Most women can conceive without too much difficulty but if you want to increase your chances of getting and staying pregnant there are some things you can do. Changes to your diet and behavior are a central part of reaching this goal.
Vitamins and Fertility
Vitamin C is one of the most important vitamins for maintaining fertility. Without it fertility levels go down significantly in men and women especially if they're smokers. Damaged sperm cells have been discovered in men that don't get the recommended daily allowance of vitamin C, and healthy sperm cell counts increase significantly for men who take extra vitamin C during the time they're trying to conceive with their partner.
One caveat for women is that they shouldn't take significantly more than the recommended daily allowance of vitamin C for the reason that it potentially dries up the fluid inside a woman's cervix, stopping sperm cells from reaching the eggs. If you're taking prenatal vitamins stick to the dosage in it.
According to some studies, low sperm count and inefficient motility of sperm can be caused by not getting the proper amount of zinc. Zinc deficiency has also been linked to some cases of miscarriage. Be sure to get the correct dose without taking too much.
Another important vitamin you need to be getting enough of is vitamin E. Studies have shown a link to this particular one and the preservation of sperm-cell membranes. Male fertility rates were increased by around 30 percent in one study when test subjects were given the recommended dose of 200 milligrams of vitamin E daily.
In addition to vitamins some amino acids have shown to have an impact on fertility rates. Arginine, in particular, when taken in small doses of only a few grams a day increased sperm count and motility dramatically.
Folic acid is one of the things your doctor will inform you to take if trying to conceive or if you're already pregnant. Folic acid can be found in a number of foods, including cereals and dark leafy green vegetables. Getting enough folic acid from your food is somewhat of a challenge though, so it's important to take a multivitamin with enough of it to prevent serious birth defects such as spina bifida.
Before conception, simply take enough folic acid for a healthier baby and a healthier pregnancy overall. Folic acid is sometimes called folate, a B vitamin found in foods such as kale, spinach and orange juice. 400 micrograms or 4 milligrams of folic acid a day before conception potentially reduces the risk of some types of neural tube defects.
Stan P. Wright
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