Infertility struggles hurt. If you haven’t conceived a child after a year or more of trying, you may face an “infertility” diagnosis. Don’t let that be the end of the story.
Let’s talk about fertility.
If you and your partner have decided to start a family but can’t seem to get the ball rolling – so to speak – you’ve probably felt your fair share of stress over the topic. That’s normal.
Of course, stress isn’t exactly helpful for making babies. And there’s a pandemic, which throws a monkey wrench into a lot of baby-making plans.
First off, I’m sorry that you’re facing this stress. It hurts. I know.
There’s never a perfect time to start a family. And for most couples, time is of the essence when it comes to fertility. So if you’ve decided you’re ready to move forward, I want to help you work through some of your fertility struggles.
Causes of fertility struggles
If you’re struggling to get pregnant, you’re certainly not alone. Approximately 15 percent of couples in the United States experience infertility. While some medical fertility issues can be identified and treated, it is not uncommon for the root cause of the issue to be unclear. Men and women of prime reproductive age tend to have infertility struggles in roughly equal proportion, though it is slightly more common in women. After a woman enters her 30s, her fertility decreases by about half.
Both men and women who struggle to conceive often experience fertility-compromising hormonal fluctuations. The good news is that many of these fluctuations are lifestyle driven. That means change is possible! Here are four strategies for improving your odds of achieving pregnancy.
Lifestyle factors in fertility include:
- Stress
- Nutritional deficiencies
- Lack of exercise
- Obesity
Fortunately, these concerns are highly correctable. A hormone-balancing approach may yield excellent results.
4 Strategies for improving fertility
The following advice can help both men and women optimize their fertility.
1. Switch to a low-glycemic index nutrition plan. 
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- Heavily processed, sugar-loaded foods high in refined carbohydrates facilitate a spike in glucose. This triggers insulin production, which can interrupt ovulation.
- Detoxing – eliminating sugary, high-fat foods with low nutritional value, and foods that are heavily processed – can significantly improve fertility and overall health.
2. Implement a gut health program.
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- The gut hosts approximately three pounds of bacteria. This healthy microflora includes bifidobacteria and lactobacillus. They:
- Help regulate hormones
- Facilitate vitamin production
- Aid in digestion
- Optimize immune function
- The proliferation of non-beneficial gut bacteria can inhibit these actions and trigger illnesses, including diabetes. By restoring healthy gut bacteria, it may be possible to mitigate disease, fatigue, and infertility.
- Integrate probiotic foods – yogurt, sauerkraut, tempeh, fermented cucumber pickles – to aid in a healthy gut bacteria balance.
- The gut hosts approximately three pounds of bacteria. This healthy microflora includes bifidobacteria and lactobacillus. They:
3. Get regular exercise.
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- The importance of regular, vigorous exercise cannot be emphasized enough.
- Exercise can:
- Help regulate hormones
- Lessen sugar cravings
- Improve mood
- Decrease insulin resistance (which can improve fertility and manage polycystic ovary syndrome in women)
- Exercise is also an excellent, natural stress reducer.
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4. Improve your sleep hygiene.
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- Disturbed sleep negatively influences the production of hormones that regulate ovulation.
- Moreover, persistently interrupted sleep is a risk factor for the onset of type 2 diabetes – a condition that reduces testosterone levels in men, which lower sperm count and contribute to erectile dysfunction.
Get a health plan that addresses your unique fertility struggles
If you and your partner are experiencing conception challenges, Vytal Health can help you map out a personalized treatment plan that will help you correct the root causes of your fertility struggles.
To connect with a functional health specialist, contact the Vytal Health team and begin your journey to holistic wellness and improved fertility.