How can simply being in close proximity to an infant boost your chances of getting pregnant? Learn more about that and other tips to increase fertility here.
What can you read in this article?
- Can being close to babies increase fertility?
- How can I increase my chances of getting pregnant?
How can simply being in close proximity to an infant increase your chances of getting pregnant? According to Healthline, there is no evidence to back this theory. Improved chances of conception can be attributed to a variety of factors, but simply being around a baby doesn't seem to be one of them. Sure, it can help a woman be more mentally prepared for motherhood, but its influence stops there.
Couples trying to conceive may consider fertility treatments---artificial insemination, IVF, surrogacy---in order to get pregnant once the cause of infertility is pinpointed. Testing sperm and hormone levels are just some ways doctors can determine why couples struggle to conceive.
If you want to increase your chances of getting pregnant, the first step really is to consult an OB-Gynecologist. According to Dr. Gergen Dizon, an OB-Gynecologist from the Makati Medical Center, it is important to have yourself and your partner checked to see if there are any factors that are hindering you from being pregnant. In fact, even if you're not there yet, it's best to consult a doctor to know more about your body's timeline.
"Its advisable that even if you're not gonna be pregnant or even if you don't have plans of getting married yet, it's best to see an OB so that you will be knowledgeable about your body and you know what to expect. It doesn’t mean that if you consult and OB-Gynecologist, you will be given treatment right away. It is just to give you scienctific knowledge on what you have to go through or what need you need to do so you will be guided," she said in Filipino.
Factors to consider in getting pregnant
If you want to get pregnant, you also have to consider these several factors that may affect your chances at fertility:
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Age
According to Mayo Clinic, the quality and quantity of a woman's eggs begin to decline with age. The rate of follicle loss increases during the mid-30s, resulting in fewer and poorer quality eggs.
Because of this, Dr. Dizon recommends getting pregnant at least before the age of 35.
"Realistically, the ideal age to get pregnant is at least before 35. Because at 35, our ovarian reserves start to decline," she said.
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Weight
Being overweight or severely underweight also has an effect on your ovulation. Obesity is one of the symptoms and also a common trigger of polycystic ovarian syndrome or PCOS, which is a condition that causes hormonal imbalance which makes it hard for one to get pregnant.
For her patients who have PCOS, Dr. Dizon even recommends losing weight first to increase their chances at getting pregnant.
"If you're on the heavy side, you have to lose 15% of your present weight. That will have a positive effect on your PCOS and will increase your fertility," she said.
Meanwhile, being significantly underweight also causes hormonal imbalance that can disrupt the regular ovulation cycle. Maintaining a healthy weight (measured by body mass index or BMI) can increase the frequency of ovulation and the likelihood of pregnancy. Learn more about that here.
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Sexual history
If you or your partner have multiple partners, you may acquire sexually transmitted infections (STI) that can have a detrimental effect on your fertility. STIs such as chlamydia and gonorrhea can damage the fallopian tubes, preventing conception.
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Lifestyle
Aside from damaging your cervix and fallopian tubes, smoking can increase your risk of miscarriage and ectopic pregnancy. Experts believe that it can also speed up the aging your ovaries and deplete your eggs prematurely. Alcohol consumption is also said to reduce fertility, both in men and women.
Moreover, Dr. Dizon confirmed that stress can also be a factor in decreasing your chances at getting pregnant. She had patients who got pregnant after taking a break from getting so worked up about their fertility.
So, being close to kids or babies may not be your ticket to having one, but there are still several ways that can help boost your chances at getting pregnant.
How to get pregnant: tips to increase fertility
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Exercise the right way
Get moving even before you start trying to conceive. Not only does it promise health benefits, it can also keep your weight in check.
While being physically active does increase your chances at getting pregnant, overdoing it can also interfere with ovulation.
"Doctors see a lot of menstrual disturbances in women who exercise heavily, and a lot of times these women need to cut back on their workouts if they want to become pregnant," said Dr. Mary Ellen Pavone, a reproductive endocrinologist and infertility specialist at Northwestern Medicine in Chicago.
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Revamp your diet
Steering clear of trans fats can help boost fertility. Foods with trans fats hamper the body's insulin reaction, causing irregular ovulation. Cutting down on caffeine and alcohol will also help.
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Don't douche
We previously advised you against douching in order to protect infection, but it can also serve another purpose. Women who douche more than once a week have been found to have low fertility levels, according to a study by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.
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Track your ovulation and have sex during your fertile window
According to Pavone, the most important advice for a woman who wants to get pregnant is to get to know her body, specifically her menstrual cycle.
"It's important to know how far apart her cycles are so she can more accurately time intercourse to try to get pregnant," she said.
Knowing when to have sex is important. Keep an ovulation calendar to keep track of when you are the most fertile. Assuming a favorable sex position will also help, as it can keep the sperm in the vagina longer, making it easier to conceive.
"The vagina naturally tilts toward the back, so lying on the back allows the semen to pool in the proper location," said Dr. Philip E. Chenette of California. "The longer you can keep the seminal fluid near the cervix, the more sperm will be in the proper location."
READ MORE:
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Relax
Examples of these are meditation, autogenic training, and progressive relaxation. During meditation, you can sit in silence while concentrating on your breathing. Chanting a phrase repetitively can help tune out unwanted sounds, thoughts and feelings, keeping you focused on your breathing. Autogenic training, on the other hand, helps your body reach the point of deep relaxation, by conditioning it to respond to verbal instruction, like "my heart is calm and it is beating regularly." Lastly, progressive relaxation is done by focusing on the tensing and relaxing of muscles when you're sitting or lying down. Start at the top of your head and work your way down to the tips of your toes, being mindful of squeezing muscles and holding them for less than 10 seconds and releasing tension as you go along.
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Seek medical assistance
"That's why when a couple embarks on a fertility work out, it has to be the both of you. The man will have his sperm checked, and the woman will have an ultrasound to see if she is ovulating and if her fallopian tubes are open," she explained.
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