Many individuals or couples will seek a pre-pregnancy fertility consultation before they start trying to conceive. The benefits of this review are to optimise your reproductive health and improve your chances of spontaneously conceiving a pregnancy.
During this consultation there will be a discussion around your lifestyle, diet, exercise, mental health, current medications, and any pre-pregnancy investigations you may need. We will discuss the role of reproductive genetic carrier screening as well as provide a recommendation for routine investigations and supplementations prior to embarking on a pregnancy.
Learn how ovulation tracking can help.
If you want to improve your chances of falling pregnant naturally, lifestyle choices count. In addition to understanding your fertile window and having regular intercourse during this period, several lifestyle changes can help.
Both being overweight and underweight can have detrimental effects on ovulation and fertility. Being overweight or obese also increases the risk of pregnancy complications.
A well-balanced diet can support a healthy body weight as well as provide the right nutrients for your growing baby once you fall pregnant. Once you’ve started trying to conceive, most women are recommended to also take folate and iodine supplements.
All of these substances have negative impacts on both male and female fertility, including damaging sperm and egg quality and increasing the chances of miscarriage. Alcohol and drug use are also associated with prolonging the time taken to conceive.
It is particularly important for men to avoid toxins and hazards such as pesticides and radiation as this can impact sperm production. Similarly, any situations that can overheat your testes, such as prolonged sitting, should be avoided.
The majority of the population should be taking 400mcg of folic acid; some high-risk patients will require 5mg of folic acid.
If you're trying to conceive, the general recommendation is to limit your daily caffeine intake to 200mg. This is roughly equivalent to two cups of coffee.
The fertile window refers to the time in a woman's menstrual cycle when she is ovulating and most likely to conceive.
It is a complete myth that you need to have sex daily to conceive. Studies have demonstrated that having intercourse every other day had the same, if not higher, rates of conception than having intercourse every day during the fertile window.
Dr Danielle Robson, fertility specialist, consults at three locations across Sydney: the CBD, Chatswood, and Manly. A referral from a general practitioner is required for all initial appointments.
Book today by calling 1300 330 279 or click the button below.
