More than 5 million couples just in the United States alone face infertility problems and need help to get pregnant. Although the vast majority of seemingly infertile couples don't seek medical advice, they may be surprised to find out that they don't need a fertility specialist, an egg donor, or artificial insemination. Many times when they learn about infertility and its many causes, it may simply be a matter of making a few lifestyle changes to increase fertility rate.
Bad Eating Habits
Women and men who eat too many trans fats and too much saturated fat may experience a decrease in liver function, which throws reproductive hormones off balance. The liver is the main organ in the body that filters out toxins and when it gets backed up by things such as unhealthy fats, low fertility may occur. The cost of adding good fats to your diet in the form of nuts, seeds, avocados, olives, and olive oil while decreasing the amount of bad fats you consume, is much smaller than the cost of infertility treatment.
Caffeine Overload
Too many people reach for a cup of high caffeine coffee and energy drinks whenever they need a pick-me-up, but too much caffeine may increase miscarriage risks in women, and could lead to fertility problems in both men and women. Instead, get at least seven hours of sleep each night and exercise for 30 minutes each day to keep up your energy levels and boost fertility. If you must drink coffee, aim for a maximum of three cups a day and avoid energy drinks. They're packed full of sugar, and many contain more caffeine than several cups of coffee.
Alcohol Consumption
A few drinks here and there is no problem for most people, but having more than two drinks a day for men and one drink daily for women could reduce testosterone and sperm levels in men, and reduce sex drive in both men and women. It also makes your liver work harder and become overloaded with toxins. As previously mentioned, a sluggish liver can lead to infertility and have you doing a search for an online sperm bank.
Beware Of Certain Herbs
There are many male enhancement herbs and those made for depression, sex drive, and energy, but one of the most common herbs found in many natural depression treatments may decrease fertility: St. John's Wort. If you take this herb for mild to moderate depression or for symptoms of bipolarism, be sure to discuss this with your physician before you stop taking it. As an alternative, you may be able to take 5HTP for mood swings.
Before you make an appointment at a fertility treatment center if you need help to get pregnant, see if you can make some changes to your lifestyle first. Everything on the above list about infertility is simple to fix and you may find that you finally get pregnant without the help of an egg donor or sperm donor.
Disclaimer: The information contained in this article is for educational purposes only and should not be used for diagnosis or to guide treatment without the opinion of a health professional. Any reader who is concerned about his or her health should contact a doctor for advice.
Resources
National Institute for Child Health and Human Development , Infertility/Fertility , 2011
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