For anyone who’s thinking about getting pregnant, either in the near future or somewhere down the road, it’s never too early to start thinking about your reproductive health. Some factors are out of your control, but there are some things you can do to give yourself the best possible chance of starting a family. If you’ve never given any thought to how to improve reproductive health naturally, it’s a good time to get started.
The experts at the California Center for Reproductive Health understand that making good lifestyle choices isn’t always easy. Our team provides expert guidance to help people understand how to do what they can for their reproductive health.
Get Moving
Regular moderate exercise has a positive impact on your overall health, and it can also help improve the health of your reproductive system. This is true for both men and women. The key to making regular exercise a habit is to find an activity that you find enjoyable. If you hate jogging, that doesn’t mean you can’t lead an active lifestyle. Try swimming, dancing, or bicycling instead. If you’ve been leading a sedentary lifestyle, talk to your doctor about how to gradually increase your activity level.
While it’s important to include some exercise in your daily routine, over exercising can have the opposite effect. Very strenuous exercise can interfere with ovulation, so work on being physically active, but don’t overdo it.
Work Toward a Healthy Body Weight
Being either overweight or underweight can have an impact on hormones and fertility in both men and women. In women, when you’re not at a healthy weight, it can be hard to conceive, and if you do get pregnant, you’re at a higher risk of having complications or a miscarriage. Men who aren’t at a healthy body weight are more likely to have lower sperm count and lower semen volume.
If your body mass index is too high or too low it can also impact the effectiveness of some types of fertility treatment such as medication that induces ovulation. Women who lose as little as 5 to 10 percent of their body weight can improve their chances of getting pregnant and having a healthy pregnancy. Work on choosing nutritious foods and aim to get closer to a healthy body weight.
Kick Bad Habits
Most people know that some habits such as smoking or drinking excessively aren’t healthy but may not stop to think about the impact these habits may have on fertility. Smoking has a negative impact on hormone production. It can weaken sperm production in men and in women, and it can damage ovaries and eggs.
If you’re a smoker, kicking the habit is one of the best things you can do to improve reproductive health naturally. Another thing to consider is the impact alcohol can have on your reproductive health. Drinking excessively can make it more difficult to conceive and can be harmful to your overall health. Work on kicking bad habits like smoking and drinking to help improve reproductive health naturally.
For more tips on how to improve your reproductive health, get in touch with the experts at the Center for Reproductive Health.
