fertilidad

7 Habits You Should Avoid to Boost Fertility

Functional infertility is the difficulty in conceiving a child naturally, as well as in achieving a pregnancy naturally after one year of sexual activity. There are therapies and methods to aid functional fertility , however, they are not always sufficient. Therefore, integrative fertility also exists. Integrative fertility is a branch of integrative medicine that considers all human factors involved in reproduction. Specifically, it involves studying and improving the overall health of expectant parents to optimize it. This will make reproductive methods more effective. Changing lifestyle and habits we've long embraced isn't always easy, especially under stress or anxiety. However, it's essential to avoid certain things to help increase your chances of pregnancy. Some fertility-related factors may be beyond our control, but there are many lifestyle choices we can make that have a significant impact on conceiving. We've all heard a lot of advice about what a woman can do or implement when she wants to get pregnant, but sometimes what we shouldn't do is just as important. Below, I'll share seven habits you should avoid if you're trying to get pregnant.

1. Smoking tobacco

Smoking can affect the implantation capacity of a fertilized egg, the quality of the eggs themselves, and, once pregnancy has occurred, it can negatively affect the growth of the embryo. Toxins from smoking can hinder a woman's reproductive capacity by damaging natural cell growth and development. They are also known to negatively affect regular menstruation, further impeding women's ability to conceive.

2. Drink alcohol

We know that even the smallest amount of alcohol negatively affects anyone's health. Furthermore, the safe amount of alcohol before and during pregnancy is still unknown, as no ethics committee would approve a study that could harm, to a greater or lesser extent, a pregnant woman and her fetus. Fertility specialists advise those trying to conceive to abstain from alcohol altogether .

3. Taking some medications and all recreational drugs

It is always recommended to speak with your doctor before using any medication, regardless of whether you are trying to conceive or not. However, there are a number of medications that are particularly susceptible to conception problems . Therefore, during the process, it will be essential to consult with a professional about which medications may affect fertility treatments and, ultimately, achieving pregnancy. Some medications it's recommended to avoid include those formulated to treat acne, blood clotting disorders, hypertension, and epilepsy. It's also recommended to avoid anti-inflammatory steroids unless otherwise directed by your doctor. Recreational drugs , such as marijuana, are also known to affect sperm motility , i.e., their ability to move. Therefore, they make the first step toward conception more difficult.

Contraindications of medications for pregnancy

The FDA classifies drugs according to their risks during pregnancy. These medications pose a greater or lesser risk depending on the fetal maturity, with the greatest risk occurring during the period of organogenesis (weeks 3 and 8 of gestation). While omeprazole, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and antihypertensives are some of the most dangerous drugs available, there are other medications that can be taken with low risk to relieve the discomfort attributed to their use. They are divided into five subgroups:

Group A

These medications can be considered safe during pregnancy, as studies show that taking them poses no risk to the fetus during the first trimester. These medications include ascorbic acid, iron, folic acid, vitamin B6, calcium, potassium, and levothyroxine in doses supervised by a doctor.

Group B

This group consists of medications that have been frequently used during pregnancy and do not appear to cause birth defects or other serious defects in the fetus. Furthermore, animal studies show no risk to the fetus during the first trimester. These include acetaminophen aspartate, corticosteroids, insulin, amoxicillin, clavulanic acid, azithromycin, and ibuprofen (the latter is best avoided after the 32nd week of gestation).

Group C

These drugs typically carry a label warning of their risks. Animal studies confirm that there are harmful effects on the fetus , and they should only be used when the benefit justifies the risk. This group also includes drugs whose safety studies have not been completed. This group includes prochlorperazine, amikacin, atenolol, beclomethasone, betamethasone, caffeine (no more than 300 mg) , carbamazepine, codeine, clonazepam, fluconazole, ketorolac, dexamethasone, anti-RH (D) immunoglobulin, and ciprofloxacin.

Group D

Those belonging to this group are only administered in situations of serious risk to the mother and if no other safer drug is available, since animal studies show that there may be a risk to the fetus. These include cenocoumarol, aspirin, diazepam, valproic acid, lithium, phenytoin, some chemotherapy drugs (bleomycin and methotrexate), and alcohol-based drugs.

Group X

These drugs have no benefit to pregnant women, so they are strictly contraindicated during pregnancy . Studies in women and animals confirm the risk, and include sotretinoin, accutane, misoprostol, thalidomide, raloxifene, simvastatin, and nandrolone, among others.

4. Eat some oily fish, fatty red meats and saturated fats

Many doctors and nutritionists recommend that expectant mothers reduce their intake of oily fish and red meat, as well as completely avoid raw meats like sausages, to minimize their risk of contracting toxoplasmosis . At the same time, they advise increasing their consumption of whole vegetables, legumes, fruits, vegetables, and nuts. Likewise, while trying to conceive, it is recommended to avoid foods high in saturated fat and cholesterol. These can increase the likelihood of unhealthy weight gain and, consequently, the risk of miscarriage early in pregnancy. Additionally, it is beneficial to avoid or reduce full-fat or sugary dairy products, fish high in mercury, and fatty and processed meats to maintain a healthy body shape and weight.

5. Maintain chronic stress

Prolonged stress can have adverse effects on your health, whether you're trying to conceive or not. It can also cause hormonal changes that directly affect ovulation and fertility. While avoiding stress completely isn't realistic, it's advisable to adopt guidelines and new ways to manage and cope with stress . Activities such as yoga, exposure to nature, acupuncture, and meditation can help.

6. Practice high-intensity sports

Exercise is always good, but misuse of it can backfire. High-intensity exercise can interfere with hormone production and inhibit ovulation . This happens because the body interprets this constant, high physical exertion as a stressful situation it must cope with to survive. The body in "survival" mode isn't prepared to conceive, as investing so much energy each day to carry out both processes would pose a risk to the mother's health. A good recommendation would be to consult a sports professional, who could help you adapt your training plan. It's important to emphasize that a sedentary lifestyle also poses risks to your health and, therefore, to conception, so it should be avoided.

7. Exposure to endocrine disruptors

Endocrine disruptors or EDCs (Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals) are chemicals found in our environment that can have harmful effects on our health. They interfere with the functioning of hormones that regulate different body systems, such as the endocrine and reproductive systems. EDCs are capable of mimicking our hormones, inhibiting, blocking, or amplifying their effects. Furthermore, they alter the normal functioning of our bodies , affecting fertility. Therefore, it is best to avoid these substances whenever possible. This is a list of the most studied ones:
  • Parabens : present in cosmetics.
  • Pesticides : herbicides and insecticides.
  • Benzophenone-3 : is a chemical (organic) sunscreen present in sunscreens and other cosmetics.
  • Perfluorinated : used in the manufacture of clothing, paper, pesticides and cosmetics, among others.
  • Phthalates : These are used to make the PVC that we commonly find in furniture and household objects.
  • Bisphenol A : used in the manufacture of containers such as Tupperware, water bottles and soft drinks.
  • Triclosan : commonly used as an antiseptic and also in cosmetics.
  • Polybrominated diphenyl ethers : used to make household appliances, clothing, and electronic products.

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