DuoFertility

There are a few things that you might consider changing if you are trying for a baby

Using DuoFertility will increase your chances of conceiving by accurately monitoring your ovulation? - however, we also recommend that you try to follow the advice below when you are trying to get pregnant.

Eat Well

Eating a balanced diet will help to ensure that your body is healthy enough to conceive and nourish a developing baby. A balanced diet also helps to keep sperm? production at optimum levels.

Drink in Moderation

Alcohol can affect the fertility levels of both men and women. Excessive alcohol intake also increases the risk of miscarriage.

Stop Smoking

Smoking has been linked to infertility in both men and women, and has been linked to early menopause in women. It also increases the risk of low birth weight and premature birth.

Stay Active

Regular exercise helps to maximise your fitness levels and keeps your weight in check. It also boosts endorphin levels, which help you to feel happy.

Keep It Cool

The testes should be a couple of degrees cooler than the rest of the body in order to maximise sperm production. We recommend that men wear loose-fitting underwear and trousers and avoid activities that increase the temperature of the testes, such as saunas and hot showers.

Taking Supplements

The government recommends that all women trying for a baby should take 400mcg of folic acid a day to help protect against conditions such as spina bifida.

Watch Your Weight

Being overweight or underweight can disturb your menstrual cycle? and affect your fertility.

Prescription Drugs

Certain prescription drugs can reduce your chances of conceiving - ask your doctor for advice if you are taking prescription drugs while trying for a baby.

Caffeine Intake

A scientific study was recently conducted near Manchester in the UK which found that the caffeine intake of many women exceeded the recommended limits. So far, the effect of caffeine intake on infertility and other health problems is relatively unknown.

Scientific references (Click here)

Habitual caffeine intake in women of childbearing age. J Hum Nutr Diet. 2008 Apr;21(2):159-64

Derbyshire E, Abdula S.

Faculty of Food, Clothing & Hospitality Management, Manchester Metropolitan University, Hollings Campus, Manchester, UK

BACKGROUND: For women, delayed conception? and recurrent pregnant loss are just a few of the health implications associated with a caffeine-rich diet (Mol. Hum. Reprod., 11, 357). At present there is a deficit of prospective research measuring current habitual intakes of caffeine in UK women. The purpose of the current study was to collect up-to-date baseline data to assess caffeine intake and knowledge in a group of women (aged 16-45 years). METHODS: Seventy Caucasian subjects (mean age 30.4 +/- 8.7 years) were recruited from business offices within the Manchester area. Each participant completed a 3-day food diary and lifestyle questionnaire. RESULTS: The mean intake of caffeine was 173.95 mg day(-1) (+/-128.39 mg day(-1)). Eighteen per cent of subjects exceeded caffeine guidelines and consumed 300 mg caffeine or more each day. Subjects consuming over 300 mg day(-1) were more likely to be older (P = 0.016) and smokers (P = 0.000). Individuals given previous advice about caffeine and health, had lower intakes (P = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: Many women are unaware of health perturbations associated with caffeine consumption. A diet abundant in caffeine may result in delayed conception , infertility and increased risk of osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease and cancer later in life. Such information needs to be conveyed to the public sector. Future research is also required to devise specific caffeine guidelines, particularly safe upper limits.

Semin Perinatol. 2007 Aug;31(4):240-2

Triche EW, Hossain N.

ale Women & Children's Center for Blood Disorders, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA

Adverse pregnancy outcome from environmental factors may include congenital anomalies, increased risk for miscarriage, preterm delivery, intrauterine growth restriction, and still birth. Apart from adverse pregnancy outcome, there may be effects on the other reproductive functions, like menstrual disorders and infertility. Environmental factors which have been implicated in adverse pregnancy outcome include smoking, video display terminals, anesthetic gases, antineoplastic drugs, and exposure to lead, selenium, and inorganic mercury. Among these, cigarette smoking during pregnancy has been the leading environmental factor for adverse pregnancy outcome. Cigarette smoking during pregnancy continues to be a significant public health concern. Maternal smoking during pregnancy has been associated with low birth weight (<2500 g). Mothers who smoke during pregnancy are twice as likely to give birth to low-birth weight infants. Similarly, air pollution, pesticide exposure, and stress have also been associated with low birth weight and preterm delivery. This review gives an overview of the importance of environmental factors in adverse pregnancy outcome.