Fertility boosting foods

Whole grainsWhole grains such as oats, brown rice, whole wheat and quinoa are complex carbohydrates and so not only give you lots of energy for baby-making by releasing sugar into your blood slowly and evenly, but also contain an abundance of B and E vitamins that are essential for cellular reproduction, hormonal balance and the production of healthy ova and sperm.

Oily fish

Oily fish such as salmon, mackerel and sardines are the best source of essential fatty acids (EFAs) omega-3 and omega-6 which play an important role in regulating reproductive functioning, improving blood flow and enhancing sperm quality and mobility. Flaxseed oil is a good EFA alternative for those who don't eat fish.

Full fat dairy

Research has found that women who eat at least one portion of full fat dairy a day are significantly less likely to suffer from fertility problems that those who consistently go for low fat or non dairy options. Dairy products are also a great source of calcium which is important in the development and maintenance of the nervous system, bones and blood.

Garlic

Although not typically known as a food for romance, garlic contains an abundance of fertility boosting nutrients and can easily be neutralised with parsley. It's a great source of the mineral selenium which is thought to enhance male fertility and help prevent the chromosome breakage that may play a role in early miscarriage. Garlic also contains vitamin B6 which helps to regulate hormones and strengthens the immune system.

Lean red meat

Lean red meat is a great source of iron which helps to prevent anaemia, decreases the risk of ovulatory infertility and plays a role in the production and function of red blood cells. Red meat is also a good source of vitamin B12 which is essential in the maintenance and development of the nervous system.

Honey

Honey has been used to enhance fertility throughout history as it is incredibly rich in the minerals and amino acids that nourish the reproductive system and stimulate ovarian function. It's considered by many to be a fertility boosting super food.

Spinach

Spinach and other leafy greens are an excellent source of folic acid which is important in optimising sperm production, facilitating regular, healthy ova production and helping to prevent neural tube defects during early pregnancy. It is also a great source of iron and vitamin C which helps to enhance sperm quality by protecting the DNA stored within it from damage.

Oysters

It is the abundance of zinc found in this seafood delicacy that gives it its fertility boosting qualities. Zinc is often considered to be the most important fertility nutrient as it has been shown to help with both healthy sperm and egg production. If oysters aren't your thing, zinc can also be found in baked beans, eggs, nuts, whole grains and pumpkin seeds.

Chillies

These certainly 'spice' things up in the fertility department by increasing the flow of blood around the body, ensuring that the reproductive system gets a healthy supply. Chillies also stimulate endorphin production which means more fertility boosting, stress releasing, happy hormones circulate around your body and are also an excellent source of vitamin C which helps with iron absorption.

Avocado

Avocado provides a rich source of vitamin E which is a powerful antioxidant and an essential fertility nutrient for both men and women as it improves the viability of sperm and helps to regulate both ovulation and the production of cervical mucus. It is also an excellent source of unsaturated fats which are essential for healthy hormone functioning, olive oil is another good vegetable source.

In general when trying for a baby it pays to go for good quality, unprocessed foods as these are likely to be much richer in vitamins, minerals and nutrients and also freer from pesticides and added oestrogens that may disrupt reproductive functioning in both men and women. By supplementing a balanced diet and healthy lifestyle with the foods listed above you will help to ensure you have all the nutrients you need to ensure your reproductive system is in optimum condition.
The Good: Be sure you're getting enough of these three important baby-making minerals at 3 weeks pregnant (all can be found in a good prenatal vitamin, as well as the following foods).

• Calcium (three servings a day) may actually boost your ability to conceive. You can find this important bone-builder (and baby-builder) not just in dairy products, but also in fortified juices, tofu and soy products (including that super-tasty snack, edamame), broccoli, leafy green vegetables, sesame seeds, and canned salmon with bones.
  
