Top 10 Fertility Do’s and Don’ts for Women & Men
By Dennis Yu
- Do take a high quality multivitamin from a natural foods store. Inexpensive multivitamins are difficult to absorb and process so will have minimal positive effect.
- Do the Cross-Crawl if you have a sedentary job to keep your blood circulating throughout your body but especially through your reproductive organs. To do the cross-crawl, march in place with exaggerated arm swing and lifting the knees high. Touch hand or elbow to opposite knee to emphasize the movement. Do the Cross-Crawl exercise for as long as is comfortable, take a break, and then do more later. Even when seated, you can do a Cross-Crawl movement by lifting your knees alternately, and touching each raised knee with the opposite hand or elbow.
- Don’t smoke or take recreational drugs.
- Don’t drink alcoholic beverages or caffeinated drinks.
- Reduce sugar intake.
- Do drink plenty of fluids preferably water or herbal tea. For variety, flavor water with lemon, lime, orange, or mint.
- Do reduce exposure and close proximity of genital region to heat (e.g. hot tubs), radiation (e.g. microwave, laptops, cell phones), and trauma (e.g. bike riding).
- Do take time at least once a week to connect with your partner e.g. date night, talk about how each other’s day/week went, tell your partner what qualities he/she has that you would like your child to inherit or develop. Regularly reconnecting with each other strengthens your bond as a couple.
- Have intercourse regularly so you’re not just doing it when it’s “time”. It’s best to have intercourse at the first sign of egg-white cervical mucus until ovulation if male factor is not involved.
- Do get acupuncture to reduce stress and prepare your body for conception and pregnancy. Your body has a lot to do to perform its daily functions. Getting treatment to support the optimal function of your body will help you conceive more easily and carry a healthy pregnancy to term