Prep for Fertility Success in 2020

With the turn of a clock’s hand and the drop of a ball in Times Square, people everywhere prepare themselves for a fresh start by committing to New Year’s resolutions. 

Unsurprisingly, some of the most popular resolutions like quitting smoking, limiting caffeine, and achieving a healthy weight go hand-in-hand with improving fertility. 

If having a baby is on your mind, the new year can be an optimal time to get serious about your decision to conceive. Whether you’ve been struggling for some time or you’re just beginning your journey and want the best possible shot at getting pregnant, it’s encouraging to know there are things you can do to help the process along.

From quitting smoking to changing your diet, it’s time to make your New Year’s resolutions count. 

Here are just a few common resolutions and how they can increase your chances of conceiving.

1. Say Goodbye to Smoking

Let’s face it; smoking cigarettes is a nasty habit many people try to break. However, if stopping is proving difficult, what better incentive than the possibility of a beautiful new baby?

While you might assume women are the only ones who struggle with smoking-induced infertility, cigarettes can also have a negative impact on male fertility. 

For men, smoking can cause erectile dysfunction and low sperm quality. This includes poor sperm count and motility, both of which are vital during conception.

For female smokers undergoing fertility treatments that require ovarian stimulation drugs, studies have shown they require increased amounts of medication and have a 30% less chance of successful treatment. Smoking while pregnant also raises the risk of miscarriage.

Further, cigarettes can lead to congenital disabilities, as they can cause damage to the genetic material in sperm and eggs.

2. Limit Your Caffeine Intake

Has your soda habit gotten out of hand? Do you spend too much time in the Starbucks drive-thru? If the answer to these questions is yes, then it might be time to think about curbing your caffeine habit—especially if you’re considering getting pregnant.

While there’s no concrete evidence, heightened caffeine intake can hinder the amount of time it takes someone to get pregnant, and studies have confirmed certain amounts can lead to fertility issues.

For those who consume more than 300mg of caffeine a day, there’s a significant rise in the risk of miscarriage. When they’re getting 600mg or more, the risks are even higher and can nearly double the chances of early pregnancy loss.

It should be noted that among coffee, tea, and soda drinkers, those who drank large amounts of soda tend to have a harder time conceiving.

3. Begin a Better Diet and Achieve Healthy Weight Goals

When someone considers how weight might be impacting their ability to get pregnant, they’re often solely thinking about being overweight. On the contrary, underweight people can also have trouble. 

To increase your chances of conceiving, it’s a good idea to fall within the range of a healthy body mass index (BMI), which is 18.5 – 24.9. 

If this isn’t your situation, the new year is an ideal time to rethink the way you eat and obtain a few healthier lifestyle choices. Being overweight and underweight can cause disruptions to your hormone levels, which can negatively impact your ovulation cycle. Without proper ovulation, it’s highly unlikely you’ll be able to conceive naturally.

If you’re struggling to find ways to gain or lose weight in a healthy manner, it’s always a good idea to consult your primary physician, nutritionist, or gynecologist for suggestions.

4. Minimize Stress

When a woman is experiencing stress, her body tends to produce an enzyme known as alpha-amylase. High amounts of this enzyme have been proven to cause a 29% increase in the amount of time it can take someone to get pregnant.

If 2019 was a year marked by stress and anxiety, let this new beginning be a chance to do something different for your mental state.

If you’re hoping to conceive a baby during 2020, this is the perfect time to adopt a new habit to increase positivity, mindfulness, and a more stress-free lifestyle. 

Some popular options include:

• Exercise
• Meditation
• Yoga
• Acupuncture
• Journaling and painting

5. Consider Fertility Assistance

Have you been trying to get pregnant for over a year? Was the holiday season packed with unwelcome questions about when you’re planning to have a baby?

If you’re tired of futile attempts at conceiving on your own, it could be time to seek out professional help.

Whether you’ve been generally struggling to get pregnant or have suffered from multiple miscarriages, there are several options available to increase your chances of conceiving and giving birth.

Making an appointment with a fertility specialist is a great first step in overcoming infertility. While many people find it difficult to consider the need for treatments such as IVF, donor eggs, or a gestational carrier, learning about your options can bring a sense of comfort and opportunity.

There’s no shame in infertility. As with any other medical condition, obtaining help from your doctor is simply a crucial part of overcoming a difficult chapter, and moving forward with the rest of your life.

Getting Pregnant in 2020 

While there’s no guarantee any of the previously mentioned lifestyle changes will lead to a positive pregnancy test, there’s good reason to believe they can help.

New Year’s resolutions are a chance to make better choices for yourself in all aspects of your life. Quitting smoking, obtaining a healthy weight, and de-stressing are all positive steps you can make to promote a healthier, happier life for yourself.

It just so happens they may help you get pregnant, too!

Make 2020 a year for positive improvements. If you’ve been struggling to conceive, contact us today to learn more about using donor eggs to build your family.