People ask me all the time how they can improve their chances of getting pregnant. It’s true that certain things may be out of your control (e.g. blocked fallopian tubes) and may require the assistance of a fertility specialist. However, there are a number of things you DO have control over that can help optimize the success of pregnancy.
First, for all you smokers out there, here is yet another reason to quit smoking. Women who smoke have a higher risk of infertility as well as a higher risk of miscarriage with any pregnancy. Even if you proceed with fertility treatment, such as IVF, the chance of pregnancy goes down by up to 50%. Even if you don’t smoke, if your partner does, this can decrease your fertility.
Secondly, get your weight under control. An optimal body mass index (BMI) for fertility (and health) appears to be between 18.5 and 25. If you do not fall within this range, consider talking further with your physician about strategies to safely change your weight. Even if you are not able to modify your weight to this range, even small changes in the right direction can make a major impact on your health and fertility! (A BMI calculator can easily be found on the internet)
Third, limit your caffeine intake and alcohol intake. There is some evidence that drinking excess caffeine (e.g. more than 2 cups of coffee daily) can decrease your chances of conceiving as well as increase the chance of miscarriage after conception. Before ovulation, keep alcohol to a minimum (no more than 1-2 alcoholic drinks in a day); there is no known safe amount of alcohol to drink after ovulation (and possible conception) has occurred.
Lastly, make sure you are getting enough sleep and that you are engaging in some sort of regular activity during this time. Giving your body adequate rest and maintaining lower stress levels is important.
Trying to conceive can be stressful, and it’s important to make the right choices so that you can maximize your chances for success!
Dr. Natalie Burger