5 Ways to increase fertility in women

Fertility problems affect about 10 to 14 percent of the Indian population and up to 15 percent of couples worldwide. Urban areas are more burdened with this problem with one out of six couples being affected by fertility issues.

If you are facing an uphill task to start a family, luckily, you are not alone in those challenges. While mother nature has a role in the timing, there are certain things that you can do to increase your chances of getting pregnant.

Stay relaxed after intercourse

This is one of the popular myths one must have heard – after intercourse you should be in bed with feet in the air to heighten your chances of conception. The fact is while it is advisable to relax in bed for ten to fifteen minutes after having sex, however, you do not need to keep your feet in the air to become pregnant. Another thing that you should not do immediately after intercourse is to use the bathroom. As you relax and stay in bed for a while, the sperm that is trying to enter the cervix will have a higher chance to get in the cervix.

There are several myths about the best positions if you wish to get pregnant, however, these are just myths with no scientific evidence behind them. A missionary position with the woman on top is known to maximize your chances of conception is a myth as it is very rare for a woman’s cervix to be in an unusual position where specific positions can make a difference. Although, sitting or standing during intercourse may hinder the upstream travel of sperm. So, it is best to stay away from these gravity-defying positions if you are planning to get pregnant.

In trying to get pregnant, many couples go overboard by having daily intercourse, however, having everyday sex does not necessarily increase your chances of conception even during ovulation. Rather, during ovulation – having sex every other night helps increase your chance of getting pregnant. Therefore, it is best to have regular sex–irrespective of when you are ovulating or not.

Healthy lifestyle

A healthy lifestyle is a mix of a balanced and nutritious diet, and regular exercise. A fertility-rich diet includes foods rich in antioxidants such as folate and zinc. Healthy fats not only boost fertility but improve overall health as well, However, trans fats commonly found in hydrogenated vegetable oils, processed products baked goods, etc. are linked with an increased risk of ovulatory infertility.

Refined carbs are not advisable in excess amounts which include sugary foods and drinks and processed grains, including bread, rice, and white pasta. Instead, add more fiber to your diet as it helps to get rid of excess hormones and keeps blood sugar balanced. In addition, make sure to control high intakes of low-fat dairy foods as it may increase the risk of infertility, on the other hand, high-fat dairy foods may decrease it.

Exercise is an integral part of a healthy lifestyle, however, tries not to go overboard, moderate exercise for at least 30 minutes, 5 days a week is sufficient.

Meditation and Yoga

Yoga and meditation have a host of benefits for overall health and issues relating to fertility as well. While meditation relaxes the mind, yoga can help in several ways to boost fertility. Several asanas stimulate the ovaries and uterus, flush out the toxins from the body and purify the energy channels. It also improves blood supply to the reproductive organs and reduces mood swings and depression. Moreover, yoga even enables smooth delivery.

No use of recreational drugs

Recreational drugs like cocaine, heroin, ecstasy, cannabis, and others can reduce the chance of having a baby and when taken over a long period can cause permanent problems with the reproductive system and infertility. Also, these can serious problems during pregnancy as they can pass into the bloodstream and directly affect eggs or sperm and reduce fertility. They can even cross the mother’s placenta and cause serious problems for the baby.

Besides, it is also important to stay away from smoking and alcoholic drinks if you are planning to get pregnant. Smoking not only has a host of negative health effects, the habit also decreases fertility by affecting estrogen levels and ovulation.

Medical intervention to increase fertility

At times, couples may need medical intervention to increase their chances of parenthood. Depending on the underlying issue, infertility treatment includes either medication or surgery or the use of sophisticated techniques such as in-vitro fertilization.

Fertility drugs regulate or stimulate ovulation and remain the mainstay of treatment for women with ovulation disorders. They work like natural hormones to trigger ovulation – follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH). Fertility drugs are also used in otherwise ovulating women to stimulate extra egg/s or for that matter a better egg