Planning to Conceive? Here’s What You Need to Know About Maintaining Your Fertility

In 2020, the fertility rate for every Singaporean woman is around 1.233, which is a 0.58 increase from the previous year. While the road to parenthood can be tough sometimes, it is not impossible.

Women in Singapore who plan to get pregnant can try many ways to boost their fertility. This article will walk you through what you need to know about maintaining your fertility.

Common fertility misconceptions

The most common misconception about fertility is that getting conceive is easy. However, many couples do not realize they only have around twenty to twenty-five percent probability of successful pregnancy for every cycle.

Another common misconception people have is that women are the only ones responsible for all infertility issues. In reality, female infertility only accounts for around one-third of infertility cases, and approximately one-third of infertility cases are because of male reproductive problems. The remaining one-third of cases are caused by both male and female reproductive problems or due to unknown factors.

Common factors of male infertility include the following:

• Low production of sperm
• Abnormal sperm function
• Blockages which hinder sperm delivery
• Diseases, injuries, or chronic health conditions
• Lifestyle choices

How to boost your fertility

Although fertility diets can be quite useful, women do not have to memorize any weird shopping lists or recipes to follow a diet to enhance their fertility levels. Here are some basic diet guidelines they can follow:

• Stay away from trans fats: These fats can hamper ovulation and conception. The Nurses’ Health Study showed that even as little as four grams per day could negatively impact fertility. Trans fats are commonly found in processed and fried foods. So women planning to conceive should skip the snack packs in the grocery stores and drive-thru and instead, go with natural, whole foods for the best nutrients. Excellent food choices include citrus fruits, broccoli, green leafy vegetables, and fortified cereals.
• Choose plant protein over animal protein: Research in the fertility diet found that women who mostly consume animal protein, such as chicken and beef, were thirty-nine percent more likely to have fertility problems than those who consume the least.
• Eat high-quality carbs, not no carbs: Researchers from Harvard discovered that infertility is not affected by the number of carbs, but by the carbs’ quality. So instead of opting for fast carbs like white bread, women should choose slow carbs like brown rice to boost their fertility.

Schedule an appointment with a fertility expert

Before trying to have a baby, women should schedule an appointment with a gynecologist, be it a female or male gynaecologist. Gynaecologists would help ensure they are doing the right things.

Even though they do not visit a health practitioner when they start trying to conceive, they should see a doctor if they have been trying to get pregnant for six months or more without success to check for any infertility issues with them or their partners.

Substances to avoid

Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is critical when trying to conceive. Therefore, during this time, women should steer clear of substances such as alcohol, tobacco, and drugs which may reduce their fertility. Experts also advise to cut down on caffeine and reduce stress to boost fertility.

Getting your fertility levels tested

Couples who have been trying to have a baby and have yet had any success may be recommended to have their fertility levels tested. One common fertility analysis is a test measuring the follicle-stimulating hormone’s level in a woman on her third day of the menstrual cycle. These are also tests measuring the levels of other hormones, such as progesterone and oestrogen, which play a vital role in a successful pregnancy.

The gynecologist may also test for illnesses like fibroids and endometriosis, as well as the male reproductive status.

Conclusion

Having a baby is a fun and exciting journey. Schedule an appointment with a gynaecologist for the best guidance and ways to improve fertility level.