Fertility Tips For The Couple Who’s Trying

May 17, 2018
By Olivia Bryon, Mabel + Moxie

Deciding to have to have a baby is one of life’s biggest milestones. It’s incredibly exciting to be on the same page with your partner and be ready to start a family. It can also be a huge letdown if you don’t get pregnant right away, even if this is common for many couples. After all, conception may not occur immediately and all that waiting can become excruciating.

Save yourself an ounce of heartache by taking the time to learn about getting pregnant and what you might expect. After all, simply knowing your body and taking care of yourself can make a remarkable difference in how long it takes to conceive, and there are specialists out there who can help if needed.

Ready for some expert fertility tips? We were lucky enough to connect with the doctors at CCRM (Colorado Center For Reproductive Medicine) for advice.

Visit Your Gynecologist Prior To Attempting To Conceive

To ensure you’re up-to-date on your health screening and all appropriate preconception testing, it’s important to start your fertility journey with a trip to your doctor.

Take A Daily Prenatal Vitamin That Contains Folic Acid

When you’re trying to conceive and pregnant, you need at least 400 mcg of folic acid daily.

Get To Know Your Body

More specifically your menstrual cycle and “fertile window.” Ovulation may occur at different points for different women. Assuming it will happen in the middle of your cycle may mean you’re missing your chance to get pregnant each month. Check out your options for fertility trackers and get smart about when you’re “trying.”

Identify Healthy Ways To De-stress

Finding something both you and your partner enjoy is a wonderful way to connect and also important for helping your body de-stress and prepare for pregnancy.

Don’t Assume Your Fertility Is Like Everyone Else’s

“Fertility is a continuum, which means fertility declines at a different rate for each woman,” shared Brian A. Levine, MD, fertility specialist and the founding partner and practice director of CCRM New York.

Realize Fertility Is More Than A Numbers Game

“Simply having plenty of eggs doesn’t mean your fertility is healthy. Egg quality is controlled by several factors; however, as women age their eggs are more at-risk for having abnormal chromosomes that lower egg quality. This can affect whether or not fertilization will occur and is also the main cause of miscarriage,” Dr. Levine told us.

Don’t Worry, Fertility Is Not Negatively Impacted By Birth Control

“In a recent survey on 1,000 Americans (ages 25-44) conducted by leading fertility clinic, CCRM (Colorado Center for Reproductive Medicine), nearly 70% of respondents think prolonged use of birth control pills negatively affects fertility, despite that there is no clinical evidence to suggest this. Contrary to what many people think, there is no clinical evidence to support that being on birth control does anything to hurt a woman’s chances of getting pregnant,” he added.

Be Aware Fertility Is An Issue That Affects Men And Women Equally

Dr. Levine shared: “Although society often overlooks this fact, the causes of infertility are typically 40% female-related, 40% male-related and 20% unknown. Translation: fertility is not just a woman’s issue. 30% of survey respondents believe that fertility in men does not decline with age, however men’s fertility does decline, typically beginning after age 40.“

Know When To See A Specialist

How long should a couple “try” before a fertility specialist/treatment should be considered?

Dr. Moragianni, another CCRM doctor at CCRM Northern Virginia, told us: “It all depends on the female’s age and the couple’s prior history. For a couple without prior pregnancies and/or complicating factors, not being pregnant after having had unprotected intercourse during the ‘fertile window’ for 12 months if the female is <35 years old (or 6 months if she is 35 or older) would warrant a fertility evaluation.”

Eat Smart

Which foods should women (and men) eat to help boost fertility?

Dr. Moragianni: “I always recommend a balanced diet containing as few processed foods and as many home-cooked organic meals as possible. Eat foods that are high on iron, protein, or both (such as fish, beans, leafy green vegetables, seeds, and meat). Opt for organic fruits, vegetables, meats, and eggs. Avoid processed carbohydrates and trans fats.”

Don’t Sweat The Small Stuff

Are there any additional lifestyle tips you’d recommend for couples who are trying to get pregnant?

Dr. Moragianni: “Try to maintain a balanced and healthy lifestyle, but don’t stress yourself out by setting unrealistic goals. If you want to have a piece of cake every once in a while it’s ok. If you need coffee this morning go ahead and have a cup!”

Don’t Lose Hope

What is your advice for couples who’ve tried but have yet to get pregnant and are now worried/scared?

Dr. Moragianni: “This is a very stressful and difficult process, especially if you are having trouble conceiving. Do not lose hope and remain focused. Schedule a consultation with your gynecologist or fertility specialist to discuss your history and start with some testing that could provide useful information. Seeing a fertility specialist does not mean you will have to have invasive treatment, there are many options available.”

Meet The Experts

CCRM (Colorado Center for Reproductive Medicine) is dedicated to delivering leading patient outcomes for people who want to have a baby. Founded by Dr. William Schoolcraft in 1987, CCRM has been one of the nation’s top leaders in fertility care and research for over 30 years specializing in the most advanced fertility treatments, with deep expertise in in vitro fertilization (IVF), fertility assessment, fertility preservation, genetic testing, third party reproduction, and egg donation.

Unlike many other fertility clinics that outsource their specialists and testing needs, CCRM leverages its own data, as well as a dedicated team of in-house reproductive endocrinologists, embryologists and geneticists in order to deliver consistent, successful results.

CCRM operates in 10 locations across the U.S. and Canada, including Atlanta, Boston, Denver, Houston, New York, Northern Virginia, Minneapolis, Orange County, San Francisco Bay Area, and Toronto.