10 ways to boost your chances of becoming pregnant

MANY people think that having a baby is very simple, and believe that all they need to do is have unprotected sex.

But while this is an option, the process can be difficult depending on a number of factors including age, genetics, and your overall health.

If you’ve been trying to have a child and you’ve been unsuccessful, all is not lost. In the 21st century, there are myriad options to increase your fertility and boost your chances of getting pregnant.

Below, Dr Michelle Bailey, consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist at Seymour Park, shares a few.

1. Stop smoking

Dr Bailey said tobacco use by the female partner, and possibly by the male partner, has been associated with subfertility or a reduced ability to get pregnant, and may account for as much as 13 per cent of such cases. She added that there is also a significant reduction in a woman’s chance of getting pregnant if she smokes more than 10 cigarettes per day.

“Smoking causes adverse tubal and/or cervical changes, damages the woman’s eggs, and also increases the chance of a spontaneous miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy. Women attempting pregnancy should stop smoking and avoid second-hand smoke. Fortunately most of the subfertility linked to smoking can be reversed within a year of stopping it,” she said.

2. Maintain a healthy weight

“A body mass index (BMI) greater than 27 and less than 17 is associated with ovulation dysfunction or a problem with the monthly release of eggs from the ovary, leading to fertility challenges. Weight gain in adulthood may also increase the amount of time needed to conceive, irrespective of baseline weight,” Dr Bailey said. “For women with an elevated BMI, a decreased ability to get pregnant is associated with insulin resistance resulting in insulin excess in the blood. This in turn causes an excess of hormones in the body, which affects the menstrual cycle. Weight loss in obese women will therefore increase the frequency of ovulation and boost fertility.”

The ob-gyn added that if a woman is too thin, that is a BMI of less than 17, she will benefit from weight gain and improve her chances of getting pregnant. Subsequently, she said maintaining a healthy weight ­— BMI between 18.5 and 25 — will boost a woman’s chances of getting pregnant.

3. Moderate exercise

Dr Bailey said vigorous exercise, especially in a slim patient, can cause problems with ovulation and thus infertility. “Hence these patients who are trying to conceive should limit vigorous exercise to less than five hours per week in order to boost fertility. Regular exercise in the obese patient is beneficial,” she said.

4. Reduce alcohol intake

She said when trying to conceive, moderate to high levels of alcohol should be avoided. “Fewer than two drinks per day have been shown to have minimal or no adverse effect on pregnancy rates. If possible, avoid alcohol when trying to get pregnant,” the ob-gyn said.

5. Diet

“There are certain food groups which are thought to boost a woman’s chances of getting pregnant. These include a diet with a higher monounsaturated to trans fat ratio, high percentage of protein from vegetable rather than animal sources, low glycemic index carbohydrates, and high-fat dairy foods. Taking iron and multivitamin supplements such as the FertilityBlend are also beneficial,” she said.

6. Minimise caffeine intake

The ob-gyn said less than 200mg of caffeine per day (one or two six ounce cups of coffee) does not appear to affect a woman’s chances of getting pregnant. However, larger amounts of coffee should be avoided when trying to conceive.

7. Relax

She said stress is associated with infertility and the process of trying to get pregnant can be stressful. “Women trying to get pregnant may benefit from relaxation techniques — spa day, acupuncture,” Dr Bailey said.

8. Get pregnant early

The ob-gyn said delaying childbirth especially after age 30 can increase the time interval to successful conception.

9. Have regular sex

Dr Bailey said having regular sexual intercourse at least two to three times per week will ensure that intercourse occurs in the fertile period and will optimise semen quality.

10. Get regular medical check-ups

Doing this will allow your health care provider to check your well-being and prescribe the treatment necessary to boost your chances of having a baby.