Your health

Making lifestyle changes

Both men and women can make some lifestyle changes that will increase your chances of conceiving:

Diet

A balanced diet will help ensure your body is healthy enough to conceive and nourish a developing baby. A healthy diet can also help to keep sperm production at optimum levels.  If you are under or overweight (which can affect your chances of conceiving), this can be helped by making changes to your diet.  The government also recommends that all women trying for a baby should take 400mcg of folic acid a day to help prevent conditions such as spina bifida.

Exercise

Regular, moderate exercise of around 30 minutes a day helps to maximise your fitness and keep your weight in check.  It also boosts levels of endorphins, the body's own 'happy hormones', which may help get you both through what is undoubtedly a stressful time.  Many people tell us they find relaxation techniques or complementary therapies useful to help them relax. 

Medication

Some prescription mediation can lessen your changes of conceiving, so if you are taking regular medication and trying for a baby, do talk to your GP about alternatives that might be more appropriate.

Alcohol

Alcohol may affect fertility and sperm quality (as well as affecting your weight), so do limit your drinking and stick to the Government's 'Sensible drinking' guideline: a maximum of 2-3 units a day for women and 3-4 units a day for men, with two alcohol-free days after heavy drinking.  Women who are pregnant are advised to drink less than this or no alcohol at all. 

Smoking

Smoking has been linked to infertility and early menopause in women, and to sperm problems in men.  It is also a factor in premature or low birth-weight babies.  If you are a smoker and trying for a baby, this is a good time to quit!

Drugs

Street drugs such as marijuana and cocaine should be avoided.

Keep cool!

The testes should be a couple of degrees cooler than the rest of your body for maximum sperm production.  So it may help to wear loose-fitting underwear and trousers, and to avoid activities such as saunas and hot showers that will raise the temperature of your testes.