Surprising ways to boost your fertility
WITH the recent news that a Mediterranean diet can boost the chances of successful fertility treatment by a whopping 70%, we asked the experts for their tips and advice. By Michele O’connor
Women who do the housework, gardening or other forms of moderate exercise are three times more likely to conceive through IVF than those with sedentary lives, according to research by the University of North Carolina in the US. Exercise stops the body producing excessive insulin, which is thought to harm development of healthy eggs.
“This may send signals to the brain that we are under stress, which in turn may slow or shut down the reproductive organs temporarily,” warns Sandra Greenbank (sandragreenbank.co.uk). “Try yoga, pilates and swimming instead of HIIT, spinning or running.”
■ “Sounds odd but using herbs to infuse your vagina with steam can help with a whole range of gynae issues, including infertility,” says Gemma (who writes a blog on Vagina Steaming on prosperitykitchen.co.uk).
■ According to Ayurveda, piercing a particular node on the nose of a woman is said to improve blood flow to the uterus.
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It may not be scientific but many women claim the acidity of this citrus fruit helps thin cervical mucus, making it that much easier for sperm to swim towards their goal. ■
The ancient Chinese practice of feng shui claims that removing blockages that could prevent energy from flowing freely around the home will assist conception.
■ It may not sound sexy but warm feet improve circulation in your whole body, which means healthier sperm.
■ It’s rich in an anti-inflammatory enzyme called bromelain which can help embryos implant into the uterine lining. Some swear by eating the fruit for five days following ovulation.
“Poor sperm is one of the contributory factors in about half of the couples who have difficulty in starting a family,” warns Professor Allan Pacey, a male fertility expert at the University of Sheffield. A new male fertility supplement launched by Superdrug contains vitamins, minerals antioxidants and L-carnitine which has been proven in clinical trials to improve sperm concentration, mobility and ability to fertilise an egg.