Boost up your fertility at 40+ with these tips

By Dr Shobha Gupta 

According the reports by National Statistics Bureau , people have been increasingly delaying childbearing until later life, resulting in rising the number of infertility cases. The main reason of delaying chlid bearing would be the increasing importance of a career and the rising costs of child rearing.

It is a proven fact that as the body ages, getting pregnant can be more challenging as compare to people in their teens and twenties. Many women considering pregnancy in their 40s will then look to IVF treatment as their last resort. In my opinion before jumping to IVF treatment; there are lifestyle choices that every woman needs to consider to improve her fertility and likelihood of having a healthy baby. 

1. Get sexually active 

Have sex at least every other day during your fertile window. Understanding your own menstrual cycle (which you can do here) is probably one of the most important things you can do, studies show you're most likely to get pregnant if you have sex within a day or so of ovulation. Ovulation usually happens about 14 days after the first day of your last period. 

2. Eat good 

Include nuts, vegetables and pulses in your diet for healthy fibre and limit sugar content. Being overweight can seriously affect your chances of conceiving so, maintaining a healthy weight, and and cutting out the processed foods should assist both your chances of conceiving and the potential health of the foetus. 

3. Give yourself a pre natal vitamin boost 

Vitamin D and Folic acid are both recommended by the NHS to encourage the healthy development of the foetus and in particular its neural pathways. 

4. Be aware of changes in your body 

If you notice symptoms like sudden weight gain or

Vitamin E essential for improving fertility among men

By Dr. Shobha Gupta 

Infertility is a common problem now. Although women are to be blamed for that almost every time but in fact more than half of cases men are also equally responsible for the infertility. No one knows that what the exact cause of infertility is. Lifestyle plays a vital role in our fertility issues. For example what we take inside our body directly impacts on fertility if we drink alcohol or smoke regularly it badly affects our fertility.  

Studies have shown that certain nutrients if we consume on a regular basis can directly impact the sperm quality in men and can ultimately results in improved pregnancy rates. Many times it is said that low levels of Vitamin E can cause impotence in men. Lack of vitamin E also causes low sex drive and infertility. So, in a way vitamin E is considered as very important nutrient for men. Vitamin E acts as a anti oxidant protecting cell membranes from oxidative damage.  

In a study conducted in USA, men undergoing IVF treatment who have been given vitamin E have shown better fertilization rates which suggest that the antioxidant activity of vitamin E makes the sperm more fertile. Vitamin E is known to enhance sperm health & motility. All the antioxidants have proven abilities to boost sperm quality.  

Taking vitamin E supplements or changing your diet to incorporate foods rich in vitamin E can help improving sperm quality and increasing its motility. The best food sources of Vitamin E are dark leafy vegetables, tomatoes, almonds, broccoli, kiwi, fish and sunflower seeds.  

Not only in men but in women also, it is known to improve the quality of cervical mucus, which betters the chances of implantation of the fertilized eggs. It is also known to reduce the chances of miscarriage. Please do consult your IVF Expert for the vitamin E diet that should be included in your treatment schedule.