• Manganese (about 2 mg a day) is important for good reproductive function — in other words, a baby-making essential. Spinach, carrots, broccoli, whole grains, nuts, bananas, and raisins are all good sources of manganese.
• Zinc is crucial for conception — in fact, severe deficiencies can impair fertility.  Get your full share (about 15 mg a day) via a supplement or by eating turkey, beef, lamb, pork, chicken, almonds, beans, wheat germ, yogurt, oatmeal, corn, eggs, fortified breads and cereals, and cooked shellfish, especially oysters. (Could that be why oysters have always been on the hot list when it comes to aphrodisiacs?)

In addition to these big three, don't forget to get your fill of folic acid. While it won't make you fertile, it is critical to your baby's health — not just in the earliest days of pregnancy but before you even conceive.  You'll find folic in spinach and other green leafies; citrus fruits; nuts, legumes; and enriched products, such as grains and orange juice — but for insurance, take a prenatal vitamin too.
 
The Bad: Avoid two big fertility-busters: excessive caffeine (more than three cups of coffee a day) and alcohol (heavy drinking can impair fertility in both men and women). 

Foods That Boost Fertility 

Foods that contain nutrients that are proven to enhance fertility and/or semen production include, but are not limited to:

* Spinach

* Spirulina (seaweed)

* Barley

* Asparagus

* Pumpkin seeds

* Flaxseed oil

* Oysters (not vegan)

* Poultry

There are several nutrients that are very important for increasing fertility.
• Amino Acids – These are found in protein-rich foods and are needed for healthy egg production.
• Vitamin A – This vitamin improves a woman’s production of hormones. Vitamin A can be found in eggs, yellow vegetables and fruit, milk, dark green vegetables and fish. Do not eat liver for Vitamin A. It has been known to cause serious health problems in women and fetuses.
• Beta-Carotene – This will regulate your period, improving your chances for conception. It can be found in peas, carrots, broccoli, spinach and sweet potatoes.
• Vitamin B – The B vitamins increase a woman’s hormones, improving fertility. B can be found in molasses, whole grains, nuts, brown rice, egg yolks, fish, seeds, wheat germ, salmon, sweet potatoes, broccoli, strawberries, green vegetables, oysters, dried figs and avocados.
• Vitamin C – Vitamin C is an antioxidant that blocks damaging free radicals. There is plenty of Vitamin C in strawberries, citrus fruits, cherries, cantaloupe, broccoli, tomatoes, sweet peppers, mangos, kiwi, pineapple, grapes, peas, potatoes, parsley and spinach. Too much vitamin C can dry cervical mucus, so do not take over 1,000 mg a day.
• Folate – Folic acid is a must when trying to get pregnant. It reduces the risk of birth defects and increases chances for conception.
• Iron – Iron deficiency can increase chances of miscarriage. To increase iron, eat lean red meat, eggs, fish, molasses, poultry, dried fruit, cherries, green vegetables, spinach, parsley, pumpkin, sunflower seeds, oatmeal, nuts and sardines.
• Magnesium – Low magnesium will decrease fertility. Kelp, green vegetables, tofu, beans, rye, millet and buckwheat all contain magnesium.

I got that from....

L-Arginine And Fertility

L-Arginine (16 g/day) Was shown to increase fertility in women who had previously failed in-vitro fertilization-IVF-procedures. (Battaglia C, Salvatori M, Maxia N, et al. Adjuvant L-arginine treatment for in-vitro fertilization in poor responder patients. Hum Reprod 1999;14:1690–7)


L-arginine treatment for in-vitro fertilization in poor responder patients.


Hum Reprod. 1999 Jul;14(7):1690-7.

The objective of the present study was prospectively and randomly to evaluate the role of L-arginine in improving uterine and follicular Doppler flow and in improving ovarian response to gonadotrophin in poor responder women. A total of 34 patients undergoing assisted reproduction was divided in two groups according to different ovarian stimulation protocols: (i) flare-up gonadotrophin-releasing hormone analogue (GnRHa) plus elevated pure follicle stimulating hormone (pFSH) (n = 17); and (ii) flare-up GnRHa plus elevated pFSH plus oral L-arginine (n = 17). During the ovarian stimulation regimen, the patients were submitted to hormonal (oestradiol and growth hormone), ultrasonographic (follicular number and diameter, endometrial thickness) and Doppler (uterine and perifollicular arteries) evaluations. Furthermore, the plasma and follicular fluid concentrations of arginine, citrulline, nitrite/nitrate (NO2-/NO3-), and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) were assayed. All 34 patients completed the study. In the L-arginine treated group a lower cancellation rate, an increased number of oocytes collected, and embryos transferred were observed. In the same group, increased plasma and follicular fluid concentrations of arginine, citrulline, NO2-/NO3-, and IGF-1 was observed. Significant Doppler flow improvement was obtained in the L-arginine supplemented group. Three pregnancies were registered in these patients. No pregnancies were observed in the other group. It was concluded that oral L-arginine supplementation in poor responder patients may improve ovarian response, endometrial receptivity and pregnancy rate. 
Where I got that from above?
 
