Your fertility health is a lot more closely connected to your general health than you’d think! To keep your fertility strong, and your chances of conceiving high, it’s super important that you maintain a healthy lifestyle with lots of exercise, proper nutrition, plenty of rest, and more.
How to help your fertility
Although the connection may not seem readily apparent, individuals who maintain a healthy lifestyle are far more likely to conceive quickly, and have healthy pregnancies, than those in a relatively worse state of health. And those who are TTC have the best chances of doing so quickly if they maintain a well-balanced diet chock full of vegetables and folate (which not only helps your fertility, but makes for a healthier pregnancy), stay active, get a sufficient amount of sleep each night (the body’s time to recover), and manage to avoid feeling too stressed out. General health problems do not have to turn into diagnosable diseases like PCOS or endometriosis to affect your fertility, so it’s important to stay as healthy as you can to increase your chances of conceiving quickly, and having a healthy pregnancy.
Preventing Infertility
Lots of general health problems can lead to conditions of infertility, so it’s very important to stay healthy to avoid these issues. Obese and diabetic individuals run a much greater risk of developing Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS), which can inhibit the ability to ovulate. Obesity, stress, and malnutrition may also lead to missed periods or ovulation cycles, both of which can drastically decrease your chances of conceiving.
What You Can Do
Ovia can help you track your general health data so you’ll know when you might need to make a change. The following metrics can have huge effects on your fertility, and Ovia can help you follow your guidelines.
- Activity: If you’re trying to conceive, you should aim to get at least 30 minutes of exercise a day to stay as healthy as you can. It should be noted, however, that individuals whose workouts are too intense may be at risk of decreased fertility and missed or irregular cycles, so it’s important not to overdo it.
- Sleep: Getting the recommended 8 hours of sleep each night can do wonders for your body’s recovery, and your fertility health.
- Blood Pressure: Too high, or too low blood pressure may signify a health problem that could affect fertility, so it’s important to monitor. Abnormal blood pressure during pregnancy may also prove dangerous, so it’s definitely good to keep an eye out for your BP.
- Nutrition: If you’re trying to conceive, you should get plenty of calcium, folate, and Vitamin D, among other nutrients that may increase your chances of getting pregnant and encourage a healthy nine months once you’re successful. It’s also important for your general health to get a sufficient amount of water, usually recommended as 8 glasses per day.
General health problems can certainly cause issues of infertility and make conceiving a bit more difficult, but keeping your general health strong is one of the best ways to promote your fertility health as well, and ensure a speedy road to pregnancy!
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Sources
- “Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS).” American Diabetes Association. American Diabetes Association, 7/2/2014. Web.
- Wise LA, Rothman KJ, Mikkelsen EM, Sørensen HT, Riis AH, Hatch EE. “A prospective cohort study of physical activity and time to pregnancy.” Fertility & Sterility. 97(5):1136-42.e1-4. Web. 5/12/2015.
- Dr. Walter Willett. “Nurses’ Health Study II.” National Institutes of Health. United States, 1989-. Web.
- “Nutrition During Pregnancy: FAQ001.” ACOG. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, 4/15/2015. Web.
