Having a baby is a happy occasion most couples look forward to as the next milestone after marriage. Yet, many couples face unfortunate infertility. Start planning for the future and be aware of these things that could affect your chances of getting pregnant. You lose more and more eggs as you get older, and the quality of the remaining ones tend to decrease simultaneously. Keep these things in mind:
1. Alcohol – Looking to conceive? As little as one drink a day can affect your chances of conceiving and it increases your risk of having ovulation disorders. If you think you could be pregnant, you should put down those margaritas once and for all. Drinking during the early stages of pregnancy is worse as it has been linked to premature births.
2. Too much exercise – Working out is good for the mind and body, but you shouldn’t be overdoing it, especially when you’re trying to get pregnant. Vigorous exercise can alter your menstrual cycle and ovulation, making your periods lighter and much shorter than usual.
3. Birth control pills – Although these pills are created to prevent pregnancy, they can also help protect future fertility. Besides reducing your risk of ovarian cancer, taking these pills decreases the risk of upper genital tract infections by thickening cervical mucus and increases the activity of the ovary.
4. Smoking – Smoking hurts a developing foetus, and can also drastically lower your chances of being pregnant in the first place. It contributes heavily to infertility, and excessive exposure to cigarette smoke can damage the DNA in both men and women.
5. Abnormal periods – If you’re not having regular periods every month, you shouldn’t be celebrating the fact that you’ve been spared by Aunt Flo. This shows that you have irregularities in your hormone system and this can indicate more severe issues affecting the ovary.
6. Excessive weight loss/gain – For ovulation to occur, you need a certain percentage of body fat. Excessive weight loss can completely damage and shut down the reproductive process. On the other hand, being excessively overweight can overload the body with estrogen, throwing you off a regular menstrual cycle as a result of poor ovulation.
7. Household chemicals – Too much exposure to pesticides, pollutants and industrial compounds can decrease your chances of having children. Even though this rarely occurs, it’s best to take note of the beauty products like perfumes and nail polishes that you often use. They may contain byproducts of industrial combustion.
