Trying to get pregnant and having children is among the most exciting things for a couple. They always look up to make a happy and healthy family. But for almost every one out of ten couples, it isn't a smooth journey. They are unable to conceive, and thus pregnancy is restricted. When a couple is unable to conceive, even after having unprotected coitus for more than one year (if younger than 35) or half-year of unprotected sex (if older than 34), they are termed infertile. Infertility is always a heartbreaking phase of a couple's life.

The fertility doctor is a one that couples look up to during this face. Fertility doctors in India are trying their best to spread awareness regarding infertility. Among Indians, infertility is often considered taboo, and couples hide it from society and even themselves. Infertility can be in females, male, both, or unexplained. Couples also shy away from talking to each other about this issue. Fertility doctors in India are trying their best to share the fact that infertility, in most of the cases, is being treated by minor lifestyle adjustments or simple habits which are very easy to follow.

For all the couples who are trying to conceive and it's not been enough time, one year or six months, but are still not able to conceive, we have some advice for you. This advice, after doctors' consultation, can also be mixed with your treatment. But note that we don't mean this advice can be taken as a substitute for medical observation or treatment. Femicure is a healthcare and wellness facilitator, and our platform helps you find the best possible treatment provider for your medical needs. 

1. Maintain a healthy body weight

For almost every treatment in the world, you need to maintain a good and healthy weight for the best results. If you are still trying to conceive and the required time to wait has not ended yet, then losing weight is the best option. The couple should follow BMI for their benefit. Be in a healthy category and not in the obese, overweight, underweight, or malnourished group. Weight issues can be a primary reason for keeping the couple from conception. 

One reason for this is that fat cells are related to estrogen production, so if you have too many or too few, it can affect the hormones involved in ovulation. Overweight also increases the risk of insulin resistance. In men, obesity can also be linked to lower testosterone levels and impaired sperm quality. The good news is that even if you're obese, losing around 10-15 kgs can significantly boost your overall health and improve your chances of conception. 

2. Be Stress-Free

Whenever a couple decides to have children and try conceiving, they do feel stressed. After multiple attempts, if they don't succeed, then their stress only shoots up. Apart from this, in today's modern lifestyle, stress plays a prominent role as well. The work pressure, social commitments, family issues, private issues, and more, every couple at least has one or two of them in their life. Stress and anxiety are normal in such an environment.  

Conception and pregnancy is a huge decision for a couple. So, considering all this, they also need to keep their stress in check. In makes, stress affects sperm production, while in females, it affects a woman's menstrual cycle. Besides this, it also decreases libido. An individual should know what activities will keep him away from stress and what he should do if he feels stress is taking a toll on their sexual life.

3. Quit Smoking And Alcohol

Today, it's universally known that smoking can contribute to infertility. Studies have proved that women who regularly smoke take longer to get pregnant; they also have an increased risk of infertility. Smoking is also known to increases the risks of miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, and complications during pregnancy.  

Smoking issues aren't only limited to moms; they are equally harmful to dads as well. In males, smoking tends to reduce sperm quality. Active or passive, smoking is very detrimental to your fertility. Smoking doesn't only mean tobacco; it includes all the other harmful substances as well. 

Alcohol is among the hardest addictions to control. Smokers feel the damage smoking does to their lungs, but alcohol consumers can't feel the damage, apart from their thoughts and tummy. Having between one and five drinks (pegs) in a week is considered normal and, in fact, good for your heart. But as consumption rises, your fertility can decrease. Apart from this, drinking during pregnancy can result in congenital disabilities and learning disabilities in children. So alcohol needs to be controlled as well. 

4. Boost your vitamin and mineral intake

Multivitamins are essential for you to have a healthy body. The additional nutrients supplement can prove to be highly beneficial for you and your child when trying to conceive or during pregnancy. Mothers need folic acid to prevent neural tube, heart, and limb defects in the fetuse. These organs start forming in the first few weeks of pregnancy, and studies have also shown that iron-deficient women may experience poor egg quality and even stop ovulating.

Vitamin B12 deficiency may result in irregular ovulation, while Vitamin D deficiency can cause hormone imbalance. Vitamin C can improve the hormone levels. Selenium is also essential, as it helps protect the egg and sperm from free-radical damage.

5. Plan The Tries Well

It might sound a bit emotionless, but it's very logical and effective. It's one of the first things that every fertility doctor recommends initially. There are two major sides to this advice. First is for females, they shall get an ovulation prediction kit. By now, you know how the menstrual cycle works. A female's body releases the egg, it waits for fertilization, but then as it doesn't happen, the body discharges thickened uterine lining tissues and the eggs; this is called a menstrual cycle.

Now the day periods start for the female, shall be considered the day one. Females should start the test from the ninth or tenth day, continuing until it gets positive. When the test is positive, it means females have started ovulating, which is the best time for them to conceive. 

Another aspect of this advice is the frequency, as trying every day won't do good. Even while ovulating, trying every alternate day is better to increase the chances of conception. Also, it will be beneficial for males to avoid tight clothes, especially jeans and innerwear, during the entire time they are focusing on conception. 

Apart from this advice, there are many other things that a couple can do to increase their chances of conception. Fertility doctors are the best people to go to during these times. But till the required time (a year of six months, as per the age) is going on, the above advice is right for you to adopt for increasing your chances.