Infertility is a frightening thought for many couples. The idea that you can’t have a baby as easily as you thought you could – or as easily as some other couples seem to be able to – can be somewhat overwhelming.
And of course there are always nightmare stories of the terrible procedures and treatments that some couples have had to go through, from painful operations to daily injections. The thought of having a surrogate mother, while certainly a viable option, is not a welcome one for some women and couples.
But are the problems with infertility always to such an extreme? Do the only treatment options a couple have always include medical intervention and expensive procedures? Is surrogacy your only option?
The Good News
The good news is that this isn’t always the case. Oftenthe problems that one is experiencing with infertility can be addressed with much more simple solutions, and may include some easy lifestyle changes as well.
For one thing, smoking is a leading cause of reproductive issues for both men and women. For men, the toxins for cigarette smoke kill his sperm and decrease his blood circulation, leading to a low sperm count, malformed sperm, and decreased sperm motility. These are the leading causes for a man’s infertility.
For women, smoking robs her uterus of necessary proteins that are needed for successful implantation of a fertilized egg, and interferes with the fallopian tube’s ability to drop a viable egg in the first place. This lack of ovulation is also a leading cause of a woman’s infertility.
Obesity is actually another contributor to infertility, especially for women. High cholesterol levels can interfere with normal hormone levels and cause undue pressure on the fallopian tubes, also interfering with ovulation.
Medications, both prescription and over-the-counter types, can decrease one’s fertility. Some also interrupt healthy hormone levels and others decrease blood circulation. Speak to your doctor if you’re taking any type of medication and are also experiencing problems with fertility.
Bedroom Antics
Yes, the way we have sex can help or hinder the whole process of getting pregnant.
Having sex while standing, sitting, or with the woman on top makes a man’s sperm need to work against gravity in order to impregnate her. It’s also recommended that a woman elevate her hips and buttocks after sex, so as to not lose any of the man’s seminal fluids after sex and to increase the odds that they will be able to make the journey to fertilize an egg.
So while medical treatment may be necessary in some cases of infertility – and many couples are grateful that there are so many options available to them when the time comes – there are many, many things that can be done before reaching this step to massively boost fertility.
Read more on how to increase fertility here.
