Five ways for men and women to improve their chances of falling pregnant

Trying for a baby can become emotionally, physically and financially draining. Here are five tips both men and women can follow to improve their chances of conceiving.

Dr Lynn Burmeister finds great joy in helping people realise their dream of having a baby, but admits it can be a challenging journey for some.

Fifty per cent of fertility issues are from a male factor, while for women, a declining number of eggs as they age can lessen their chances of falling pregnant.

“Women are born with a finite number of eggs, between one and two million. By puberty, women have around 400,000 eggs. By 30, there’s 100,000-150,000 eggs in reserve. By 35, that number is around 80,000. At age 40 there is only a 4 per cent chance of conceiving naturally,” the Melbourne fertility specialist says.

Burmeister adds that too much caffeine and alcohol can reduce your chances of falling pregnant. She recommends limiting alcohol to no more than five standard drinks per week and coffee to no more than two shots daily.

“We say the same thing for processed foods and sugar – everything in moderation and try to limit your intake,” she says.

Vanessa Dunne is expecting her first baby after successful IVF and keeps herself fit and relaxed with fertility yoga.

For Vanessaa Dunne from Melbourne, who is 30 weeks pregnant with her first child, the journey to pregnancy was not an easy one.

In 2015, Dunne and her partner started their journey to have a baby and tried for two years without success, including having IVF treatment.

“After about two years, I gave up – that was too hard. It was emotionally, physically and financially demanding. We finally said, let’s just go live our life and travel and party and have fun,” Dunne says.

In January this year, Dunne made a spur of the moment decision to give IVF another go. She fell pregnant with her daughter within weeks.

Dunn credits Burmeister and the fact she was far more relaxed this time compared to 2015.

“I think when you’re in the depths of miscarriages and all those fertility treatments not working for a couple of years, you get so stressed. I think I was in a different headspace this time.”

Aged in her early 40s, Dunne says going through IVF made her more aware of things she could alter in her life to improve her chances of falling pregnant.

“I think yoga, acupuncture and exercise relieves stress and reduces depression,” she says. “I think anything is worth a go if it can help you fall pregnant.”

IVF specialist Dr Lynn Burmeister.

DR LYNN’S TOP TIPS

What men and women can do to improve their chances of success.

WOMEN

● Vitamins: Most people trying to conceive know they should take folate for a healthy baby. But we recommend a list of vitamins and supplements you might not expect. Melatonin, nicotinamide, lipoec and myo-inositol all help improve egg quality.

● Do an egg bank check: It pays to know early on if you have a low egg reserve, with a simple test that measures the anti-mullerian hormone. We also measure FSH (follicle stimulating hormone) levels. High levels indicate poor ovarian reserve. If you have low egg reserves but you’re not ready to start a family, egg freezing is a good option until you are ready.

● Exercise: This seems obvious, but some exercises are better than others. Lifting weights is fabulous for fertility. It builds strength, stimulates blood flow and feel-good hormones. Fertility yoga promotes relaxation, encourages blood flow to the hips and increases circulation.

● Acupuncture: Some studies show acupuncture for fertility can stimulate blood flow to the uterus and assist with ovulation.

● Healthy eating: A diet of Mediterranean foods with lots of healthy oils is my No.1 food tip. Try and cut down on simple carbohydrates like processed bread, cakes and biscuits. Steer clear of juice and soft drinks. Limit exposure to toxins, pesticides and plastics. Ditch plastic microwave containers for glass and use a metal drink bottle.

MEN

For men, it’s all about producing healthy sperm, and lots of them!

● Vitamins: Men are often forgotten about when it comes to pre-natal vitamins and supplements, but they shouldn’t be as they contribute equally to making a baby. Men should take folic acid for a fertility boost, fish oil, vitamin D and Co-Q10 and Acetyl-L-Carnitine for optimal sperm health.

● Diet: Eat Brazil nuts, which contain selenium, for strong sperm, and can also boost testosterone levels, and oysters for zinc, along with antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables such as blueberries and beetroot. These are man’s best friend when it comes to fertility.

● Go low-tox: Limit exposure to pesticides, lead and other toxins that can harm sperm.

● Stress less: Use mindfulness techniques such as deep breathing and mini meditations to help with repetitive thought patterns, reduce stress, regulate your emotions and even boost your memory.

● Butt out: Smoking can have a particularly harmful impact on sperm. Research has shown that men who smoke are more likely to have lower sperm counts; it also causes sperm to become slow and misshapen.