By Dr. Vaishali , Gynaecology
If you have been trying to conceive but are being unsuccessful, then it is time to take a step back, relax and figure out the problem. Figuring out the problem(s) will allow you to rectify them so that the chances of you getting pregnant go up significantly.
Some of the common issues which may be interfering with your chances of pregnancy are:
- Get Sound Sleep: The more sleep deprived you are, the less likely are you to get pregnant. The reason being, less sleep can cause the body’s immune system to go haywire and can increase chances of infections in the body. These infections affect the reproductive system and impair your ability to get pregnant. So aim for uninterrupted sleep of at least 6-8 hours every day.
- Stress: Often the major culprit: Being stressed causes the body to release certain hormones in the body that cause problems in the reproductive cycle. Practice relaxation techniques such as meditation to expel stress from the body.
- Keep a check on your weight: Being obese may lead to hormonal imbalances that result in infertility. It also increases your chances of being affected by polycystic ovary syndrome; which also contributes to infertility. It is advised to maintain a healthy diet and follow an exercise regimen to keep your weight at optimal levels.
- Only females are not responsible in case there is any difficulty in achieving pregnancy: It could be your partner who has problems such as a low sperm count or erectile dysfunction. Low sperm mobility is another cause of infertility. Figure out the problem and consult a doctor to address the issue.
- Hormonal Imbalance – Even slight derangement in hormonal levels e.g. thyroid, prolactin etc may pose difficulty in conception. Get your blood tests done for hormonal analysis and consult your gynaec. Initiation of medical treatment may bring dramatic results.
- Know your fertile period – For a woman, having a regular menstrual cycle of 28 days, egg is released for fertilization on 14th day. So for her, fertile period is approximately around 14th day of cycle (i.e. 11th to 16th day of menstrual cycle). These days are calculated by counting the first day of periods, as Day 1 of that cycle. Normally a sperm, after entering female womb remains alive for 3 days approximately, while the egg, that is released, remains viable for 2 days. That is why this period from 11th day to 16th day is called as fertile period and carries maximum probability for achieving pregnancy. This period varies according to the total duration of cycle e.g. in a woman with a cycle of 35 days, the fertile period will be from 18th to 23rd day of cycle while in a woman with a cycle of 21 days, the fertile period will be from 5th to 9th day.
For better understanding, you can visit your gynaecologist.
