Of course you don’t want to think you’re doing anything wrong when it comes to baby-making, but at least this mistake is fun to fix! Here are some truths and myths as well as some advice on ways to get the bun in the oven!
1. Cutting down on sex to “save” your guy’s sperm – MYTH!!
The “fertile window” spans a six-day interval, the five days prior to ovulation and the day of it, according to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine. These are the days each month when a woman is most fertile. Some women are turning to new technology tools, such as fertility tracking apps and websites, to help them keep tabs on when they may be more likely to conceive, but a study done in 2016 suggests the apps may not be that accurate.
For the best chance of success, you should have sex every 2 to 3 days throughout the month. You don’t need to time it to coincide with the days when you ovulate. FUN!
Did you know : An egg lives for about 12 to 24 hours after it’s released. For you to get pregnant, a sperm must fertilise the egg within this time. Sperm can live for up to three to five days inside your body.
2. She has a problem not me! – MYTH!!
Fluids(semen) will come out, whether there’s sperm there or not, men tend to assume it means they’re fertile!
Infertility affects men and women equally. In couples experiencing infertility, approximately 35% is due to male factors, 35% is due to female factors, 20% of cases have a combination of both male and female factors, and the last 10% are unexplained causes.
For this reason, it is imperative that both the male and female are evaluated during the infertility work-up. For males, this is a basic semen analysis but may also include bloodwork to check hormone levels, chromosome analysis, and genetic screenings.
There are many causes of male infertility, with sperm disorders being the most frequently considered. This includes problems during sperm development and transport inside the male reproductive tract, low semen analysis parameters (sperm count, motility and morphology), and sperm aneuploidy or the incorrect number of chromosomes. Even though semen analysis may be normal, sperm function issues may be present that can impact fertilization and proper embryo development.
3. Not all lubricants are the same – TRUTH!
Think twice next time you reach for the lube. When vaginal lubricants were originally developed, they were solely designed to provide lubrication for intercourse. While most lubricants don’t contain spermicides anymore, she says many contain ingredients like petroleum, propylene glycol, glycerin, parabens, silicone, and Nonoxynol-9 (sometimes abbreviated as N-9). All of these ingredients can affect sperm motility — the ability of sperm to move properly through a woman’s reproductive tract.
In addition to avoiding lubricants that contain these ingredients, try using a sperm-friendly, glycerin-free, PHP-balanced, isotonic lubricant, such as Pre-Seed, made by First Response.
4. 2 lines are enough on Ovulation Prediction Kit – MYTH!!
Ovulation test strips or ovulation predictor kits (OPKs) are at-home tests you can use to determine when you’re ovulating. Because you’re most fertile during ovulation, the kits can help increase your chances for success when you’re trying to conceive. Ovulation test strips work by measuring levels of luteinizing hormone (LH) in your urine. A rise in LH signals the ovary to release an egg — so when your levels reach a certain threshold, it’s safe to assume that ovulation will occur within the next 12 to 36 hours.
All you have to do is pee in a cup and dip the stick or strip into the cup and wait a few minutes for the indicator to appear. If the test line shows up darker than the control line, you’re about to ovulate. (There are always low levels of LH in your body, so if the test line shows up but appears lighter or fainter than the control line, you’re not ovulating yet. Using an ovulation test strip with a digital readout can eliminate this confusion altogether.
LIFESTYLE TIPS
It’s important you prepare your body and adjust your lifestyle to maximise your chances of conception. Here are some tips that can really make a difference to your level of fertility.
Also read: How to boost your fertility naturally
Water
When trying to conceive it is important to drink lots of water. This helps the kidneys to flush out waste products from the body and increases fertile quality cervical fluid.
Avoid alcohol
It is a good idea to avoid or strictly limit alcohol intake as this reduces fertility. Department of Health advice is to avoid alcohol completely if trying to conceive or during pregnancy.
Caffeine
Caffeine is thought to restrict the growth of a developing baby by constricting blood vessels and reducing blood flow to the uterus. Current advice is to limit caffeine intake to below 2 cups of instant coffee, 1 cups of fresh coffee or 3 cups of tea.
Smoking
Women have a 40% lower chance of getting pregnant if they smoke, according to a report published by the British Medical Association (BMA). Smoking decreases sperm count and increases sperm abnormalities in men. Ask us for help in quitting – Smoking Cessation
Stress less
There are so many people who worry excessively about becoming pregnant and once they release that stress, their body reacts to the new peace by creating a new life. So try not to worry and enjoy the fun of trying to conceive.
Supplement
Taking a supplement specially formulated for before conception will provide you with 400mcg folic acid and other nutrients such as l-arginine vitamin D and vitamin B12 which help support the nutritional requirements of women trying to conceive.
STDs
Make sure that you have been properly screened for STDs. Pelvic inflammatory disease is common amongst women with the number-one cause being an untreated sexually transmitted disease.
Next read: Hormone Therapy For Infertility
