Women are born with a finite number of eggs which are depleted monthly through menstruation until menopause sets in and ovulation stops. Unfortunately, there is nothing that can be done to increase the number of eggs you have and there are very few things that influence the quality of those eggs. The primary determinant of egg quality is your age, which is why conceiving can become more difficult and pregnancy more high risk the older you become. Men, on the other hand, make new and healthy sperm every two months for the entirety of their lives. Unfair!
However, there are a few things that women can do to enhance fertility. Below are six easy tips to improve your chances of conceiving:
1. Don’t smoke
With the depleting nature of ovulation, it is important to avoid things that accelerate the loss process. A common bad habit that many do not take into account with regards to their fertility is smoking. Both cigarette and marijuana smoke can negatively affect not only ovulation, but sperm as well.
2. Take Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) daily
Though further research is needed, studies have shown that supplements such as CoQ10 may assist egg quality.
3. Decrease alcohol intake
Consuming more than three to four drinks per week has been associated with decreased fertility in both men and women.
4. Have sex
Trying to conceive can become quite the stressful and unsexy process when you start including thermometers, ovulation kits and processes such as mucus checking in the bedroom. Stress can decrease natural conception, which is why it is important to take time to have sex for pleasure, not just conception, two to three times per week. It doesn’t matter if it is standing up , missionary or upside down- sperm have good GPS!
Sperm also live for three days and the egg lives for 12-24 hours inside a woman’s reproductive tract, so do not feel rushed or pressured when trying to conceive naturally.
5. Avoid hot water
Hot tubs, hot baths and generally increased temperatures around the testicles can negatively affect sperm production. The external temperature that testicles typically find themselves in is ideal for sperm, so when it undergoes a drastic change the creation process is slowed.
6. Do not hesitate to seek help
If you are under the age of 35 and have been trying for a year with no results, it is important to consult with a physician right away to determine if there are underlying fertility issues you and your partner may not be aware of. Same goes for if you are between the age of 35 and 40 and have been trying for 6 months with no results. If you are above the age of 40 it is recommended you speak with a doctor as soon as possible, as conceiving naturally becomes more difficult at this point in life.
7. Consider egg freezing
If you do not plan on having children until later in life, freezing your eggs now can save you difficulty down the road. Substantial gains have been made in egg freezing technology, which have translated into more successful pregnancy rates.