How can I make pregnancy more likely?

Maintain as healthy a lifestyle as possible

DO NOT SMOKE

Tobacco smoke contains more than 1,000 chemicals, including aniline, cadmium, cotinine, carbon monoxide, dioxins and arsenic. This means that smoking has a harmful effect on our health and fertility.

Smokers have a longer waiting period before they become pregnant. And even with fertility treatment, the chance of getting pregnant is lower. During pregnancy, the risk of miscarriage or deficiency development of the child is increased. In addition, smokers go through menopause earlier than non-smokers. 

In men, smoking leads to decreased sperm motility. This means that they should refrain from tobacco consumption even before starting fertility treatment.

WATCH YOUR WEIGHT

Both underweight and overweight can have a negative impact on a woman's fertility. Fatty tissue behaves like a hormone-producing organ. A too high fat content leads to cycle disturbances. In parallel to this, there is often a raised insulin level. This has a direct impact on the function of the ovaries.

Being underweight also affects fertility: It can also cause menstrual irregularities and even failure to ovulate. Sufficient body weight is accordingly an important precondition for reproduction. Reducing or building up existing overweight or underweight increases the chance of pregnancy - even in the run-up to fertility treatment.

The "Body Mass Index" (BMI) is often calculated to estimate body weight:  

  • BMI = body weight : (Body height in m)2

For women, the value should be between 20 and 25. A value greater than 30 signals severe overweight. 

AVOID NEGATIVE STRESS

For many situations, humans need a particularly high commitment level. This is triggered during stress by the release of certain hormones: The heart beats faster, the brain and lungs are better supplied, the senses are sharpened. In and of itself, that's not a bad thing. The problem only occurs if this condition persists.

Effect on oocyte maturation and spermatogenesis Negative
influences that cause tension, anxiety or anger lead to so-called distress. This harmful stress continues even during periods of rest and has a long-term negative impact on life. Exhaustion, nervousness, sleep disorders and other medical conditions can be the result. The influence of distress on oocyte maturation and spermatogenesis has been the subject of scientific discussion for a long time - a connection with hormonal disorders and reduced spermatogenesis seems to be given. There is no magic formula for reducing or avoiding distress. The causes are too different and each person is too different in his or her personality and way of reacting to stress.

Expert help If negative stress
is taking a toll on your life, you should seek expert help. Therapeutic conversations can help you develop effective strategies for dealing with stress. In addition to therapy, yoga or other meditation methods as well as relaxation or breathing techniques can also help.