Female Fertility Tips

By Catie Hayes - Tip Sheet Written For Selmedica Healthcare

* No Ifs, Ands or Butts
One of the simplest ways to safeguard your fertility is to avoid cigarettes. In addition to causing respiratory and heart diseases, cigarettes compromise your overall health, including your ability to conceive. If you are smoker stop. Non-smokers should limit exposure to second hand smoke.

* Time for Teetotalling
There is less known about the impact of alcohol on fertility than cigarettes, but it clearly can effect ovarian function. It also alters reproductive hormone production. Substitute sparkling cider, fruit juices, or seltzer for that glass of wine. It's better for your health and your fertility.

* Ditch the douche
If you want to conceive at some point, it's important to create the friendliest possible conditions. Douching can increase the risk of vaginal infections, strip away cervical mucus or change vaginal Ph, all of which can create a sperm-hostile environment and compromise vaginal health.

* Can the chemicals
Like douches, any spray, tampon or lubricant containing artificial, or even natural, scents can create a hostile environment for sperm or effect vaginal health. A healthy woman's reproductive system naturally cleanses and balances itself. Introducing chemicals in any form can unbalance your system.

* Chamomile instead of caffeine
Instead of coffee, cola or caffeinated tea, consider herbal teas, fruit juices or seltzer. Caffeine is a stimulant, and even in small amounts, effects circulation and oxygen levels in the body. There is even some evidence it also increases the risk of miscarriage

* Exercise restraint
A regular program of exercise is fantastic for your health and fertility. Overdoing it, however, can reduce a woman's body fat level to dangerous levels, causing menstruation to stop. If your reproductive cycle is altered, so are your chances of conceiving. Moderation is the key.

* The full once-over
Fertility is tied to a woman's overall health. Regular physicals, including blood work and a pap smear, can head off basic health issues that could interfere with your fertility.

* Reign 'em in
If you have an existing health issue, such as diabetes, high blood pressure or excess weight, it could effect your fertility. Making the necessary lifestyle and dietary adjustments to keep it under control will safeguard and sometimes improve fertility.

* Wrap it up, everytime
Whether you want to conceive soon or sometime in the future, protecting yourself from sexually-transmitted diseases is critical. Left unchecked, STDs compromise your general health and fertility. A lifetime of practicing safe-sex increases your odds of conceiving when you are ready.

* Tame that tension
There is some evidence that high stress levels decrease fertility. You may be unable to rid your life of stress, but finding healthy ways to cope and relax in spite of it are important. Whether it's yoga, journaling, daily walks, or painting, find what helps you unwind.

* Zone in on Zinc
The mineral zinc may be more important to your diet than you realize, if fertility is a concern. Zinc aids in proper function of the reproductive organs. Good sources for include oysters, red meat, poultry, beans and nuts.

* Mad about manganese
You may never have given the mineral manganese very much thought, but it plays an important role in fertility. Manganese assists the production of sex hormones. Whole wheat breads, nuts, brown rice and tea are all good sources. Be sure to add them to your diet.

* They're called essential for a reason
Essential fatty acids are an important part of a healthy, balanced diet, even more so for fertility issues. These acids enhance reproductive organ function. Good food sources to include in your diet are flaxseed oil, walnut oil, and fish oil (especially salmon and tuna).

* It's all about balance
We all know hormone production is important to fertility, but keeping that production in balance is critical. Vitamin E does just that. Add foods rich in Vitamin E to your diet, such as vegetable oils, nuts, green leafy vegetables, and fortified cereals.

* L what?
An amino acid by the name of L-Tyrosine lowers stress and improves emotional state. Since unrelenting stress can hinder fertility, adding foods rich in L-Tyrosine helps you stay balanced. Look for protein-rich foods such as meat, poultry, seafood, beans, tofu, and lentils.

* Menstruating and Motherwort
A woman's periods can sometimes reflect the state of her fertility. If your cycle is off kilter, chances are conception may not be easy. The herb motherwort can be helpful in regulating your periods. It can be ingested as a tincture, dietary supplement or tea.

* More than a cowboy's soft drink
You may think of soda when you think of sarsaparilla, but in fact, it is an herb helpful to a woman's reproductive system. Sarsaparilla root can help regulate menstrual function and can be ingested as a tea or supplement.

* Sleep tight
There is more to a good night's rest than feeling great in the morning. During sleep your body regenerates and strengthens itself. Regular, healthy sleep habits safeguard fertility and ready your body for a healthy pregnancy.

* Not the potato
Unlike the vegetable used in holiday meals, wild yam is actually an herb. It is a naturally occurring equivalent to the female sex hormone, progesterone. Wild yam root has a number of uses in treating cramps, menopausal symptoms, and women's general reproductive health.

* It's not really red
Another fertility-promoting herb is red clover. It is fairly common in fields and along roadsides. Its pink blossoms may be eaten in salads or cooked with rice or grains. The blossoms are also dried for use in teas, supplements or tinctures.

Source: http://www.womanlinks.com/designs/selmed1.shtml

Category: suppliments, Vitamins