Boosting Your Chances of Conception By Joan Swirsky
The woman of yesteryear married in her teens or twenties and because of her youth never had a moment of anxiety about getting pregnant. But for the past 30-plus years many have chosen careers over early marriage and parenthood, so when they marry in their thirties or even forties and their biological clocks are ticking loudly, they often find that getting pregnant can no longer be taken for granted.
This is because as women age, the limited number of eggs they’re born with age too and also decrease. Further, age-related health issues like high blood pressure and diabetes and gynecological problems such as fibroids and endometriosis increase. These situations can make conception more difficult. And as men age, testosterone can diminish and sperm can become less potent and also lacking in motility (the ability to move quickly).
To meet the daunting challenges that later-in-life parenthood presents, modern-day health experts are recommending a prophylactic approach to optimizing the odds in favor of pregnancy. They’re suggesting that couples embark on aggressive pre-conception three-month physical and mental regimens to increase the likelihood of conception, including:
Being consistently active.
Eating a healthful diet and taking off that extra weight.
Both mom-and-dad-to-be getting full physical and dental check-ups.
Stopping all alcohol drinking and smoking.
Working to lessen the stress in one’s personal life and workplace.
Awareness about ovulation.
Knowing about health insurance issues that relate to fertility treatments.
Educating yourself about the latest fertility drugs and procedures.
Seeking medical advice early for any conditions or problems that may be preventing the chances of conception.
Asking your obstetrician or fertility expert about all options about becoming parents.
Strengthening your personal relationship so “making a baby” isn’t the only thing you’re pursuing together.
Of course there are no guarantees, but caring for yourself in this way is the first step to hopefully soon having another person in your life to care for as well.
Joan Swirsky is a psychotherapist, former OB nurse, and the author of Gift of Life: A Spiritual Companion for the Mother-to-Be.
Steps to Take Before You Conceive
Michael Lu, M.D., is an associate professor of OB/GYN and Public Health and lead investigator for the Los Angeles-Ventura Study Center of the National Children’s Study, which evaluates how the environment and genetics affect children's health and development. Dr. Lu says that a key timeframe regarding pregnancy is before a woman gets pregnant. He suggests that every woman:
Start prenatal care before you get pregnant.
Don’t eat for two. Nourish for two, including “brain foods” like beans, eggs and nuts, salmon and broccoli, which can help your future baby develop a healthy brain. Avoid toxic foods, for instance fish that contains high levels of mercury, products made with unpasteurized milk and unwashed or raw vegetables.
Detoxify your environment of common household products like air fresheners and antibacterial soaps, etc., that contain potential reproductive and developmental toxic byproducts.
Help your partner get ready for your pregnancy by eliminating products that can damage the DNA of sperm, for example tobacco, alcohol, drugs, caffeine, a poor diet, etc.