L-arginine Forums
 
L-arginine and Baby Aspirin
Should I take L-arginine?
TCYOF .....any luck?
Fertility Friends

Fertility Tips: How to Get Pregnant Fast

When you want to get pregnant, you want to get pregnant now. (Being patient is okay in theory until you actually switch into babymaking mode, right?) If you want to increase your odds of getting pregnant sooner rather than later, the following tips from Ann Douglas -- author of The Mother of All Pregnancy Books (U.S. edition and Canadian edition), The Mother of All Pregnancy Organizers and The Unofficial Guide to Having a Baby (first edition and second edition) -- will help you to maximize your chances of conceiving quickly and ending up with a healthy baby. (Note: If you find this list of tips helpful, you may want to read some of Ann's fertility articles (she's a columnist for Conceive Magazine.)




Start taking folic acid now. You reduce your chances of giving birth to a baby with a neural tube defect (for example, anencephaly or spina bifida) by 50% to 70% if you start taking at least 0.4 mg of folic acid each day two to three months before you start trying to conceive.

Try to keep sex fun when you're trying to conceive. Use rooms other than the bedroom or schedule your babymaking rendezvous for an odd time of day. The rationale? You won't be able to keep up the babymaking pace for very long if sex starts feeling like a chore.

Don't hop up and run to the bathroom right after you make love. Lying down for at least a few minutes (some fertility experts say five minutes) after intercourse increases the odds that the sperm will be able to keep their date with the awaiting egg and that you'll win at baby roulette.

Make love often during your fertile period (the five days leading up to ovulation). If you've got the stamina to make love at least every 48 hours, you will ensure that there's a fresh shipment of sperm waiting in the fallopian tube at any given time. Of course, you can get too much of a good thing if your partner has a low sperm count, so if you're aware of a pre-existing fertility problem, you'll want to talk this issue over with your fertility specialist.

Keep in mind that babymaking is a numbers game. Even if you do everything "right," you still have only a 25% to 30% chance of conceiving in any given cycle. (See The Mother of All Pregnancy Books (U.S. edition and Canadian edition), The Mother of All Pregnancy Organizers and The Unofficial Guide to Having a Baby (first edition and the brand new second edition for more on how factors like age and your previous reproductive history affect your odds of conceiving sooner rather than later.

Here's a bit of sex-related trivia, just in case you and your partner are looking for a little inspiration. There are over 114 million sex acts performed around the world.

Are you a coffee drinker? Time to give it up or switch to decaf! Caffeine is thought to restrict the growth of a developing baby by constricting blood vessels and reducing blood flow to the uterus. What's more, a few studies have indicated that excessive consumption of caffeine (that is, more than three cups of drip coffee per day) may contribute to fertility problems. The jury is still out on this last point, however.

Are you or your partner regularly exposed to hazardous substances in the workplace? You may need to consider a job change or job modification before you start your family. Certain substances can affect both the quality of sperm and the development of the embryo.

Have you had your preconception checkup yet? Set up an appointment with your doctor to review your medical history and to talk about your plans to start trying to conceive. (Note: You can find a detailed discussion of preconception health issues in The Unofficial Guide to Having a Baby (second edition) and The Mother of All Pregnancy Books (U.S. edition and Canadian edition).

Are you currently taking any prescription or over-the-counter drugs? Be sure to ask your doctor if it's safe for you to continue taking them once you start trying to conceive.

