Free Information Session "10 Tips for Healthy Conception"

10 Tips for Healthy Conception

Presented byDr Jodie Semmler

• Everything in these slides applies to both males and females

www.yourfertility.org.au

10 Tips for Healthy Conception

• Both active and passive smoking are harmful to fertility• Smokers take 1.5x longer to conceive• Smoking reduces egg supply• Smoking damages the DNA in sperm• Smoking increases miscarriage rates

(and other pregnancy complications)

Stop Smoking

• The less you smoke the better (reduce now!)• After 1 year of stopping most negative effects are reversed • www.quit.org.au

Stop smoking

• Is really really good for you!• Helps manage stress and weight• Increased pre-pregnancy fitness can

reduce muscular-skeletal problems during pregnancy

• Particularly helpful for management of PCOS related fertility issues

Exercise

• High levels of caffeine intake may prolong “time to pregnancy”• Greater than 5 cups coffee a day has been associated with increased miscarriage• 2 caffeinated drinks per day or less is probably safe (less than 170mg caffeine)

Reduce Caffeine

• Boys as well as girls!• NHMRC recommends zero alcohol for women trying to

conceive (but no strong evidence for this)• Heavy drinking definitely reduces fertility• Moderate drinking probably affects fertility (one study

greater than 6 units per week for the female or male was shown to reduce IVF chances)

• “Sensible” guideline – 1-2 standard drinks 1-2 times per week probably OK

Minimise Alcohol Intake

• All illicit drugs harmful to fertility and pregnancy – cocaine, heroine, ecstasy• Anabolic steroids – reduced sperm count• Marijuana – seriously affects sperm motility• Prescription medications should be reviewed with your doctor• Care with alternative medicines - many have not been proven to be safe in pregnancy and exact composition often unclear

Review all medications

• Avoid – heavy metals (lead, mercury), some industrial chemicals and solvents, pesticides, radiation• Having your hair dyed is fine!• WCH drug information line - 81617350 can be a useful resource

Reduce Exposure to Toxins

• “Eustress” is normal and OK• Stress “per se” is unlikely to affect fertility but it may

reduce intercourse frequency and increase unhealthy habits

• Extreme stress with associated weight loss may disrupt ovulation

• Exercise, massage, yoga, relaxation tapes, meditation and holidays all good

Reduce or Manage Stress

• 6-8 hours sleep per night recommended

• Aids weight and stress management

• Increase exercise, decrease caffeine

• Relaxation techniques

Sleep well

Take Folate• Recommended 500mcg daily to

reduce NTD (spina bifida)• Adding a multivitamin “may” benefit

some women• Any multivitamin should be

specifically approved for pregnancy (care with vitamin A dose)

• Still need a well balanced diet!

• Women who are overweight or obese have less chance of getting pregnant

• A woman with a BMI greater than 30 is 2.5x more likely to lose her baby before birth (includes miscarriage)

• Risks during pregnancy include – High BP, diabetes, pre-eclampsia, caesarean, still birth

• Chance of IVF working is reduced by 50% (ie halved)

Be a HealthyWeight

• Overweight or obese men have poorer sperm quality than healthy weight men

• Hormonal changes in obesity can cause decreased libido and increased erectile problems

• If male partner is obese this reduces IVF chances by 50% • If both male and female obese – marked reduction in

fertility and IVF chances

Be a healthy weight

• Increasing fitness and reducing weight by only 5-10% can have a marked positive effects on fertility

• Exercising together can be fun!• Fertility SA’s “Health and Well-being Programme”

What have you got to lose?

The Good News

Consulting Clinic345 Carrington StreetAdelaide SA 5000Phone 8100 2900

e [email protected] www.fertilitysa.com.au