I often get the question: “What can I do to get pregnant?” or “What can we do to boost our fertility?”. As an obstetrician/gynecologist who has been specializing in the field of assisted reproduction for over 17 years, I would like to share some tips I have shared with my patients on how to improve fertility. This issue affects some 7.3 million women and men in the United States, representing 15% of couples in their prime reproductive years.
AGE
I want to start with age, because it is one of the biggies. Women are born with 1-2 million eggs and by the age of 37 they have 25,000 left. How well you reproduce depends on an number of factors but one of the most important is the age factor. The quality of those eggs begins to deteriorate after 30, and more significantly after 35, due to poor egg quality. There is no way to change egg quality. Consider trying to start your family earlier rather than later. If that is not possible, staying on birth control pills might extend the viability of the eggs in a woman’s ovaries by putting the ovaries at rest. Seek out help for infertility issues early instead of putting it off. If you are over 35 years old, make a well-defined, aggressive treatment plan with a set time-line. Don’t let your doctor reassure you that “everything is just fine and you just need to wait for it to happen.” Basically I counsel my patients over 35, if no pregnancy after 6 months, see a fertility specialist for a complete and thorough evaluation (which should only take 1-2 months to complete), create a treatment plan in a set amount of time and move through that plan sequentially. For example, if you start with ovulation induction and intercourse, use that for 4-6 months, then move to IUI for 4 attempts only, then move to IVF. As time passes, your chances are only getting less, even with IVF.
HEALTH
The key ingredient here is good health and exercise in the years before trying to conceive. Exercising for at least 5 hours each week is recommended. Good habits start early, but it’s never too late to start! Weight can also affect your ability to get pregnant, in some cases, and being too much above or below your ideal BMI (body mass index) can be detrimental. See the National Institute of Health’s website to calculate your BMI: http://nhlbisupport.com/bmi/ Aim to be at an ideal BMI, however, don’t postpone pregnancy for weight reduction if you are over 35.
DIET
A good diet prior to beginning your efforts to conceive is important as well. It makes sense to eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, but did you know that it’s been found that milk products and yogurt are equally important? Interestingly, a recent Harvard Medical School study suggests that whole milk products, not skim, are responsible for protecting against ovulatory infertility. Another significant finding has been that folic acid improves ovulation in women, and in men, sperm quality! It can be taken as a multi-vitamin and found in foods such as oranges. Eliminating trans fats in women who have diabetes seems to help as well. Moderate caffeine and alcohol intake is important as well. Again, ideal weight is beneficial. No matter what anyone says, there are no diets or foods that “enhance” fertility, but a healthy diet can help overall.
TIMED SEXUAL ACTIVITY
Many couples trying to conceive use over the counter ovulation kits. There are some things to keep in mind though. Most women ovulate 14 days before their next period. For example: If your cycles are 25 days, then you are most likely ovulating around cycle day #11. Your fertile period would then be CD# 9-13. Those are the days I would recommend intercourse. You should stop intercourse on CD#7 and wait until CD#9 to start. Have intercourse once per day on those five days, only one ejaculation per day. Start using your ovulation kit on CD #9 (counting back 16 days from the end of your average cycle). Remember, once the egg is released from the ovary, it’s only receptive to sperm and able to be fertilized for about 12 hours. If you have irregular cycles you may have another problem and you need to see a specialist to determine what is going on. But the absolute bottom line with timing is this, make it fun NOT scientific!! Your husband will become a reluctant participant if it is forced. Don’t tell him, “honey its my fertile time again we have to have sex”, rather, he shouldn’t even know. You should just set the stage to get him interested…candle-light dinner? That way, you’ll both enjoy the experience, and trying won’t be a chore.
KICK THE SMOKING HABIT
Virtually all studies show that smoking impairs fertility. In women, 10 or more cigarettes a day reduces egg quality. Post-conception smoking has been linked to miscarriages and ectopic pregnancies. In men who smoke there is a problem of lower sperm counts and lower sperm motility as well, which means, lower sperm functionality. Even worst is smoking marijuana. Any chemical that goes into your body, goes into your blood stream, into your cells and into your sperm and/or eggs. This is an absolute no no! Same with other forms of recreational drugs including large amounts of alcohol. My rule of thumb is, if it affects your brain cells, then it affects your reproductive cells as well.
RELAX
Couples who are trying to conceive can become stressed, especially if they have been trying for more than a few years. Yoga, acupuncture, massage and meditation tapes expressly made for infertility patients all help. My IVF patients are encouraged to use relaxation techniques. It helps them through the emotional ups and downs of the IVF process. The patients approach the procedure day in a much calmer, relaxed manner and it may make a difference in how well the retrieval and transfer goes. Going to see a therapist for massage therapy or meditation therapy may also be covered by insurance, if it can be shown that there is an anxiety disorder. As mentioned above, make it fun and enjoyable, not homework.
SCRUTINIZE YOUR DOCTOR
If you need to be evaluated for infertility, you want a doctor that knows fertility through and through. Most of these types of doctors will be able to offer ALL levels of infertility treatment. Just as you don’t want a doctor that only does Clomid, your don’t want a doctor that only does IVF. You’ll be thrust into the only thing they can do for you, Clomid or IVF. It is easy to screen for this. . . just ask, “what levels and types of treatment can you perform for me?” Most importantly, infertility needs to be diagnosed and treated by a Physician specialist, not general practitioners, nurses, PA’s or medical assistants.
IF ALL ELSE FAILS…
If your fertility journey is meeting too many roadblocks, then you may need to explore other options. Keep in mind, that if you fail to achieve pregnancy naturally, that is NOT the end of the road. I counsel my patients, “Nowadays, we can get almost anyone pregnant, it just depends on what I need to do to achieve the pregnancy”. There are many reasons why a woman or man may be infertile and a visit to a good fertility specialist will certainly narrow down or actually pinpoint where the problem lies. Treatment often varies from person to person so don’t expect to find the answer on a forum or in a chat room! Blocked fallopian tubes, high FSH levels, abnormal sperm count or low motility, all these and more account for infertility problems in many couples.
A diagnosis by a physician is necessary in order to effectively identify the best course of action for the couple trying to conceive. Above all, stay positive, we are here to help!
Edward Ramirez, M.D., F.A.C.O.G.