If you aren't already doing so, start keeping a menstrual calendar. Note the date when your period starts, the number of days it lasts, and anything else your doctor might want to know about. This information could prove helpful if you experience problems in conceiving. It can also prove invaluable in pinpointing the date of conception -- and consequently your due date.

Try to book the last appointment of the day for your preconception checkup. That's when your doctor or midwife is most likely to be able to take the time to answer your questions and address your concerns without feeling rushed to go on to the next patient.

Make your vaginal environment as sperm-friendly as possible. Avoid vaginal sprays and scented tampons (which can cause a pH imbalance in your vagina); artificial lubricants, vegetable oils, and glycerin (because they can kill off sperm); saliva (because saliva can also kill sperm); and douching (because it alters the normal acidity of the vagina; can cause vaginal infections and/or pelvic inflammatory disease; and may wash away the cervical mucus that is needed to transport the sperm).

If you're monitoring your cervical mucus in an attempt to predict your most fertile days, do your checks before you shower, bathe, or swim. These activities can all affect the quantity and quality of your cervical mucus.



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Herbs

Herbs that Improve Fertility


The following herbs have beneficial properties when it comes to getting pregnant:



•Chaste Tree Berry: chaste tree berry can improve women’s chances of conceiving because it helps reduce hormonal imbalances; it also stimulates the action of pituitary gland, increasing progesterone and luitenizing hormone production, which helps to regulate the menstrual cycle. This herb also reduces stress levels, which in turn has a beneficial impact on reproduction health and daily use promotes fertility

•Dong Quai: this herb improves your chances of getting pregnant by balancing estrogen and by regulating menstrual cycles. It can also improve implantation of the egg for women with autoimmune problems. However, dong quai is also a blood thinner and should therefore not be used during menstruation.

•False Unicorn Root: this herb improves reproductive health and has a normalizing effect on the ovaries. Taking too much false unicorn root can result in blurred vision, kidney or stomach irritation and vomiting

•Wild Yam: wild yam increases the production of progesterone and therefore increases your chances of getting pregnant. Wild yam should always be taken after ovulation occurs, as taking this herb before ovulation can actually prevent ovulation from taking place, thereby reducing fertility



Herbs to Avoid When Trying to Get Pregnant

It is always important to consult with your doctor or fertility specialist about taking any herbs, as even some popular herbs are not properly regulated. Also, some herbs that are popular in promoting pregnancy can actually be unsafe; for example, a recent study found that ginseng is a particularly dangerous herb to take while pregnant.

In addition, while black and blue cohosh are both commonly prescribed herbs for improving fertility, they can alos carry some serious health risks. Neither of these herbs should be taken when trying to get pregnant, or when there is a chance that an egg has been fertilized. That is because black and blue cohosh are emmengogues, meaning they are uterine tonics which can cause contractions and have adverse effects on implantation.



Here are some more tips on taking herbs while trying to get pregnant:



•only take herbs when you know you have a fertility problem that herbs can help with

•never self-medicate. Always consult a qualified medical herbalist before taking any herb

•tell your herbalist about any other medication you are taking and that you are trying to get pregnant

•be honest with your doctor/fertility specialist and tell him about any herbal fertility supplements you are currently taking or that you have taken in the past





Caution

You should not take any of the above herbs if you are taking, The Pill, Fertillity drugs, HRT or any other hormonal treatment or other medication unless they are recommended by a registered, experienced practitioner.



Suggest that you follow this four-month plan and do not try to conceive within that time. Why? Because when you follow the plan, your fertility will begin to increase. Everything needs to be working at optimum level before you conceive, both to prevent a miscarriage, and to give you the best possible chance of having a healthy baby.

Ways to Boost Fertility

1. Watch Weight




The ancient fertility goddesses were plump and curvaceous, but modern science favors a more svelte figure for fertility. Indeed, being overweight can sabotage your chance of getting pregnant. In order to conceive and carry a baby, the central portion of your brain needs to send hormonal messages to your ovaries and uterus to promote egg production and prepare your womb for implantation. If you’re overweight, these signals can get misinterpreted by your ovary, causing an overproduction of testosterone, which may interrupt ovulation. Your uterus in turn may not prepare adequately for embryo implantation, so even if you do ovulate and your egg is fertilized, the embryo may not implant.



