Good day bloggers. We are happy to revisit our findings and ways to increase the chances of conception naturally. Human reproduction as we know is not very efficient. Under normal conditions, a healthy
A woman in her early to mid-20s has a 25–30% chance of pregnancy every month. Fertility generally starts to decline when a woman is in her early 30s, and more so after the age of 35. By age 40, the chance of fertility in any monthly cycle is around 5%
A woman can only suspect her pregnancy, at the earliest, two weeks after fertilization. Or when she misses a period. This can be the case when her periods are regular. Using laboratory tests, embryos can be detected after implantation into the womb a week after fertilization.
Are there any ways by which chances of fertility be increased naturally? Yes. Let us explore the options available to us. While mentioning so, remember the important fact.
Age is the main factor which has a huge impact on pregnancy outcomes. Planning the same along with biological age will make the process easy and stress-free.
1. Get the details of your menstrual cycle right and try to regularize them.
The length of the menstrual cycle varies and is different for every woman, but the average periods are every 28 days. Regular cycles are those falling in the range of 23 to 35 days and are considered normal. The menstrual cycle length is the time from the first day of a woman’s period to the day before her next period.
The menstrual cycle is always controlled by hormones. In each menstrual cycle, rising levels of the hormone estrogen will direct ovaries to mature and release an egg (ovulation). Simultaneously, the womb lining also becomes thick.
In the second half of the menstrual cycle, the hormone called progesterone helps the implantation of an embryo after fertilization.
If pregnancy doesn’t occur during this process, the egg is reabsorbed by the body. Levels of hormones estrogen and progesterone fall, and the womb lining sheds. This shedding in normal terms is seen as a period (the menstrual flow). Your menstrual period is a Reflection of overall health. The hormones which control cycles can control other aspects of the head too.
Besides fertility, why is having a regular cycle so important?
A. Regular menstrual bleeding is a mechanism to protect the endometrial linings from abnormal cell growth. This regular shedding of endometrial cells creates a healthy lining.
B. Missing regular cycles is about the clue that key health markers or hormonal balance are likely suboptimal.
C. We want the hormonal benefits of ovulation. Progesterone is absolutely essential for fertility and also improves sleep quality and anti-anxiety support.
D. Regular periods can ensure social and mental well-being.
The best practice to improve the chances of fertility naturally is, to track your ovulation. Ovulation is the process wherein, an ovary releases an egg for fertilization. Knowing ovulation timings of essential because that is the most fertile period.
If you have irregular periods, tracking your cycle can be done with ovulation predictor kits (OPKs). This can reliably predict ovulation up to 24 hours in advance.
2. Timed intercourse before ovulation
To maximize the chances of pregnancy, one must plan sexual activity one to two days before ovulation. Once an egg is released from the ovary, it has 12-24 hours to be fertilized by sperm. After this period, an egg is broken down by the body. Surprisingly, sperm can live inside the woman’s reproductive tract for up to five days waiting for an egg. Having intercourse a day after ovulation probably will not increase the chances of pregnancy as the fertile window has passed.
3. Maintaining a healthy Body Mass Index (BMI) for both partners.
A lot of attention is given to the female body as she is the one to carry pregnancy but males are equally responsible when it is to maintaining a healthy weight.
A healthy BMI is essential for fertility because it ensures hormone balance and increases the chances of a successful pregnancy. Being overweight or obese can lead to inflammation and insulin resistance and can disrupt the delicate balance of hormones needed for ovulation and fertilization. In men, being overweight can result in low testosterone levels. Such conditions can affect sperm quality and production.
Some of the estrogen in the body is produced by body fat. Being obese, you may have too much estrogen. If underweight, one may have too little estrogen. Such situations can interfere with pregnancy.
Weight weighs and it’s a heavy burden during planning a pregnancy. Simply saying one must “exercise and eat right” isn’t always enough for your life. If hormones are involved in your weight loss or gain, it is important to seek the guidance of a fertility expert.
4. Have a mindful Fertility-Friendly Diet
What you eat definitely impacts fertility. Observational studies show that eating a healthy, colourful diet, with fresh fruits, vegetables, healthy fats, and plant protein may help improve your reproductive health.
Always include Monounsaturated fats coming from nuts and seeds.
Vegetable protein sources like beans, lentils etc. ensure maximum cell growth and nourishment.
Low glycemic carbohydrates like complex carbs, which don’t raise blood sugar
Dairy products (like yoghurt, and cottage cheese to be included in the diet.
Whole grains, Iron from plants will add up to the maximum absorption and building of tissues.
In addition, now is an excellent time to take a prenatal vitamin with Folate, Vitamin D, Vitamin B Complex, Calcium, Iron, Zinc, and Magnesium in anticipation of pregnancy.
5. Manage Stress Levels by responding rather than reacting.
We, know that stress can impact overall health, but few realize that it is the culprit behind fertility issues.
Stress doesn’t just arise from life events. It can also be the result of excessive exercise, a lack of sleep, and too much alcohol consumption. Research shows that high-stress levels are linked with an increased time to conception. The body releases cortisol. In small amounts, cortisol can be beneficial, providing the body with a boost of energy. Stress hormones, such as cortisol and epinephrine, rise during stressful conditions and may affect one’s fertility in a negative way. Reducing stress can increase blood flow and nutrients to the reproductive organs. When our stress levels rise, resulting in high cortisol, sex hormone, gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), which is secreted by the hypothalamus, gets suppressed. Low gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) can decrease sperm count, ovulation, sex hormones and sexual activity.
The best way to reduce stress is to have internal open communication with near and dear ones. Have positive self-talk. Opt for yoga, low-intensity exercises, meditation, have deep breathing exercises. Be a part of a forum where genuine discussions will be of great help.
Hope, this blog, serves the purpose of boosting the chances of conception.