According to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, 15% - 30% of couples will be diagnosed with unexplained infertility. Luckily, there are many ways you can increase your chances of conceiving and feel better in your body, naturally. After working with thousands of women and couples from all over the world, I can say with assurance that these tips, although simple, really work.
1 Get to know your menstrual cycle Many women choose to conceive after years of taking the pill or using an IUD. When we take hormonal contraception, we’re not having a true menstrual bleed, and we’re not ovulating either. Despite what you may have heard, hormonal contraceptives don’t balance hormones, rather they suppress the release of our naturally occurring ones! Don’t fear though; the body can find its way back to balance - but it may take some time. If you’re looking to conceive, check out the Fertility Awareness Method - the only form of nonhormonal contraception that is just as effective as the pill when used correctly. An added bonus? Through using this method, you’ll become more intimate with your unique cycle, making it easier to plan time with your partner during a fertile window, increasing your chances of conceiving.
2 Lower levels of stress For those looking to conceive, mitigating stress should be a top priority. When we’re stressed, our bloodstream fills with a hormone called cortisol. In excess, cortisol causes weight gain and immune system oppression. But that’s not all, cortisol also zaps our supply of hormones like oestrogen and progesterone - both vital for ovulation, fertilization, and implantation of a healthy embryo.
Here are two super easy ways to lower your stress levels today:
• Power down your technology at least an hour before bed
• Avoid eating large meals after 7 p.m.
To prepare for sleep, cortisol levels naturally decrease at around 7pm. Scrolling on your phone, watching TV, and eating at night all signal to the brain that we’d rather stay awake. As a result, cortisol levels in the bloodstream rise again and eventually, our fertility hormones pay for it.
3 Eat regularly Although eating in the car or on the go may be convenient for our schedules, it’s not convenient for our hormones. Physiologically, the body can only digest when it’s in a state of rest. When we don’t eat regularly or sit down while we eat, our blood sugar crashes and then surges while toxic undigested food builds up in the gut. Blood sugar imbalance is one of the leading causes of challenges like PCOS and insulin resistance, both of which majorly impact your hormones and journey to conception. When you know the benefits, setting time aside to sit down and enjoy three healthy meals a day seems all the more worthwhile.
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