How to Enhance Your Fertility the Natural Way

If you've been having difficulties getting pregnant, you must already know thatthere are a multitude of reasons why this is so. Biological, environmental, andpsychological factors all play a role in a man or a woman's fertility, and itwould take an entire volume of books to thoroughly deal with the topic. But ifyou don't want to jump into expensive and invasive fertility treatments just yet,you can't simply sit down and wait for the right time because as you age, youmove farther away from the "ideal" time to make a baby.

That said, it's never too early to look into the natural ways of boosting yourfertility. Many of these have not been scientifically proven to unequivocallyresult in pregnancy, yet hundreds of studies have been made linking them to anoverall improvement of health, which, by way of logic, is really what weshould be aiming for in the first place.

Maintain a healthy lifestyle

Women should make the environment where a fetus would develop forapproximately 9 months as healthy and welcoming as possible. Men, likewise,should take care of the health to ensure that they will be producing viablesperm. No matter how much you spend on modern technology involvingfertility, if you won't stick to healthy practices, then the road to gettingpregnant and having a healthy baby will only be longer and rougher.

Avoid harmful substances. If you're a smoker or a drinker, now is the besttime to quit. There have been a considerable number of studies showing thatsmokers are more likely to be infertile than nonsmokers, all other controllablefactors being the same. If your partner smokes, even if you are a nonsmoker,you'll still get its ill effects, being a passive smoker.

Alcohol has also been found to produce adverse effects on conception andpregnancy. Binge drinking is especially prohibited if you are aiming to getpregnant. Low levels of alcohol, such as the occasional glass of wine, hasnever been shown to cause any adverse effects, but doctors advise that youerr on the side of caution and avoid alcohol completely.

The use of prescription drugs should always be taken up with yourprescription if you're planning on conceiving. There are certain maintenancedrugs that can still be taken during pregnancy – such as thyroxine which isprescribed for thyroid disorders – which are safe even for pregnant women.

On the other hand, there are drugs that can reduce a person's fertility andworse, cause harm to a developing fetus. Non-prescription drugs areespecially dangerous, as they have been proven to cause congenitalabnormalities in babies. Regular cocaine use, for instance, can adversely affectthe production of sperm and the male hormone testosterone, resulting in adecrease in libido.

Marijuana affects a woman's menstrual cycle and ovulation, often shorteningthe luteal phase of the menstrual cycle. When this happens, the chances of thefertilized egg being implanted on the uterine wall become smaller.

Regular heroin use affects the brain and causes it to inhibit the hormonedopamine. When this happens, the amount of prolactin increases and the lutealphase of the menstrual cycle is reduced fom about 12 days to only 10 days,making conception more difficult to time.

Have a healthy diet. To keep your organs, tissues, and cells in peak condition,always have a balanced diet and keep off foods rich in preservatives. Ifpossible, go organic. You don't have to turn vegetarian. If you are, make sureyou're getting enough nutrients, as vegetarianism narrows one's diet.

Look into other protein sources like tofu and cook similar dishes in differentways by using different spices. If you're planning to conceive, you might wantto take supplements for Vitamin B12, Vitamin D, zinc, and calcium. If you'vealways been a coffee drinker, you need not abruptly stop the habit if it makesyou more testy, because one or two cups won't really do harm.

Vitamins A, C, and E have been found to play important roles in spermmorphology and motility. Fatty acids, sourced from canola or soya bean oil,linseed and pumpkin seeds, and oily fish such as trout, salmon, and tuna, areneeded to ensure the development and proper functioning of tissues in themajor organs. A deficiency in fatty acids results in reduced fertility.

Exercise. There is no doubt that exercise, when done in moderation, canboost your fertility and help you conceive. First, you will be able to shedunwanted pounds, making you more resistant to illnesses.

Second, it increases your endorphins and consequently increases libido. Third,if you and your partner have decided to undergo medical procedures to treatinfertility, exercising would help you tolerate the drugs better and help youcope with the rigors of the various procedures.

Alternative treatments

Aromatherapy. The use of essential oils in aromatherapy is said to reducestress and symptoms of anxiety. Since stress has been indirectly correlatedwith infertility, there's no harm in trying this safe and inexpensive treatment.

Acupuncture. This treatment – which involves sticking fine needles into certainpoints of your body – is not really cheap, but aside from giving you betterchances of conceiving (as it is said to remove blockages and correct the flowof energy, or "qi" in your body), acupuncture could relieve you of variousother ailments as well.

Acupressure. Similar to the way acupuncture works, this method involvesapplying pressure on meridian points to stimulate one's qi. A fertility expertwould be able to work on the points connected to the important male andfemale organs to encourage conception.

There are certainly other alternative treatments for fertility, like the use offertility herbs, hypnotherapy, or homeopathy, but it is still best to consult yourdoctor about them before trying them out.