there is evidence to show it is best if there is a less than 3 day period of abstinence prior to this time of optimum fertility. If the use of lubricants is necessary, it is recom- mended to use natural lubricants such as mineral oil or the brand “Pre-Seed”. Other common questions such as what the best sexual position is to use during intercourse, whether or not to elevate the pelvis and ensuring a woman has an orgasm has no effect on conception.
Personal lifestyle choices can also
affect how quickly you conceive. Tobacco use is associated with delayed fertility in women and a reduction in sperm quality in men. Alcohol use in women and men of greater than 2 drinks per day is also as- sociated with delayed conception. Contrary to what some people believe, moderate consumption of caffeine (1 to 2 - 8 oz. cups/day) is not associated with conception difficulties and although there is no defini- tive evidence that recreational drug use is associated with a delay in conception it does carry health risks and is discouraged.
One of the most significant issues that can impact conception is being overweight and/or obese. For women, the optimum BMI for conception and healthy preg- nancy is 18.5 to 25; a BMI of less than 17 and over 27 is associated with ovulation problems. Even in women who ovulate regularly, a BMI over 27 is associated with an increased delay in becoming pregnant. Obesity is also associated with increased risk for pregnancy complications. The good news is there is something you can do about it. In women who do not ovulate regularly and have a high BMI, weight loss has been shown to help achieve spontane- ous ovulation and conception. A quality multi-vitamin is also very important to take for at least 3 months before you attempt pregnancy, as well as while you are trying to conceive and during your pregnancy. A recent study showed that taking a prenatal vitamin for 3 months before attempting pregnancy decreased the time it took to become pregnant and also reduced the incidence of significant nausea and vomit- ing in the first trimester of pregnancy. Not all vitamins are created equal however; it is important to make sure that you are getting what you need by consulting with a knowl- edgeable authority.
A couple of other things to consider;
environmental exposure to certain toxins such as BPA (present in certain plastics, especially water bottles) and phthalates (DEHP; present in shampoos/lotions) have been shown to have effects on fertility as they can affect the action of natural hormones and should be avoided. Ways to avoid these toxins are to avoid high fat foods (cream/whole milk/fatty meats) and canned fruits and vegetables; use glass/ stainless steel/ceramic and wood contain- ers for food instead of plastic and do NOT microwave in plastic containers. Avoid plastic with the recycling number 3, 6 or 7 on the bottom and minimize the handling of paper receipts since the majority of them are coated in BPA. Another recommenda- tion is for the majority of your diet to be from REAL FOOD meaning no processed food, limiting your intake of sugar and eat- ing organic as much as possible. Diets high in sugar cause inflammation and inflam- mation leads to organ dysfunction so you really are better off without it!
Exercise is also important for general good health and moderate, regular physi- cal activity is best. However, if you are a vigorous and dedicated athlete there is no reason for concern as long as your BMI is greater than 25. If it is less than this and you are experiencing a delay in conception, you might want to consider reducing the intensity to allow your BMI to in- crease. This recommen- dation is based upon a very well-designed Dan- ish study. Of course, for those women who have a BMI of greater than
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