Lifestyle choices in men and women play a huge role when trying to conceive. It is vital that you and your partner maintain a healthy lifestyle to achieve the maximal chance of successfully making a baby. There are several bad habits that are frowned upon because they can be damaging to your fertility as they reduce your chances of getting pregnant. Your NCCRM infertility doctor Cary has compiled a list of eight bad habits that you should break to increase your fertility to help you and your partner successfully conceive a baby.
- Stop Staying Up Late – Prioritizing sleep should be top of mind, especially in women, as some research studies have found a connection between poor sleep habits and irregular periods, and irregular periods can be a symptom of infertility. Poor sleep habits may also lead to weight problems, both in men and women, as being overweight can lead to ovulation problems for women, and obesity has been connected to less healthy sperm in men.
- Cut Back On Caffeine Intake – While one cup of coffee or tea is probably not going to harm your fertility, several cups a day may. Consuming more than 300mg of caffeine a day may slightly reduce your fertility and may increase the risk of miscarriage, so stick to 2 cups or less a day to be safe.
- Exercise, But Don’t Overdo It – Regular exercise can also help you maintain a healthier weight, which means better fertility, but it is possible to have too much of a good thing. More than an hour a day, or over seven hours a week of intense exercise, is not good for your fertility health. According to your NCCRM infertility doctor Cary, you should be exercising at least three times a week, for at least 30 minutes each time.
- Avoid Overeating And Junk Food Binges – Overeating and going on junk food binges can lead to problems with your weight, and problems with your weight can lead to fertility problems. Also, eating lots of junk food at once can lead to your blood sugar spiking. Since there is a theory that insulin and fertility are connected, this is probably not good for your fertility health.
- Don’t Procrastinate, Call Your Doctor – Women’s fertility begins to decline at age 27 and starts a steeper dive at age 35. For men, fertility declines after 40. If you have been trying to conceive for 6 months to a year with no luck, contact your NCCRM infertility doctor Cary right away.
- Drink Less Alcohol – While an occasional drink probably won’t harm your fertility, serious drinking can. Women who drink during pregnancy risk their baby’s health, so it’s especially important to deal with a drinking problem before trying to conceive.
- Quit Smoking – Smoking affects the fertility of both men and women, and some research has found that secondhand smoke can also decrease female fertility.
- Don’t Engage In Unsafe Sex – Sexually transmitted diseases can lead to infertility. In fact, STDs are the number one preventable cause of infertility. If left untreated, STDs may lead to pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), which can cause infertility in women. STDs can also lead to infertility in men, though it less commonly happens because men typically show symptoms of STDs right away and get treatment. Women, on the other hand, may harbor an infection for a long time without any symptoms, causing the infection to wreak havoc on their reproductive system.
NCCRM Infertility Doctor Cary
Your NCCRM infertility doctor Cary highly recommends cutting these bad habits out of your life to naturally increase your fertility. Though these bad habits are not easy to break, each step towards creating healthier habits makes a difference! Keep trying, get the support you need, and commit yourself to living a healthier life. Contact NCCRM today to learn more!
