J.16/ Family Planning
Are you planning on starting a family? To make sure you and your partner have the best chance at creating a little life it’s ideal to have your body in the best health it can be in.
Preconception care is a must for starting a family, it’s important for both you and your partner to optimise your health at least three months prior to conception. The reason we say three months is because that is how long it takes a women’s egg to fully mature and be ready for implantation. Although it is best to start three months prior any health interventions will be beneficial for the egg and sperm. It takes about two months for sperm maturity so I usually recommend males to start the preconception treatment at the same time too.
For some a simple multivitamin for each of you is enough to make sure you both have adequate levels of nutrients to produce healthy egg and sperm for conception. For others diet invention, detoxing, reducing inflammation or helping with stress levels is required. Preconception care is vastly different for each couple and what they require as individuals. Finding out what you and your partner needs will come down to a good case history being taken, a diet diary and any relevant symptoms.
For the females, knowing your cycle will greatly help increase your chances of conception, if you do have irregular cycles there are specific herbs and nutrients to help balance your hormones. What I find most helpful for family planning is the Fertility Awareness Method (FAM), this usually involves taking your basal temperature daily, checking your cervical mucous and charting your cycle. This allows you to know your body better and know when you may ovulate. Not every ovulates on day 14 and sometimes you may not ovulate at all for a cycle, tracking your temperature and cervical mucous allows us to see when you ovulate to give you the best chance. In addition to FAM there are supplements which will help boost egg quality alongside eating a well balanced diet.
There are specific nutrients for males to help increase sperm health and motility, taking these nutrients will allow the sperm to be in the best condition they can be for conception. I also advise males to reduce their alcohol, caffeine and sugar intake during this time as it negatively impacts sperm health. Exercise and staying hydrated will also positively impact sperm health.
Preconception care can be a straightforward multivitamin but for some couples other lifestyle changes may need to be completed to give you both the best chance at conception. After all there is only a few days of the month where conception can occur, wouldn’t you want to give it the best chance you can.
