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Increase your chance of conception
Timing of Intercourse
- Most books on fertility tend to offer the following advice when it comes to trying to plan the correct days to have sex.
- For a woman who ovulates, the delay from the time of ovulation to the onset [(Day 1) the first day of proper bleeding] of her NEXT period is approximately 14 days. Thus, if one subtracts 14 days from the length of the whole menstrual cycle, eg 30 days, ovulation should occur on approximately Day 16 of her cycle.
30 -14 = 16
- Of course, if the woman’s menstrual cycle is variable, her ovulation varies as well.
- Regular menstrual cycles suggest ovulation. By regular one means cycles whose length ranges from 25 to 33 days on average. The monthly variation usually would be between 2-4 days.
- Therefore to maximise timing I recommend that your begin trying 3-4 days before the day of ovulation, and continue for 2 days after the last potential day of ovulation if your have a variable cycle.
- Most couples may not want to have intercourse every day over this period so because of sperm survival you can limit sex to every second day if you wish.
Lifestyle issues
Female
- All females who are attempting to conceive should see their local general practitioner for a health check which may include:
- General health information
- Attention to general health, keeping physically fit
- A Balanced diet which is high in fibre, including fresh fruit and vegetables.
- Different cultures will have different dietary requirements and it pays to speak to your medical practitioner.
- Adequate amounts of Iron and Calcium.
- Dietary supplements: folic acid (0.4-0.5mg per day) Balanced vitamins, including water-soluble vitamins B group, C and fat soluble A, D and E and other minerals such Zinc and Magnesium and Iodine.
- Stop smoking before you conceive, not after!
- Avoid alcohol
- Stop any so called "recreational drugs"
- Medical checks
- Confirmed immunisation for Rubella (German measles)
- Check for immunity to Varicella Zoster (Chickenpox)
- Check your Full blood count, Blood group and Rh status
- Exclude the presence of Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and HIV
- Screening for Chlamydia, Gonorrhoea, Herpes and Syphilis
- Try to achieve ideal body weight, BMI < 30
- Current normal PAP smear
- Review any medication currently in use for risks to foetal wellbeing.
- Correct management of diabetes and any thyroid problems
- Discuss risks of any known familial or genetic diseases.
Male
Lifestyle factors can affect different aspects of fertility both at the level of sexual function and sperm quality. New forms of sperm assay, such as DNA fragmentation tests, help to correlate the impact of certain lifestyle factors on sperm function and male fertility.
- Attention to general health, keeping physically fit
- Avoid excessive exercise
- Balanced diet
- Avoid alcohol until pregnancy has occured
- Aim for ideal body weight, BMI < 30
- Review any medication currently in use for risks to foetal wellbeing
- Stop smoking before you attempt conception, not after!
- Stop any so called “recreational drugs”
- Frequent ejaculation is important, as this decreases effect of DNA fragmentation (every second day if possible)
- Consider using antioxidant vitamins (Menevit)
- Exclude the presence of Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and HIV
- Screening for Chlamydia, Gonorrhoea, Herpes and Syphilis
- Discuss risks of any known familial or genetic diseases
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