Top tips for improving fertility

Women's access to contraception has enabled them to control their fertility and decide whether or not to have a child. However, stopping contraception does not automatically mean getting pregnant. Patience is also required!

The probability of getting pregnant is only 25% each month. As a result, it takes a couple an average of 7 months to conceive a child after stopping contraception, regardless of the method used.

Age, a criterion not to be neglected for fertility

It is an inescapable biological fact: female fertility declines with age. It is at its highest at the age of 25, and then gradually decreases. At the age of 30, a woman trying to get pregnant has a 75% chance of succeeding in 12 months; 66% at 35; 44% at 40. Another consequence of the passage of time is that the risk of miscarriage increases with age: 12% at 25, 20% at 37, 30% at 43.

The decline in fertility with age is one of the major obstacles to a late desire for pregnancy (after 40).

A health check-up to prepare for pregnancy

Before starting a baby, it is advisable to consult your GP or gynaecologist and carry out a medical check-up. The aim is to ensure that you are in good health and to identify any obstacles to your desire to become pregnant.

Check for immunity to rubella, toxoplasmosis and chickenpox, three diseases that can have serious consequences for the foetus, by taking a blood test. Take the necessary measures in case of non-immunity (vaccines against rubella and chickenpox, dietary advice against toxoplasmosis).

Be up to date with your vaccinations: carry out the necessary booster shots as some vaccines are contraindicated during pregnancy. Detect any deficiencies (iron, vitamin D, etc.) requiring supplementation. If necessary, have an HIV and hepatitis B and C test.

Fill up on vitamin B9

Almost one third of women of childbearing age lack vitamin B9 (folic acid). This vitamin is essential for the proper development of the fetus from the first four weeks of life. A deficiency can lead to certain malformations (spina bifida) of the neural tube and increases the risk of prematurity.

Vitamin B9 is present in many foods:

• Green vegetables, mainly leafy: spinach, cabbage, lamb's lettuce, etc.;
• Fruits: oranges, melons, bananas, etc.;
• Seeds and oilseeds: corn, nuts, chestnuts, chickpeas, etc.;
• Eggs.

According to official recommendations, a woman wishing to have a child should receive systematic folic acid supplementation, to be taken 4 to 8 weeks before any attempt at conception. To be continued during the first trimester of pregnancy.

The Anses (National Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health Safety) states that 30% of women of childbearing age are at risk of folic acid deficiency.

Take an interest in how your cycle works

A woman is not fertile at all times during her menstrual cycle. The average cycle lasts 28 days, but can vary from 25 to 35 days depending on the woman. The first day of the cycle is the first day of menstruation. Fertilization, i.e. the meeting of an egg cell released by the ovary and a sperm cell, can only take place during ovulation.

In a normal cycle, this occurs around day 13 or 14. On day 21 if the cycle lasts 35 days. In order to achieve a successful pregnancy, it is important to know how your cycle works!

Taking a temperature curve over several months is a good way of finding out. Your body temperature rises above 37°C the day after ovulation. If your cycles are irregular or if you notice that you are not ovulating, talk to your doctor.

Make love at the right time!

For a pregnancy to occur, you must first have sex! And, if possible, at the right time, i.e. when the woman is fertile, during ovulation. A small hitch: the fertilisable egg - which has just been released by the ovary - has a limited lifespan: only 24 hours. The spermatozoa therefore have little time to fertilise it: on average, they survive 72 hours in the uterus, but they have to cross the cervix and go up the fallopian tubes to reach it.

The ideal timing for fertilisation? Having sex two days before ovulation. This allows the sperm to arrive in the fallopian tubes just as the egg is released.

Consider an ovulation test

It's not always easy to identify the two most fertile days of your cycle! To help you, there are ovulation tests.

How does it work? Measure the level of luteinising hormone (LH) in your urine, which is produced at a peak just before ovulation. Is the test positive? This is the "optimal" time to make love: intercourse must take place within 48 hours. In order to identify D-day, several tests (one per day) may be necessary: 3 to 4 on average.

Stop smoking

Cigarettes are definitely not a good match for a pregnancy. Not only is smoking detrimental to the development of the fetus, but it also impairs the fertility of the woman who smokes... which increases the duration of conception. In order to have a baby, it is therefore best to give up nicotine as soon as possible. Get help if you need it. There are various ways of quitting smoking. Talk to your doctor about this.

This recommendation also applies to alcohol.

Eat a balanced diet

With a future pregnancy in mind, it may be useful to reconsider the way you eat. A balanced diet allows the body to replenish the vitamins, minerals and trace elements you will need during the nine months of pregnancy.

Avoid exclusionary or overly restrictive diets that encourage deficiencies and disrupt the hormonal cycle. If you really want to lose a few kilos, consult your doctor.

Make the father-to-be aware

Explain to the father-to-be that he too can boost his fertility by adopting a healthy lifestyle. Like you, he should stop smoking, limit alcohol and eat a varied and balanced diet. These precautions may not be so superfluous: numerous scientific studies confirm a drop in male fertility. The quality and quantity of human spermatozoa are said to be altered by our lifestyle and environment.

Source: SanteMagazine.fr

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