step 1.   Life style changes

your journey starts here

Most couples believe that once they stop using birth control, pregnancy will happen soon

after. in reality, three out of five couples conceive within six months of trying, while one in six

take between six months to a year. for the rest, conception takes more than a year.the term ‘infertility’ is generally used if a couple has not conceived after 12 months of regular unprotected intercourse.

While the rate of infertility has not increased in recent years, we are now more aware of the issue as more and more women and men seek treatment. the need for treatment may be due in part to an increased number of women who, for career, financial or other reasons, are waiting until they are in their mid-30s before starting a family. fertility decreases substantially after the age of 35.

if after a year of trying, you have had trouble conceiving, you should consult your local

general practitioner

if the female partner is over 35, it is best to seek medical help after six to nine months. Your doctor will probably want to run some tests (see page 11), discuss your lifestyle and refer you to a fertility specialist or fertility clinic

Changing your habits – both partners

Whether you are the male or female partner, you may like to check the following list of

lifestyle habits, which can impact on your ability to conceive. Consider making some changes

to maximise your chances of pregnancy. Give up smoking

smoking can cause problems for virtually all areas of the reproductive system. Women who smoke are more likely to have difficulty conceiving, may not respond as well to infertility treatments and are at increased risk of miscarriage, complications during the birth, and of having a baby with a low birth weight. for men, smoking may affect the development and quality of sperm, decrease the sperm count and reduce the volume of semen.in addition, there is a higher risk of impotence (erectile dysfunction).

for information and advice on how to stop smoking, visit Quit now at http://genesisivfclinic.in

Restrict alcohol intake

as drinking excessive amounts of alcohol may affect sperm count and increase the risk for miscarriage and birth defects, it is recommended that males take a conservative approach to alcohol and that females abstain from drinking alcohol while trying

to become pregnant.Say no to drugs

illegal drugs such as cocaine and marijuana have been known to disruptthe menstrual cycle and ovulation process.Marijuana can also affect sperm count.

Well-balanced diet

there is no special eating plan for becoming pregnant. asensible diet that includes plenty of fruit, vegetables, grains, meat, poultry and seafood is advised.

Exercise with caution

exercising heavily every day may interfere with the regularity of the menstrualcycle.for men, prolonged cycling can cause damage to the groin and there is also the risk of damage to the testicles from contact sport.

Cut back on caffeine

the studies are divided on this subject, but caffeine may interferewith the natural ovulation process and even a modest amount of coffee (one or two cups daily) may decrease fertility and affect sperm count

Mind your weight

for both men and women, being overweight can cause fertility problems, especially if your weight is influenced by another condition such as diabetes, or for women, polycystic ovary syndrome

for women, a body fat level just 10–15% above or below normal can contribute to infertility.

the good news is that a large percentage of women diagnosed with infertility related to being overweight or underweight conceive spontaneously when their weight normalises. dieting while you are trying to become pregnant may throw out your body’s natural balance so it is best to embark on a weight loss program before you start trying to conceive.

For overweight men, losing weight may help increase your sperm count.

 Avoid using lubricants.

they often contain chemicals that can damage or kill sperm.

Avoid toxins. Jobs involving heavy metals, such as lead or mercury, chemicals in pesticides, or chemicals used in certain manufacturing processes (such as painting or printing) may be harmful to both male and female fertility and damage sperm.

Discuss your medications

as some medications may affect male or female fertility, please discuss with your doctor any prescription, over the counter medications or complementary therapies that you may be taking