Many people in India are struggling from infertility and they all have different stories to tell about their infertility journey. Today, the lifestyle which we live is the biggest culprit of being infertile.

Our lifestyle and health do not support fertility, particularly when we are waiting. It is very important to remember that you should maintain and sustain this whole year.

• Don’t sit, go out and walk: Walking is an ideal preconception exercise. It is a great cardiovascular exercise especially if you step at a reasonable pace and it also helps to tone your legs, back and tummy.

All these are very important in treating infertility as being fit is the most integral part of your conception plan. So, go for a regular walk in the morning and evening.

• Sugar is the biggest enemy: Every time you eat foods that are high in sugar, your pancreas produce insulin to convert the sugar in your blood into energy.  And if this is repeated frequently, you may develop insulin resistance which results in diabetes.
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High levels of insulin slow down the ovulation process and cause PCOS, which further contribute to infertility issues.

• Eating right is significant in your fertility journey: Too many of us are eating too late in the day or when we go to bed at night, we're meant to digest our day, not our dinner. Eating at the right time is important also, it is very important for a woman to have a balanced diet which is full of multi vitamins and minerals. Try to make your dishes mainly plant-based, with a little high-quality meat included in your weekly diet. Cook mainly with second-pressed olive oil and use cold-pressed oils to add to food after cooking.
• Keep stress at bay: Too much stress is bad for your physical and mental health. Stress suppresses ovulation in women, reduces sperm count in men and lowers libido in both.

So, give your body a physical and mental rest. Listening to some soothing sounds like sea movement, waterfalls and rainforest noises, can also eliminate stress.

• Is your biological clock ticking: Natural pregnancy is any day better. Keep a check on your biological clock, as we age our biological clock starts ticking. It’s hard to know when is the right time to do something about checking your fertility or should you wait another two months, six months or do something now?

Women are most fertile in their early 20s and their fertility declines with age. From the age of 35, this fall becomes steeper. The more “fertility aware” you are the better, so you can make an informed decision and be aware that it might take you longer to conceive.

• Limit the usage of laptops, computers and phones: Especially at night, limit the usage of electronic devices as radiation from them harms your fertility big time. Instead of working on laptops and sticking to your phone; invest your time in your partner.
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• Seek professional advice: You are the best person yourself to know about your body. When you think everything is getting lost and things go out of your way its best to seek a professional’s advice on your fertility.

The writer is DR Shobha Gupta, Medical Director and IVF specialist at Mother’s Lap IVF Centre