There are lots of rumours and myths surrounding fertility. Most of us are aware that women should stop smoking and take folic acid if they are trying to get pregnant. However, who would have thought that wrapping your lunch in a paper bag could make a difference?
We asked Dr Marilyn Glenville, the UK’s leading nutritionist specialising in women’s health and author of best selling ‘Getting Pregnant Faster’ (www.marilynglenville.com) to share with us shocking ways to boost fertility.
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Get out in the sun
Research reveals that there could, in fact, be a link between sunbathing and fertility, and it's to do with the levels of vitamin D you have. Vitamin D is created in the body, mainly through sunlight. In a woman’s body, vitamin D can help balance the immune system, which is vital for getting and staying pregnant.
Not only is Vitamin D important for women getting pregnant, it’s also a factor in male fertility too. Low levels of vitamin D have been linked with low sperm mobility.
Basically, if you’re looking to get pregnant it might be time to book a trip away in the sun and soak up that wonderful vitamin D.
Enjoy the sun safely to boost fertility
Men – watch where you put your laptop
Sperm health can be affected by multiple factors, and having overheated testes can reduce the sperm can, which is why they’re outside of the body.
Research has found that if you use your laptop on your lap there’s a chance you could be affecting your sperm health.
Keeping your legs closed can raise the temperature of genitals by 2.1°C, add in the laptop heat and it could rise to 2.8°C.
The numbers might not seem that huge, but the fact is, raising the temperature by just 1°C has the ability to decrease fertility by a staggering 40%.
Cut the coffee
Limit the amount of coffee you drink
An addiction to coffee, more than five cups a day, is likened to be just as bad as your fertility health as smoking is.
Other research has also found that drinking four cups of coffee a day, means you’re 26% less likely to conceive.
Not only that but if you’re drinking two cups of coffee whilst pregnant, you increase the risk of a miscarriage by a quarter.
A new supplement to take
Folic acid and zinc are often noted as the supplements to be taken during pregnancy, but there’s another that could help, co-enzyme Q10. But it’s not only helpful for women but men too.
In men, it can help increase sperm mobility, as it gives energy for the movement in the sperm cell.
In women, for those who are struggling to get pregnant because of their age, co-enzyme Q10 could be a useful addition as it helps to improve egg quality, which in turn increases the chances of you getting pregnant.
Climax to the max
Research has shown that if a woman orgasms between 1 minute before, to 45 minutes after the man ejaculates, she will retain a lot more sperm than she does after a sex with no orgasm.
The research from biologists, Robin Baker and Mark Bellis, also found that strong muscular contractions, which are associated with orgasm, help to create a vacuum-like effect which sucks the sperm to the cervix, where it’s more likely to reach an egg.
Of course, it’s not vital that women orgasm in order to conceive, so don’t put pressure on that part of the act.
Wrap your lunch in a paper bag
Studies suggest that using cling film could decrease the chance of getting pregnant, because it may contain a plastic that interferes with the hormonal system.
Wrap your lunches something that’s more friendly for the environment, and it could be useful to unwrap any food you buy that is packaged in cling film, things like broccoli.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture helps treat a number of different ailments
There is more and more evidence that suggests that acupuncture helps to increase the chances of getting pregnant because it can regulate menstrual cycles, treat PCOS and endometriosis.
A poll by the British Acupuncture Council found that there has been an increase in the number of people searching for acupuncture as a popular alternative treatment for increasing the chance of fertility.
Expert fertility acupuncturist Jani White explains that acupuncture works to help improve the internal climate of your body, to help ensure you have everything you need to grow the baby.