Are you trying to conceive? There’s more to getting pregnant than just sex, so when it comes to planning a baby it pays to get in the best shape possible before you start.  Here are some simple and natural ways to boost your fertility and increase your chances of getting pregnant.

MAINTAIN A HEALTHY WEIGHT
Extra pounds can affect how much oestrogen and insulin you produce, both of which can affect ovulation, menstruation and your chances of conception. And if you’re overweight you’re at greater risk of gestational diabetes, pre-eclampsia and birth complications. But it’s important to get the balance right.  Fertility drops sharply for women with a BMI of 18 or under, and if you lose too much body fat your periods could become irregular or stop altogether.   For the best chance of success, eat a well-balanced diet, and aim for a BMI of 20-25.

EXERCISE
We all know that keeping fit is important to maintain a healthy body and mind, but getting the right amount of exercise is vital when it comes to getting pregnant.

Thirty minutes of exercise three or four times a week will help keep your weight in check, and release feel-good endorphins which will help give you energy, lower stress levels and boost your immune system. Go for low-impact activities like walking, cycling or swimming.

QUIT SMOKING
Whichever way you look at it, smoking can have a drastic impact on your ability to get pregnant and reduce your chances by up to 40 per cent each cycle.
Cigarettes can cause damage to your eggs, negatively affect hormone levels and menstruation, reduce the chance of successful IVF and increase your risk of cervical cancer.  Plus, women who smoke are more likely to have an early menopause.
If that’s not reason enough to quit, smoking also increases the risk of ectopic pregnancy, miscarriage and stillbirth, while for men, it can impair sperm count and motility, and lower testosterone levels.

ALCOHOL
Can that glass of wine with dinner really affects your chances of having a baby?  Some experts think so.  A growing body of research has linked alcohol with fertility problems, and suggests that the more you drink, the less likely you are to conceive.
The jury’s still out on exactly how much will affect your chances of getting pregnant. Study found that women who drank less than 5 units per week were twice as likely to get pregnant as those drinking 10 or more.
For men, excessive drinking can affect sperm count and motility – and reduce libido, which isn’t likely to increase your chances.

CAFFEINE
Some studies have shown a link between caffeine consumption and the ability to conceive, however research is not conclusive.
Most experts agree that moderate levels of caffeine are unlikely to affect your fertility, but advise you to err on the side of caution and cut back to no more than 200-300mgs (2 cups of coffee) per day if you’re trying to conceive.  However for women undergoing IVF, it’s recommended to abstain completely as relatively low levels can have a negative impact on success rates.
Remember it’s not just coffee you need to watch out for – caffeine is also found in tea, soft drinks, chocolate and some herbal remedies and over the counter drugs.

KNOW YOUR CYCLE
Having sex when you’re most fertile is still the best way to improve your chances of getting pregnant.  Women are most likely to conceive in the few days before and during ovulation, so knowing when the time is right can help you plan ahead.
If you have  regular 28 day cycle, count back 14 days from when you expect your next period to start – but don’t assume you’ll always ovulate on day 14.
Use an ovulation calculator to find out when it’s most likely, or to be more precise use an ovulation test kit, or chart daily changes in your basal body temperature and cervical mucus.

STAY STRESS-FREE
Could you be trying too hard? We’ve all heard of those couples who struggle for years to get pregnant only to conceive naturally when they finally give up.
Some experts believe there is a link between stress and infertility, however it’s not clear whether stress causes fertility problems or if the problems cause the stress.
Research isn’t conclusive, but it makes sense to avoid stress wherever possible, so if you’re trying for a baby it might pay to cut back on the overtime.

HAVE A HEALTHY SEX LIFE
Having a healthy sex life is a must if you’re trying to get pregnant.  Some couples worry about fertility problems if it’s taking a while to conceive, when in fact they’re not having sex often enough to give them a fighting chance.
According to study, 9 out of 10 couples where the woman is under 35 will conceive naturally after one year of having unprotected sex.  Having sex every 48 hours throughout your ‘fertile window’ will increase the likelihood.
However, putting pressure on yourself to conceive every time you have sex is likely to just increase your stress levels – most experts suggest making love every two or three days throughout the month.