But don’t be daunted. It doesn’t take a lot of weight loss to get back in balance and reset your fertility signals. If you’re overweight, you’ll see benefits after losing only 5 percent of your body weight (if you’re obese, you should aim for a 10 percent weight loss). But your daily calorie balance is equally, if not more, important than how much weight you lose. In other words, simply not overeating on a daily basis--same energy in as energy out--will improve your fertility long before you reach your ideal weight. Part of the reason for this is that once you’re watching your weight, you’re making healthier choices, and avoiding unhealthy high sugar, processed foods, which tend to trigger fertility-dampening hormone imbalances like high insulin. Overeating also causes these unhealthy spikes.





2. Eat Well







3. Quit Smoking



4. Know Your Cycle



5. Don't be stress out.

Stress and Infertility – Ways to Reduce Anxiety to Increase Fertility

Laurie Pawlik-Kienlen • Related • Filed Under

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Filed Under: Depression & Anxiety • General Infertility Issues • Health • Resources for Infertility • Stress Management Tags: decreasing stress • fertility yoga • increase fertility • infertility acupuncturist • infertility in women • making a baby • overcoming depression • reduce anxiety • tips for getting pregnant

Reducing stress isn’t a fertility cure, but it can increase your chances of getting pregnant! Here, infertility acupuncturist Kristen Burris explains how stress and infertility are connected, and offers over 20 ways to reduce anxiety.



Burris offers these tips for getting pregnant in response to a reader’s question on Does Career Stress Lead to Infertility in Women?, here on Quips & Tips for Couples Coping With Infertility. Here’s what the reader said:



“We’ve been married for four years and trying to get pregnant for three. I’ve been meeting the gynecologists for two years and undergone a lot of fertility tests and treatments, but still here I am with no baby. To combat the infertility, I worked from home [to reduce stress], but nothing has clicked so far. I am planning to completely get rid of the office work so that I can stay peaceful…any suggestions for me?”



Below is Burris’ response, plus an explanation of how stress and infertility interact. For more information on getting pregnant, click Making a Baby: Everything You Need to Know to Get Pregnant.

Stress and Infertility – How Anxiety Affects Fertility Levels



Quitting your job doesn’t always equate with less stress. There are some questions you want to ask yourself, such as: Can you afford financially to quit your job? Does your job bring you happiness and satisfaction? If you do quit your job how will you fill your daily life: sitting around watching television or taking up yoga and cooking with whole foods? The latter will bring more healthful rewards and increase your fertility; the former will bring weight gain and depression. Quitting your job may actually add more stress to your life, but that is for you to decide.



If your job is producing an extraordinary amount of stress then yes, it will increase your fertility to quit. Most people don’t realize the stressors we endure in modern day life! As I write this, I have numerous stressors I’ve learned to ignore: the traffic driving by just beyond my computer screen, the phone ringing, music in the background, the lingering list of to-do for Christmas preparation, the pesky worry of the future that pops up from my conscience to every day awareness, my husband typing on his computer… you get the idea.



We don’t perceive these things as stress, but most people are constantly multi-tasking – even in a peaceful office with aromatherapy and soothing music. The majority of people have intense pressures from spouses, in-laws, neighbors, bosses, and financial institutions. This constant attack we endure stresses our sympathetic nervous system, putting our body in a constant state of fight or flight, wreaking havoc on our endocrine system, and literally shutting down our reproductive system.













Fight or flight is a state in which we feel under attack. Some theories suggest this was built into our bodies for survival against savage animals when we lived in the wild. When we feel our lives are at stake, our pupils dilate to see better, our breath quickens, our heart rate increases dramatically — all propelled by adrenaline so we can run quickly to survive!



Unfortunately our digestive, urinary, bowel and reproductive systems get cut off – which affects our ability to get pregnant. There is no need to reproduce when all of our energy needs to be expended in order to survive.



