Article
Fertility facts & fiction: What really helps to boost fertility
We’ve all heard some of the many “tricks” to help women get pregnant. But what really works?Both female and male fertility is affected by a wide range of factors, including medical history, current health, age, family history, medications and environmental factors. Some women become pregnant as soon as they start trying, while others take longer or experience difficulties.Here are a few things that may help:
- Check your weight. Being overweight or underweight can affect the fertility of both men and women. Talk to your health care provider about your ideal weight, and steps you can take to try to achieve it.
- Stop smoking. While everyone knows that smoking – including tobacco and marijuana – during pregnancy may be harmful to both mom and baby, many don’t realize it can also affect fertility in both women and men.
- Learn more. You and your partner should talk candidly with your health providers about your desire to conceive, and any concerns you have. Be honest about your health and your use of alcohol, tobacco, drugs and any medications that might play a role in your fertility or ability to have a healthy pregnancy. Some medications, vaginal lubricants, or exposure to chemicals can decrease fertility in both women and men.
Before trying to conceive, talk to your health care provider to address any concerns and discuss how to optimize your health.Our doctors and nurse-midwives are welcoming new patients in our Springfield and Westfield locations. Book online or call us.
Related posts
Looking for more women's health insights?
Miscarriages are far more common than many people realize. In fact, up to 20 percent of pregnancies end in miscarriage, defined as the loss of a fetus before the 20th week of pregnancy (after 20 weeks, it is called a stillbirth). Just because they are common, however, does not make them easy.
One of the most talked-about symptoms of pregnancy is morning sickness, which isn’t surprising as it affects up to 80 percent of people who are pregnant. The term is actually a misnomer since queasiness, nausea and vomiting can occur at any time of day. The good news is that the symptoms typically don’t last much beyond the first trimester for most women. However, if you are in the throes of it, that can seem like a long time, so here we share seven tips to help minimize morning sickness.
April is STD Awareness Month, which provides an important opportunity to talk about the continuing prevalence of sexually transmitted diseases, including a dramatic rise in a disease that was once nearly obsolete: syphilis