Conception can be a bit of a lottery, but here are some tips that can really make a difference to both
your levels of fertility. While most people know that sperm need to be in the right place at the right
time, it is also important for both of your bodies to be providing the right condictions.
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1 - Eat a healthy balanced diet
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Food is amazingly important. The body needs vitamins and minerals that are found in a range of foods
to provide it with the chemicals it needs to produce the lining in the womb. If you have been on the pill
for a long time you may be low on certain vitamins and minerals, especially vitamin B complexes. This means
that you might consider checking up on your diet.
Women should also take a 400 mcg folic acid tablet as part of their daily diet as this can prevent spina
bifida and neural tube defects.
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2 - Avoid alcohol
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It is a good idea for you both to avoid alcohol or at least to really cut down. There are many reasons for
this, but the key is to remember that however much you like a drink, it does act as a poison in the body. It
lowers men's sperm count even when men are only drinking small amounts. It also prevents the body from
taking in those essential minerals and vitamins that are needed for conception. Finally, it is worth
knowing that as well as potentially causing damage to unborn babies, it can also cause miscarriages
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3 - Give up Smoking
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Just like alcohol, smoking is another poison for the body. There is plenty of research to show that both
men's and women's levels of fertility drop when you smoke. Sadly, smoking also causes babies to be
born prematurely and this affects their long-term health and even ability to survive.
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4 - Take some gentle, regular exercise
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Exercise has many benefits and can help to reduce stress as well as stimulate some essential hormones.
You should both, however, avoid excessive fitness regimes as these can actually reduce your levels of
fertility.
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5 - Enjoy each other's company and find time to do things together
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It is not unusual for couples to find baby making stressful. It can quickly become clinical and this in turn
is likely to have some effect on your ability to conceive. Spending time together and enjoying yourselves can reduce
any stress. It's not perhaps surprising that many couples who go away on holiday, having decided not to
bother with baby making for a while, return only to find that a pregnancy has been achieved.
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6 - Keep sperm count up by wearing cotton boxer shorts and avoiding hot baths.
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A common cause of low sperm count in men is simply down to the testes being overheated. This means that you
should avoid tight fitting underwear, lycra shorts and having hot baths and showers. You should also avoid
sitting down for long periods as this can reduce your fertility. Choose boxer shorts made if possible out of
cotton. As it take up to six months to improve sperm count, you should keep up this regime until
conception has taken place.
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7 - Get to know your cycle and work out when you are likely to ovulate
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It you take the time to work out when your body releases the egg during your cycle, you will start
to get an idea of when you should be making love.
See learning about your cycle (women only)
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8 - Have sex around the time that you ovulate.
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As conception is about sperm being in the right place at the right time, you can maximise your chances
of conception by making love when you are at your most fertile.
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9 - Avoid seeing "baby making" as a race or competition
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Stress can really affect conception. Although it can be disheartening to suddenly notice that everyone
else seems to have a baby or young children, try not to see it as a race. Also consider additional stresses
in your life, at work or home, as they may also reduce your chances of getting pregnant. Deal with
these issues as best you can, take regular breaks from work and time out for yourself and your partner.
Do think about visiting your GP, however, if you have not conceived after 12 months of trying. Take any
useful information with you, like a temperature chart and your diary, so the doctor can see how your cycle works.
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