Anxiety, Stress, and Infertility



How this translates to modern day time – and fertility and getting pregnant – is that our stressors are constant and overwhelming. The modern conveniences push us to do more, work more, be more. The intensity of the daily news is so traumatic one can’t help but be stressed by the devastating news of the world at large. We are constantly answering phones, texts, emails, paper mail just to get out the door in the morning and get our real work done. We are constantly bombarded by advertisers, telemarketers, politicians, local business men and women, churches, schools, and neighbors, to give, drive, celebrate and donate. We have accepted this as the way of life, but it costs us our health, weight, emotional well-being, and fertility.



We often run out the door with coffee sloshing in our mugs, taxing our adrenal glands and slowing blood flow to our reproductive organs. Maybe a handful of crackers are shoved haphazardly in our mouths as we race down the road to sit in traffic and ward off maniac drivers. Then we turn on the radio to be bombarded with talk and gossip and dread. We rush into our offices only to find our irritated boss with a deadline to meet and a pay cut delivered and it’s only 7:30 a.m.! The madness must stop. We need to slow down, calm ourselves, and take a good look at our lives to discover how we can reduce stress and anxiety, and thus increase our chances of getting pregnant.



Ways to Reduce Anxiety to Increase Fertility



Work no more than 40 hours a week

Always plan something fun on the weekends

Exercise is a priority not a luxury

Swap coffee for green tea or Teccino (herbal non caffeinated coffee substitute)

Learn to meditate or buy a Mind-Body CD

Take a yoga class for fertility

Pray

Enjoy laughter with girlfriends

Make love when you are NOT fertile

Love your job or change careers

Turn off your TV

Go on a news fast

Have lavender aromatherapy at home, work and your car

Listen to classical music

Learn to Belly Breathe

Get acupuncture – unexplained infertility responds well to acupuncture

Spend time only with people who nourish you; avoid those who don’t

Rent a funny movie

Join RESOLVE (a non-profit organization that helps couples who have a hard time conceiving or staying pregnant)

Just say no to baby showers

Let it go

Use an ovulation predictor kit (the Clear Blue Easy Ovulation Predictor Kit is around $200 is more helpful than just the wands)

Infertility is one of the hardest things any human can face, but you will get through this! Try to find the gems in the journey: meeting fabulous people, rediscovering compassion through your own suffering, a stronger relationship with God, and a more complete understanding of who you are and what you can endure.







6. Don't Drink Alcohol



7. Get Busy and 'Do It'



8. Don't Douche

Increase Fertility With Supplements

There is now a great deal of scientific knowledge about the use of nutritional supplements and their beneficial effects on both male and female fertility. As you will see, these supplements can be very effective in re-balancing your hormones, as well as improving you and your partner's overall health, which are so vital for successful conception.




Supplements are necessary because even the best diet in the world will not contain all the nutrients you need to give you the best chance of conceiving.





Folic Acid



It is now known that folic acid can prevent spina bifida in your baby, and it is essential that you get plenty both before and during pregnancy. And that's not all: folic acid is undoubtedly important, but it is just part of the very important B-complex family of vitamins that are necessary to produce the genetic materials DNA and RNA. Together with vitamin B12, folic acid works to ensure that your baby's genetic codes are intact. Remember: it's not enough to take folic acid alone when you are trying to become pregnant. All of the B vitamins are essential during the pre-conceptual period. Research has shown that giving B6 to women who have trouble conceiving increases fertility and vitamin B12 has been found to improve low sperm counts





Zinc



Zinc is the most widely studied nutrient in terms of fertility for both men and women. It is an essential component of genetic material and a zinc deficiency can cause chromosome changes in either you or our partner, leading to reduced fertility and an increased risk of miscarriage. Zinc is necessary for your body to 'attract and hold' (utilise efficiently) the reproductive hormones, oestrogen and progesterone.



And it's equally important for your partner: zinc is found in high concentrations in the sperm. Zinc is needed to make the outer layer and tail of the sperm and is, therefore, essential for the health of your partner's sperm and, subsequently, your baby. Interestingly, several studies have also shown that reducing zinc in a man's diet will also reduce his sperm count.





