You can help yourself to increase your chance of conception whether naturally or through assisted conception treatment.
Diet: A well balanced diet is generally important. Make sure
that you eat a reasonable amount of protein (meat, fish and eggs),
carbohydrates (rice, pasta and bread) as well as fruits and vegetables.
Fresh fruits and vegetables are rich in vitamins. Folic acid is
particularly important as it was found that taking 400 ug daily
starting before pregnancy would reduce the risk of your baby having
spina bifida (a neural tube defect at the lower part of the spinal
column). Pre-pregnancy vitamin tablets usually contain enough amount of
folic acid.
Being considerably overweight might mildly reduce your chances of
success and make the procedures technically difficult. It is ideal if
loose some weight prior to your treatment.
Smoking: Smoking adversely affects chances of conceiving. It
reduces both male and female fertility. You are strongly advised to
stop smoking well ahead of your treatment.
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Alcohol: There is no harm in having a drink occasionally. There is
recent evidence that drinking even in moderation might adversely affect
the outcome of pregnancy. To be on the safe side it is better to reduce
drinking to the minimum or even stop it prior to try to conceive. Men
should avoid binge drinking as this is particularly harmful to sperm
production. Sperm take about 3 months to mature and it is important to
improve your life style before starting treatment.
Drugs: Illegal drugs adversely affect the fertility potential
for both male and female partner. They also reduce the chances of the
successful assisted conception treatment and out come of pregnancy. You
should stop all these drugs before you plan for conception.
Testicular Heat: The scrotum hangs outside the body because the
testicles need to be a few degrees cooler than the rest of the body for
normal sperm production. There are several tips to help keep your
testicles cooler:
• Avoid briefs and wear shorts
• Avoid saunas and hot tubs
• Avoid tight jeans or pants
Stress: Stress in itself is not a bad thing. If it becomes
overwhelming it can affect your ability to cope with treatment and may
prevent you from getting the best out of your every day life. The exact
influence that stress has is not known, but excessive stress might
reduce your chances of successful treatment. Seeing a counsellor or
talking to our staff may help reduce your anxieties and relieve some of
your stress. If you have any worries or concerns, do please let us
know.
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