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Try to have sexual intercourse every day or every other day during the woman's most fertile time (middle of the menstrual cycle)
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Don't smoke. If you still do, supplement with extra vitamin C (250 - 500 mg. a day)
- In women: nicotine can be toxic to sperm in the cervical mucus
- In men: smoking may lower sperm count, decrease sperm movement and cause abnormally shaped sperm
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Maintain a healthy weight. Dieting after getting pregnant is not recommended
- Limit Alcohol consumption and don't use drugs
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In men: alcohol & drugs such as marijuana or cocaine can reduce sperm count. |
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In women: drugs such as marijuana or cocaine can effect hormone production. |
Men should avoid hot baths and saunas. Wearing boxer shorts keeps the testicles from being too close to the body and staying too warm
Exercise regularly. 20-30 minutes a day ensures adequate blood circulation and lymphatic drainage for men and women
Eat a nutritious healthy diet with plenty of protein, complex carbohydrates, fresh fruits and vegetables |
Take a multivitamin with 400 mcg (0.4 mg) of Folic acid
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For women: to prevent birth defects of the brain and spinal cord called neural tube defects (NTD's). You need to be on it before pregnancy occurs and in the early weeks for a chance to be effective. |
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For men: supplementing with Zinc and Folic acid showed a 74 percent increase in the number of normally formed sperm. |
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For men: supplement with vitamin E to improve function of sperm and may increase ability of sperm to fertilize the egg (400 IU a day). |
For women - avoid using Advil (Ibuprofen), Aleve (Naproxen Sodium) or similar product after period is over as they may affect implantation of the egg. Tylenol (acetaminophen) may be used. |
Using the Basal Body Temperature Chart
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If done over several months, can show when ovulation occurs
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Just prior to ovulation, vaginal mucus is "wetter", gel-like and stretches when touched
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As ovulation occurs, the temperature increases due to an increase in heat generated by increased levels of progesterone
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Resting body temperature (at night) drops slightly just before ovulation and rises up to 0.5 (1/2) degrees where it stays until the period starts, then falls again or pregnancy has occurred
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Ovulation occurs at the beginning of the rise
To learn more, please call us at (574) 295-8805.
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