Selenium



Selenium is an antioxidant that helps to protect your body from highly reactive chemical fragments called free radicals. For this reason, selenium can prevent chromosome breakage, which is known to be a cause of birth defects and miscarriages. Good levels of selenium are also essential to maximise sperm formation. Blood selenium levels have been found to be lower in men with low sperm counts.





Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs)



These essential fats have a profound effect on every system of the body, including the reproductive system and they are crucial for healthy hormone functioning. For men essential fatty acid supplementation is crucial because the semen is rich in prostaglandins which are produced from these fats. Men with poor sperm quality, abnormal sperm, poor motility or low count, have inadequate levels of these beneficial prostaglandins.





Vitamin E





Vitamin E is another powerful antioxidant and has been shown to increase fertility when given to both men and women. Men going for IVF treatment with their partners have been given vitamin E, and fertilisation rates have, as a result, increased from 19 to 29 percent. It has been suggested that the antioxidant activity of vitamin E might make the sperm more fertile.





Vitamin C



Vitamin C is also an antioxidant, and studies show that vitamin C enhances sperm quality, protecting sperm and the DNA within it from damage. Some research has indicated that certain types of DNA damage in the sperm can make it difficult to conceive in the first place, or it can cause an increased risk of miscarriage if conception does take place. If DNA is damaged, there may be a chromosomal problem in the baby, should the pregnancy proceed. Whether or not DNA damage does have these effects has not been conclusively proven, but it's worth taking vitamin C and the other antioxidants as a precautionary measure.



Vitamin C also appears to keep the sperm from clumping together, making them more motile.



One study has shown that women taking the drug clomiphene to stimulate ovulation will have a better chance of ovulating if vitamin C is taken alongside the drug. Clomiphene does not always work in every woman, but the chances are often increased when vitamin C is supplemented.





L-Arginine



This is an amino acid found in many foods and the head of the sperm contains an exceptional amount of this nutrient, which is essential for sperm production. Supplementing with L-arginine can help to increase both the sperm count and quality.



Note: People who have herpes attacks (either cold sores or genital herpes) should not supplement with arginine because it stimulates the virus.





L-Carnitine



This amino acid is essential for normal functioning of sperm cells. According to research, it appears that the higher the levels of L-Carnitine in the sperm cells, the better the sperm count and motility.





Vitamin A



This vitamin needs to be mentioned because there is a lot of confusion about its use before and after pregnancy. Many health practitioners now advise that no vitamin A is taken during pregnancy. This advice is incorrect, and it can be dangerous to assume that any vitamin or other nutrient should be avoided during the gestational period. Vitamin A has important antioxidant properties, and the consequences of Vitamin A deficiency during pregnancy can be devastating. For one thing, vitamin A is essential for healthy eyes. Animals studies show that vitamin A deficiency during pregnancy has produced new-born animals with no eyes, eye defects, undescended testes and diaphragmatic hernias.



It is only when the vitamin A is in the form of retinol (in other words, the animal form of vitamin A) that there is a problem. It has been found that retinol can cause birth defects if taken in excess of 10,000iu a day. Beta-carotene, which is one of the vegetable forms of vitamin A, does not carry any risks.

Foods To Avoid

Foods to Avoid to Increase Fertility .....


Foods that spike insulin levels such as simple carbohydrates and sugary foods can decrease fertility. This is especially important for women with polycystic ovary syndrome. Foods that balance blood glucose levels such as whole-wheat and high fiber foods, barley, oatmeal and some fruits and vegetables can increase fertility if the problem is due to insulin fluctuations.



Some foods can also cause imbalances in hormones in the body. Phytoestrogens are chemicals in plants that are converted to estrogen in the body. Xenoestrogens are found in meats and plant foods due to artificial hormones, pesticides and fertilizers. A fertility diet expert may recommend that foods high in these hormones be avoided. These include soya milk and soy products, yams, pumpkin, licorice, rice, processed meats and vegetables and fruits that were grown with artificial fertilizers and pesticides.
I got this from..... here