2. Consider acupuncture. Each IVF cycle costs $10,000 to $30,000 in the USA. An acupuncture treatment costs $30 to $300. Even though acupuncture treatments (given to the female partner) only increase the rates of successful pregnancy by about 10 per cent in most clinics, the small cost of acupuncture weighed against the huge cost of IVF makes acupuncture a worthwhile investment. Scientists have recently discovered that acupuncture alters the metabolism of adenosine, changing the body’s reactions to stress, pain, and inflammation.

3. Men, don’t be afraid of meat and potatoes diets. A recent Dutch study found that the folate provided by a traditional meat and potatoes diet enhanced production of viable sperm, even canceling out the effects of smoking, overweight, and variocele. Sugar, however, undid the benefits of folate.

4. Women do not have to go on strict “anti-inflammatory” diets to have successful IVF. Low-grade inflammation is not desirable, but is not an impediment to pregnancy.

5. Women should, however, avoid alcohol even before the implantation procedure, since the receptivity of the uterus to the fertilized egg is diminished by excessive alcohol consumption. After IVF, any alcohol consumption can endanger the future health of the child.

6. Prospective mothers should not smoke, and should be exposed to second-hand (sidestream) tobacco smoke. In a study at McMaster University in Canada, mothers who smoked had a 12.0 per cent success rate with each IVF cycle. Mothers exposed to second-hand smoke had a 12.6 per cent success rate. Mothers who did not smoke and who were not exposed to second-hand smoke had a 25.0 per cent success rate, twice as likely to become pregnant during each cycle of IVF.

7. The research evidence for the role of caffeine in the in vitro fertlization process itself is ambiguous. Pregnant women who consume caffeinated coffee, tea, and soft drinks, however, may produce less estrogen, which may have an effect on the development of the child–or may not. To be on the safe side, stick with decaf once pregnancy has been confirmed.

The latest studies claim that women who are constantly exposed to second hand smoke do face difficulties when they are trying to conceive a baby with their partner. The research reports that women who were exposed to second hand smoke are also subject to increased chance of undergoing miscarriage or stillbirth for as much as 39%; and they are have almost 70% bigger possibility of experiencing problems when trying to conceive or generally infertility problems.

Additionally, other studies report that secondhand smoke exposure either at home or at work puts women at almost 70% higher risk (comparing to those who weren’t exposed to second hand smoke) for developing PAD. PAD is also known as peripheral artery disease, which is a disease that causes leg pain when walking, because of the narrowed arteries and reduced blood flow to the limbs.

Other studies report exposure to second hand smoke, either at home or at work, causes Chronic rhinosinusitis, which is known to cause inflammation of the nose or sinuses that may last more than 3 months.
Various researches report that second hand smoke contains more than 4 thousand substances, and as much as 5 hundred of them contain or are suspected to be carcinogens.

Therefore second hand smoke is linked to numerous diseases not only in adults and children, but in newborns too. These cases include not only diseases, such as acute respiratory infections, asthma, bronchitis, middle ear disease, heart and coronary related diseases, and lung and sinus cancers, but death cases caused by sudden infant death syndrome.

Experiment conducted by Canadian Brock University proved that those with chronic rhinosinusitis were more likely than those in the control group to have secondhand smoke exposure at home or at public and public settings.

Some studies suggest that THC, which is the active ingredient in marijuana decreases testosterone levels which is also connected with lower sperm count, and this as many times emphasized lower chances of conception.

Other studies suggest that smoking marijuana can interfere with woman’s ovulation and can also disrupt woman’s menstrual cycle. The journey of woman’s egg through the fallopian tubes after the implantation requires a special environment, a special balance of endogenous chemicals. Unfortunately, even the slightest imbalance of this chemicals can destroy the whole conception process, and since scientist claim THC is a chemical that can affect this hormonal balance, it is very possible that it can also have detrimental effect on the egg during the implantation process and can decrease chances of successful conception.

However, there is still not a solid proof available that could prove that (smoking) marijuana actually affects woman’s or man’s fertility and chances of conceiving. It is a chance you are taking when you are (ab)using drugs.

If you are already having problems with conception, smoking marijuana will probably only decrease the chances of healthy conception. In other words I would say, it is a chance you wouldn’t want to take: Call marijuana a drug or a medicine: drugs and babies do not mix. Several studies have proved that regular use of marijuana causes birth defects, their abnormal development and problems with cognitive capabilities later in life.

You actually never know whether marijuana you are smoking is contaminated with herbicides or other drugs, and this my friend puts your unborn child at a huge risk. Would you want to do that to your baby because of (one) joint?

Do a favor to yourself, your partner and your baby: I am not talking just about the lungs or the money you spent on cigarettes or the fact there you can’t hide the cigarette smell from your hair and skin. Cigarettes lower your possibility of getting pregnant by increasing the mucus around your cervix, and this is the main reason for decreased fertility.

Weight and trying to conceive

Yes, this is true: if you are super (model) skinny or if you are even slightly overweight (not to mention obese) your chances of healthy conception dramatically decrease. In fact, several studies suggest that there is a connection between being overweight/underweight and fertility and this connection is expressed in U curve: if your body mass index is normal (18-24), you shouldn’t have any problems with fertility (looking from the perspective of weight), while if your BMI is under 18 or above 25, your chances of healthy conception decrease dramatically.

Alcohol and babies don’t mix

First of all, if you regularly drink alcohol, your body’s ability to absorb mineral zinc is lowered. Zinc is the ‘fertility’ mineral, didn’t you know? Yep, zinc increases sperm count and helps the body use estrogen and progesterone more efficiently.

Besides, many studies have proved that alcohol has a negative effect on both female and male fertility. In women, alcohol disrupts menstrual cycles and may even cause miscarriage, and in men alcohol influences sperm count, mobility and sperm quality.

Cut coffee and caffeine products

As little as one cup of coffee decreases your chances of healthy conception for as much as half. All products that contain caffeine have the same effect on woman’s body. Therefore you must pay special attention to foods that contain hidden caffeine.

Having Sex on “Ovulation Days” Only

I am very sure you’ve heard that women ovulate on day 14 of their cycle, but hey this is not true. Every woman is unique and day 14 is the most fertile day for women who have 28 day menstrual cycle. Does your menstrual cycle have 28 days? Most women do not have perfect menstrual cycle and even those who do, do not ovulate at exactly the same time each month.

My point is, have sex more often, enjoy it, have fun and don’t think about trying to conceive. Don’t think at all: just make love.