Lifestyle Habits That Reduce Woman's Fertility

Active sex life is all most people need to conceive but sometimes though sexually active and doing all we think is necessary but all to no avail. The truth is lifestyle choices can affect a woman’s ability to conceive. 

A healthy lifestyle choice can improve your overall health and promote fertility in both you and your partner. Starting healthy habits and eliminating the bad ones may help you on your way to motherhood. 

Below are a number of lifestyle factors that affect fertility in women; 

1.Poor sleep habits; poor sleep and altered sleep pattern can affect overall health. Sleep plays a vital role in our lives most importantly, fertility. Getting adequate night sleep helps reinvigorate and reinstate your brain and regulate important hormones in your body including fertility-related hormones. 

The hormones that trigger ovulation may be tied into the body’s sleep-wake pattern. As a        woman, long term lack of sleep may affect the luteinizing hormone that triggers ovulation, regulating your menstrual cycle. 

           Therefore, lack of adequate sleep may result in menstrual irregularity causing a delay in conceiving.  

 A way out. 

• Eating late dinner or snack before going to bed can activate the digestive system and keep you up. Therefore, do not eat or drink before bed. 
• Still your mind. Avoid activities that could keep your mind racing rather than relaxed. 
• Make a habit out of nightly calming rituals like spiritual reflection and partner massage. 
• Do not work odd hours if you can avoid it. 

2.Excessive use of caffeine; although taking a cup of coffee or tea might not stand in a way of your conceiving, several cups a day may.Some studies have found that consuming more than 300mg of caffeine a day may slightly reduce your Fertility and may increase the risk of miscarriage.  

A way out: 

• It is advisable to kick off the consumption of caffeine. Switch to herbal drink, non-caffeinated teas, or decaffeinated coffee. 

3.Overeating and junk food; a habit of eating too much can lead to problems with your weight which can lead to the fertility problem. Excessive consumption of junk food can lead to increased blood sugar. Theory shows that insulin and fertility are connected and this is not good for fertility health. 

A way out: 

• Foods such as fruits, vegetables, nuts, and grains are packed full of beneficial antioxidants like vitamins C and E, folate, beta-carotene, and lutein. 
• Eat a bigger breakfast. Eating a considerable amount of breakfast may help women with infertility problems .one study found that eating a larger breakfast may improve the hormonal effects of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a major cause of infertility. 

However, it is important to note that increasing the size of your breakfast without reducing the size of your evening meal is likely to lead to weight gain. 

• Cut down on carbs. 
• Eat more fiber 
• Avoid trans fats commonly found in some margarine, fried foods, processed products, and baked goods. 

4. Smoking and second-hand smoke; we know smoking and even second-hand smoke can have a huge impact on fertility in women. Smoking is associated with miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, infertility, and menopause .if you smoke, chances of getting pregnant are likely to take longer than a non-smoker. Most couples who have regular sex (every 2-3 days) will get pregnant within a year. But for smokers, the chances of getting pregnant are cut by almost half monthly. 

A way out: 

• Quitting smoking improves the lining of the womb. if you give up smoking now, your chances of getting pregnant faster will increase. 
• Smoking can be so addictive and quitting might be quite difficult. it is important you get support from family and friends. 

5. Excessive consumption of alcohol; According to a research study, women who had three or more drinks a week were more likely to take longer to get pregnant. There is a connection between occasionally drinking and infertility. 

A way out: 

• Consider reducing the consumption into half the usual amount. 
• If you are drinking more often than normal or drinking has become a problem, you should seek help. 

CONCLUSION  

Bad habits are so difficult to break and trying with no results can be frustrating and giving up could seem like an easy way out even before you start. However, each step in the direction of healthier habits makes a huge difference. 

Keep trying, do not give up. Get the support you need as you start your journey towards a healthy lifestyle.