Why Preconception Health Matters

The months before you start trying for a baby are crucial. This is the optimal time to prepare your body for getting pregnant. It can improve egg and sperm quality 

Whether you’re trying to conceive naturally or are embarking on IVF treatment, preparing for conception can make a big difference to your chances of success. A natural and healthy approach to your nutrition and lifestyle can help both partners to be in the best shape for conception. 

It’s backed up by research too. The findings from the Foresight preconception programme shows just how important preconception health is. 

As part of the programme, different aspects of wellbeing were assessed for both couples. This includes in depth health questionnaires, nutrient status, semen analysis and testing for infections and toxins that could affect fertility. Over half of the couples had a history of reproductive problems but despite this, 89% of the women were able to conceive and enjoy a healthy pregnancy. 

Nutrition and Lifestyle

Your nutrition can affect hormone balance, egg and sperm quality and a host of other aspects of fertility. 

A diet rich in good fats, whole grains, vegetables and fish has been linked to improved fertility while the Mediterranean diet has also been shown to improve conception chances, especially in women undergoing IVF treatment.

But it’s not quite as simple as following a certain way of eating. The combination of nutrients that is right for you can be very unique, especially if you have any nutrient deficiencies that may be impacting your fertility.

This is why it can be so beneficial to work with a qualified professional on preconception nutrition. We can uncover imbalances that may be contributing to your fertility problems rather than just guessing what you should be eating.

Your gut health is another area to look at. If your gut health isn’t great, it can increase inflammation and encourage an imbalance of “bad” bacteria (dysbiosis). It may not seem like an obvious problem for fertility but there can be a strong link between dysbiosis and infertility. Optimising your gut health is one of the best things you can do when you’re in the preconception window. 

The vagina has its own microbiome too and it needs to be balanced to encourage implantation. If you get frequent thrush or UTI infections, it can be a sign that your vaginal microbiome isn’t supporting conception as much as it could. Just like gut health, this is something we can address through nutrition and lifestyle. 

Lifestyle and Fertility

Getting yourself in the best shape to conceive is only partly about nutrition. Lifestyle is also an important part of the puzzle.

Your stress levels, physical activity, weight, whether you drink alcohol, your exposure to toxins and sleep patterns are just a few of the lifestyle factors that can affect your fertility. 

You may have no idea that certain lifestyle habits can make it harder to conceive, and this is another area where you can benefit from working with a qualified professional. Together, we can make sure that your lifestyle is supporting conception rather than hindering it. 

Are you ready to make sure your nutrition and lifestyle is giving you the best chance of becoming pregnant? 

If you want to nourish and care for your body before you look to conceive, I would love to help you make your dreams a reality. You can book a call to take the first step towards boosting your fertility naturally.