Conception becomes harder for women after 40 years of age because of the difficulty in conception, the increased risk of miscarriages and pre-term births and whatever other complications may occur during pregnancy. However, there is new hope for women over 40. According to a recent study at Harvard University, 80% of females over 40 who made changes to their lifestyle and diet had improved chances of conception. Furthermore, the Obstetrics & Gynecology reported that women, who followed a combination of five or more lifestyle factors, including changes to their diets, experienced more than 80 percent less relative risk of infertility due to ovulatory disorders compared to women who engaged in none of the factors.
Here Are 5 Tips on How To Prepare for Conception.
1. Maintain Normal Body Weight: Obesity is a leading cause of infertility and a higher BMI (body mass index) is directly associated with significant alterations in normal ovulation. Avoid vigorous dieting or taking hormonal supplements as a weight loss tool because nutritional irregularities greatly affect the secretion of endocrine hormones. Make sure you engage in daily physical activities, such as fertility yoga, which can promote blood flow to female reproductive organs.
2. Go On A Fertility Diet: Healthy foods provide macro and micro-molecules that supply optimal nutrients for your developing baby and expanding uterus. Increase your intake of vegetables, eggs, salads and cauliflower, beans and broccoli as well as wholesome soups. Abstain from caffeine and alcohol.
3. Take Vitamin Supplements: Vitamin C and Selenium supplements are very helpful in improving fertility. Vitamin C improves hormone levels and increases fertility and Selenium protects eggs and sperm from oxidative and free radical damage. Also helpful are supplements of vitamins B6, B12, C, D, E, CoQ10, Folic Acid, Iron, Calcium, Selenium, Zinc and Omega-3 acids.
4. Study Your Cycle: Calendar your most fertile period (around ovulation or 14th day of a 28 day menstrual cycle) and monitor the changes in your cervical secretion. It is also helpful to monitor and record your basal body temperature and practice frequent intercourse around the time of ovulation.
5. Get Your Body Ready: Experts suggest massaging your uterus is very helpful because it enhances the blood supply to uterus and promotes development of uterine tissue. Fertility cleansing helps eliminate toxins and chemicals that are produced as a result of hormonal breakdown, medications and stress.
It is important to note that in the Harvard study, the women with the highest fertility diet scores ate less trans fats and sugar from carbohydrates, consumed more protein from vegetables than from animals, ate more fiber and iron, took more multivitamins, had a lower body mass index (BMI), exercised for longer periods of time each day, and, surprisingly, consumed more high-fat dairy products and less low-fat dairy products.