How to improve Female Fertility
Whilst there may be a number of factors specific to the female partner effecting fertility (blocked tubes, no ovulation, uterine abnormalities) which may or may not be able to be corrected, there are a number of non-specific factors that have been shown to reduce fertility. In general before embarking on pregnancy it is advised that the woman is in optimum health to improve her fertility and to reduce any risks associated with pregnancy.
Managing Weight
In patients who are significantly underweight or especially overweight there is clear evidence of a detrimental effect on fertility as well as an increased risk of miscarriage. This reduction in fertility also extends to a reduction in the success of fertility treatment. It is therefore recommended that you should be close to your ideal body weight. This is best calculated by your body mass index (BMI) and is calculated as weight(kg)/height(m) 2 . The nursing staff will calculate this and advise you of your optimum weight. It is known that patients whose BMI falls outside of between 19 and 29 have decreased fertility. Indeed for patients seeking treatment on the NHS their weight must be within this range before they can be listed for treatment. Learn more about managing weight for fertility.
Stop Smoking
The exact effect of smoking on fertility has been difficult to establish. Products from cigarette smoke have been found in the fluid that surrounds the egg in IVF although the exact effect of this is not known. However it is clear that smoking has a very detrimental effect on pregnancy, with a severe risk of growth retardation, bleeding and even stillbirth. For this reason it is recommended that patients stop smoking completely before attempting a pregnancy, this also includes the use of vape or e-cigarettes. For patients seeking treatment on the NHS most CCG’s require you to stop smoking for at least three months before being able to be listed for treatment.
Folic Acid
This vitamin, which is now added to a wide range of foodstuffs, is known to reduce the incidence of spina bifida in pregnancy. There is also evidence that folic acid may reduce the incidence of miscarriage. All women planning to embark on pregnancy should consider the addition of folic acid in a dose of 400mg daily (either alone or in a combination with other vitamins in a pre-pregnancy vitamin supplement) which can be obtained from any chemist or supermarket.
Other factors to improve fertility health
- As well as maintaining an ideal weight eating a balanced diet is strongly recommended.
- Reduce caffeine intake.
- Consume no more than 1 – 2 units of alcohol per week.
- Take regular sensible exercise. This is associated with a general improvement in health and
reduction in stress. - There is some evidence that complimentary therapies, for example acupuncture, improve
fertility, and it may also be a useful way of relieving stress.
If you are looking for fertility advice that is tailored to you, visit our fertility assessments page which details the baseline investigations we can carry out for you before any fertility treatment begins.
