5 Fertility Tips: How to Make Pregnancy Possible
To get pregnant and have a baby later, you'll need to first avoid key causes of infertility
The statistics are eye-opening. An estimated 2.3 million cases of chlamydia and more than 700,000 cases of gonorrhea occur annually nationwide, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Both sexes are equally at risk, and the diseases can be acquired during vaginal, anal, or oral sex. About 1 in 4 U.S. women ages 14 to 19 is infected with at least one sexually transmitted infection. Up to 40 percent of women with untreated chlamydia develop PID.
"Chlamydia is incredibly prevalent in young women today," says Nancy Sanders of Women OB/GYN Physicians in Washington, D.C. "It's easily treatable and cured with antibiotics, but if it's not cared for, it can cause infertility, and that's heartbreaking."
Chlamydia and gonorrhea often go undetected, in part because they often have no symptoms. The CDC recommends annual chlamydia screening for all sexually active females 25 and under and for any older woman who has a new sex partner, multiple partners, or other risk factors.
3. Eat right. While there is no real fertility diet, says NYU's Grifo, good eating habits will help keep your hormone levels on an even keel. In a 2007 study of 17,544 married women, Harvard researchers found that those with the lowest risk of infertility due to anovulation—the failure to produce a viable egg every month—tended to eat diets that emphasized monosaturated fats like olive oil, consumed more fiber and iron, and got their protein from plant sources such as beans and nuts rather than from red meat. The message: Opt for a healthful diet of fruit and vegetables, and choose whole grains instead of refined carbohydrates. Carbs can cause a rapid rise in blood sugar and higher insulin levels, which can hamper ovulation.
4. Avoid environmental toxins. There's mounting evidence that numerous environmental factors have an effect onfertility. In a recent laboratory study, for instance, researchers at the University of California-San Francisco found that bisphenol A, a chemical used in rigid plastic packaging for many foods and beverages, decreased the division of uterine cells, which could potentially prevent an embryo from attaching to the uterus. Postdoctoral fellow Lusine Aghajanova presented the finding last month at the annual ASRM meeting. To be safe, don't microwave polycarbonate plastic food containers (recycling code No. 7) and avoid canned foods, since cans are often coated on the inside with BPA.
Other, more established environmental threats include lead and lead compounds, which can cause hormonal and menstrual irregularities, and radiation like X-rays, which damage rapidly dividing cells. Benzene—used to make certain rubbers, lubricants, dyes, and detergents and found in some paint, nail polish, and hair dyes—can cause women to stop having periods; exposed men may experience decreased sperm count, according to the American Fertility Association, a New York City-based nonprofit organization. Researchers are also finding that phthalates, a class of chemicals found in many cosmetics, have the potential to cause irregularities in ovulation and decrease sperm quality.
5. Maintain a good weight and healthful habits. Studies have shown that being too thin—or too heavy—can throw off women's hormone levels and suppress ovulation. Overweight men could have hormonal problems associated with low sperm count and quality.
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