Have an STD check
Most
people believe both they and their partner are free from sexually
transmitted diseases. However, there are some STDs which can be
asymptomatic, meaning that you may not be aware you have them, as there
are no obvious symptoms. One such STD is a Chlamydia infection.
In
men, a Chlamydia infection can lead to sperm abnormalities, including
sperm antibodies. In women, it can lead to scarring, blocked tubes and
miscarriage.
A study found 60 per
cent of asymptomatic male partners of infected females attending a
fertility clinic were found to be infected with Chlamydia. Most STDs are
easy to treat, so it pays for both partners to have an STD check.
There is no point in only one partner going for a test, as the other
partner can re-infect.
Continue reading after the cut....
Allow for 120 days before trying to conceive
There
is a common misconception that egg and sperm quality cannot be
improved. In fact, it is possible to improve the quality of your egg and
sperm. However, it takes 120 days. This is because it
takes approximately 120 days for eggs to mature and sperm to develop.
During the generation and maturation of gamete cells (sperm and ovum)
that form an embryo, everything that you and your partner ingest, inhale
or are exposed to will influence the health of your eggs and sperm —
for better or for worse — and the ultimate quality of the genetic
building blocks you pass onto your child.
This
is why it’s crucial to follow a good preconception plan for a minimum
of four months before conception. A baby is a 50-50 product of his or
her parents; therefore, optimising the quality of eggs and sperm is of
paramount importance.
Sperm disorders
contribute to 40 per cent of infertility cases. Women who suffer from
recurrent miscarriages often have partners with low sperm count and
visually abnormal sperm. Therefore, both partners should detox, follow a
fertility diet, take preconception supplements and avoid reproductive
toxins discussed in this article for a minimum of four months before
conception.
Avoid coffee, smoking and alcohol
You
may not want to hear this, but drinking coffee decreases fertility. A
large study from Connecticut, United States of America, found as little
as one cup of coffee per day increases the risk of not conceiving by 55
percent. And if you have two or three cups per day, that risk rises to
100 percent and continues to increase with an additional cup up to 176
percent.
And did you know that women who drank coffee before and during pregnancy had twice the risk of miscarriage?
Alcohol
is harmful to women’s eggs and men’s sperm and as little as one glass
can reduce fertility by 50 percent! This can further lead to damage of
the developing embryo and may result in miscarriage. And although it’s
been known for a long time that drinking while pregnant is a no-no,
drinking before pregnancy has been largely ignored. This doesn’t stop
with coffee and alcohol.
Smoking and
recreational drugs can also reduce your odds of conception. A study
tested the effects of cigarette smoking on semen quality in men and
found that sperm motility (ability to propel forward) decreased in light
smokers, while heavy smoking produced abnormal sperm shape.
Scientists
have discovered that quitting smoking may increase sperm count in men
who quit smoking for between five and15 months by 50 percent to 800
percent respectively.
Use good preconception/pregnancy supplement
Regardless
of whether you are eating organic produce and a healthy diet, you are
unlikely to be getting all the nutrients your body needs for optimal
fertility from your diet. This is why supplementation is important.
Getting
pregnant and growing a new human being with your own reserves require a
surplus of nutrients and energy. In your body’s accounting terms,
pregnancy is a luxury, a splurge of energy and nutrients. Some of the
key nutrients for fertility are zinc, selenium, magnesium, calcium, B12,
B6, Folic acid, Vitamin C, and Omega-3 fats.
IVF vs. root cause of infertility
Conventional
IVF and other assisted reproductive technology treatments don’t address
root causes of infertility. These root causes include nutritional
deficiencies, toxin exposure, stress, food intolerances, allergies and
immune deficiencies. These subtle but critical factors interact
synergistically to impact the quality of your eggs and sperm, affecting
your ability to conceive and the health of your embryo.
Financial cost of IVF
Recent
media reports of grandparents funding their children’s IVF treatments
in the hope of a grandchild illustrate the financial strain these
treatments can pose to couples. While celebrities and wealthy couples
can afford it, many struggle with treatments costing thousands of
dollars ($5,000-$150,000 per live birth is typical).
IVF, the last option
IVF
should be the last option after all natural treatment options have been
exhausted. It should never be the first option. The rate of success of
IVF is, on the average, 25 percent per single attempt. Studies show that
by following a natural preconception programme prior to attempting IVF,
the success rate increases to 47.1 percent per single attempt.
I
always advise couples to undertake a preconception programme as a first
step and reserve IVF as a final option. Most infertility can be treated
without IVF. However, if IVF is needed, the success rate of each
attempt is nearly doubled by combining it with a natural preconception
programme.
Concluded
- Oladapo Ashiru/Punch
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