How To Improve Fertility Naturally
When we are young, we think that getting pregnant will just happen, as if by some magic, when a couple love each other, right?
Wrong….we know that now, of course, and whilst most couples will get pregnant within a year, around one in seven couples may have difficulty in conceiving, and women become less fertile as they get older.
Coupled with many now choosing to have children later in life than earlier generations, this can have an effect on the rate of conception.
In addition to this, there are lots of factors which can cause fertility problems, which are often outside of our control and which require medical intervention, such as hormone disorders and disorders of the fallopian tubes.
With this in mind, it is important when trying to conceive that we do all we can to help to naturally improve our bodies along the way by boosting fertility naturally, to increase our chances. But how can we do this?
Eliminate Alcohol
According to Drinkaware alcohol can decrease fertility in both men and women and even light drinking can impact on our chances of hearing the pitter-patter of tiny feet.
The UK Chief Medical Officer recommends that women trying to have a baby should not drink alcohol at all, as alcohol affects the level of oestrogen in our bodies, which is the female reproductive hormone.
It can also reduce the number of eggs you have left, and have an impact on ovulation according to Bupa.
Pelvic Floor Diet: Foods to Avoid with Pelvic Floor Dysfunction
Alcohol is not the only thing to avoid, if you are suffering from pelvic floor dysfunction, which we will discuss further in the next section.
It is also worth avoiding acidic fruit and vegetables, carbonated and sugary drinks, caffeine and spicy foods. Have a read of this comprehensive article - Foods to Avoid with Pelvic Floor Dysfunction
Eat Antioxidant Rich Food
A good diet is important which every way you look at it, but can eating certain foods boost your fertility?
Whilst there is no specific food that will wave a magic wand and boost your chances of conceiving, improving your overall health can help, and eating a nutritious and well balanced diet plays a key role in this.
Bananas, eggs, avocados, fish and water can all help improve your pelvic health, as well as antioxidant rich foods.
Antioxidants are substances that may protect your cells against free radicals, which may play a role in heart disease, cancer and other diseases.
Free radicals are molecules produced when your body breaks down food or when you're exposed to tobacco smoke or radiation.
Try eating plenty of the following foods to boost your antioxidants:
Blueberries, dark chocolate, tomatoes, raspberries, spinach, strawberries, and many more
Have a look at the following articles for more information:
Quit smoking
It goes without saying that smoking is not good for your overall health, but it's also proven to be especially bad for your fertility, significantly harming your ability to conceive but also contributing to problems such as fallopian tube problems, egg damage, higher risk of miscarriage and an increased risk of developing cervical cancer.
Do Pelvic Floor Exercises
When we are pregnant, for some, our midwife preaches to us to do our pelvic floor exercises, Kegel exercises..
So, while we are trying to conceive, this is the perfect time to start getting into the healthy habit of doing regular Kegels.
- A Step-By-Step Guide To Do Kegel Exercises
- Join our 30 Day Pelvic Floor Challenge in March 2023 and get ready for pregnancy, or strengthen your pelvic floor during pregnancy and postpartum
Doing your Kegels can also can support the recovery of your pelvic floor during pregnancy, help reduce the risk of prolapse and prepare for an easier delivery and faster recovery
Starting your pregnancy with a pelvic floor that is as strong as can be, will help support your growing baby and your pelvic organs. Having a strong pelvic floor can also help reduce the risk of some pregnancy discomforts such as urine leakage, prolapse and hemorrhoids.
There is also some belief that your pelvic floor can help or hinder conception by indirectly impacting on fertility. Whilst there is little scientific proof that this is the case, it seems likely that there is some mileage in the thought that pelvic floor dysfunction will have a detrimental effect on the whole process of conception.
Let's look into this more:
So, What is Pelvic Floor Dysfunction?
Pelvic floor dysfunction is an umbrella term to describe weak or malfunctioning pelvic floor muscles.
A weakness in this area can affect conception and delay pregnancy due to pelvic pain, stress and pain with intercourse and repeated infections.
Pelvic floor exercises (Kegels) are recommended to improve the muscle strength. Pelvic floor dysfunction does not cause infertility, however, a healthy strong pelvic floor can improve the rate of fertility success in some cases, because fertility drugs reply on a healthy sex life at conception.
A weak pelvic floor condition that causes pain and lack of sexual intercourse enjoyment will hinder this, so a good regime of pelvic floor exercise will help combat this issue and also help towards a successful pregnancy, stretching to accommodate the baby’s weight and in childbirth.
Now, Let's Talk ORGASMS!
In addition to all the benefits mentioned above, a strong pelvic floor can also help your orgasm during sex, and some researchers think that the female orgasm definitely exists to assist with conception.
According to Verywell, there are a number of theories surrounding the idea that the female orgasm is for more than just fun!
As early as 1967, zoologist Desmond Morris was proposing the theory that the female orgasm was to tire women out so that they lie down after sex and enable sperm to arrive at their final destination.
Studies have been inconclusive on this, and there is little evidence to support the other theories, including the ‘Upsuck Theory’ and the ‘Evolutionary Theory’.
However, there is a study which found a weak but significant correlation between orgasm rate and number of offspring, and when environmental factors were added in, this connection disappeared, so let’s just go with the closing thoughts from the article by Verywell and just do it for fun!
According to the NCFMC, a Fertility Center , it is wise to incorporate pelvic floor exercises into your workout routine before getting pregnant, rather than waiting until your baby is born to start thinking about Kegels.
Learn more how our Secret Whispers Kegel Weights can help you prepare for pregnancy.
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