Fertility issues are more common than many of us realize. Roughly 1 in 7 couples struggle to conceive, and 1 in 8 pregnancies end in a miscarriage (often in the first few weeks). If you are eager to have a baby, but you are struggling to conceive or carry full term, there are many solutions that you can explore. This post outlines 10 steps that every couple can take to overcome fertility issues.

Start by considering your lifestyle

Lifestyle factors can heavily influence our ability to conceive and carry a baby. If you are trying for a baby and struggling, you may want to consider if there are any unhealthy habits that could be having an impact. Some of the biggest lifestyle factors that can negatively affect fertility include:

Drinking alcohol (particularly heavy drinking)
Smoking
Lack of exercise or too much exercise
Consuming an unhealthy diet
Frequent exposure to chemicals
Working a high-stress job
Facing other daily stresses

These lifestyle factors can negatively affect the fertility rate of both men and women. It’s important to also consider diagnosed health problems like diabetes or high blood pressure, as well as your weight.

Commit to lifestyle changes

Once you’ve identified unhealthy lifestyle factors that could be negatively affecting your fertility, it’s important to commit to lifestyle changes. This could include fixing up your diet, working out regularly or giving up alcohol.

These do not have to be permanent lifestyle changes, but they could be worth maintaining until you have conceived and had your baby. Many people find that giving up alcohol or quitting a high stress job have an immediate positive impact.

Understand your ovulation cycle

While some women have been known to fall pregnant even on their period, others have a much smaller window in which they can fall pregnant. The majority of women are most fertile 12 to 14 days before their period starts. For some women, this may be the only time they can fall pregnant and therefore could be the best time to try for a baby.

There are many apps that you can use to track your ovulation cycle (so that you know when to schedule those baby making sessions!). Not all women have regular periods - it could be worth talking to your doctor if your ovulation cycle is irregular.

Eat fertility-boosting foods

There is no magic diet that can help you fall pregnant, however there are many foods worth trying which have been scientifically proven to boost the health of sexual organs and improve fertility. A few foods to incorporate into your diet could include:

Sunflower seeds
Cooked tomatoes
Asparagus
Spinach
Oranges and lemons
Avocado
Oily fish
Egg yolk

Take fertility-boosting supplements

Many medical professionals also recommend taking supplements to help with conceiving and maintaining a healthy pregnancy. Both men and women can benefit from taking fish oil and selenium supplements due to their positive impact on sexual organs, while vitamin E can have a positive impact on the health of ovaries in women. It’s worth noting that folic acid will not help you fall pregnant, but is important to take once you fall pregnant as it can prevent a number of neural birth defects.

Try at-home fertility tests

If you have tried all of the above and have still not conceived, it could be worth taking a fertility test. There are tests that you can take at home. This includes separate tests for men and women.

At-home fertility tests may not always be the most accurate form of fertility testing, but can be cheaper than seeing a doctor. Try to choose highly-rated at-home fertility tests for a more accurate reading of hormone levels or sperm count.

Know when to see a doctor

Many fertility issues are best diagnosed by a doctor. If you have not conceived after a year of trying, you should schedule a doctor’s appointment (especially if you have tried all of the above).

Your doctor may recommend that you talk to a specialist. There are many specialist clinics such as Willow Women’s Health Obstetrician-Gynecologists that are experts in female reproductive health, as well as clinics catered to male fertility problems like ED and sperm quality issues. From here, you can diagnose any potential problems and look into treatment options.

Explore fertility treatment options

Fertility treatment options may be available to you depending on your age, how long you have been trying, where you live and what you can afford. If you are a woman over 35, there are some treatment centers across the country that may consider you for treatment after only 6 months of failing to conceive.

The most basic treatment is prescribed fertility drugs. Drugs like Clomid are typically prescribed to women who are not ovulating normally, while injected hormones may be able to help with the release or even the growth of eggs. A fertility specialist will be able to recommend the right drug.

Issues like fibroids or blocked fallopian tubes may meanwhile be possible to correct through surgery. After you have recovered from surgery, falling pregnant normally may be possible, while other fertility problems may require drugs or added treatments to correct.

Assisted conception procedures like IUI (intrauterine insemination) and IVF (in vitro fertilization) have become a lot more popular and a lot more readily available in recent years. There are also treatment options like egg and sperm donation. Many couples still do not conceive after the first round of treatment, however most couples do conceive after three rounds - so it’s worth preparing for added treatment.

Know where to look for funding

Treatments like IVF can cost on average between $12,000 to $14,000 for a single cycle. This is money that a lot of couples don’t have ready access to, however there are ways to make funding easier

Currently New York is the only state that covers IVF with Medicaid. In other states, your best option is to look into fertility grants, local charity funding and personal crowdfunding. There are also interest-free loans and installment plans that can help to pay for IVF.

Don’t dismiss adoption

If fertility treatment is unsuccessful or simply not an option, there is still the route of adoption to consider. Many couples dismiss adoption because they are eager to have a child that is biologically theirs, but this is not always possible. Adoption is cheaper and easier in many cases. It’s a chance to still raise a child and experience everything that a parent experiences aside from the pregnancy and birth itself. Consider whether it is the right solution for you.

10 Steps To Tackling Fertility Issues