditation. This will help reduce anxiety and stress, which greatly impacts on fertility
Reduce your stress and have fun as this too helps reduce anxiety and stress, thereby improving your fertility

Male fertility

Male fertility has been decreasing rapidly for over 70 years. However, there are many things that a man can do to increase his sperm count and sperm production.