Fertility: How to Stimulate Ovulation Naturally
Fertility: How to Stimulate Ovulation Naturally
Do you want to get pregnant quickly using natural methods? Adopting the right reflexes, a healthy lifestyle, and including certain foods on your plate can help you boost your fertility and your ovulation naturally. Follow the leader!
Watch your weight
Obesity is a common problem among women of reproductive age. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), if BMI is equal to or greater than 25 kg/m2, it is considered overweight, whereas a BMI higher than 30 kg/m2 defines as obesity [1]. Too much or too little weight affects fertility and can disrupt ovulation. To find out if your weight is normal, calculate your BMI by dividing your weight in kilograms by your height in centimeters before squaring it. If the result is between 18.5 and 24.9, everything is fine. You have the ideal weight to have a child and you are in good health [2].
Eat balanced
A diet that is too strict, as well as a diet that is too rich and too fatty, will tend to disrupt your cycle and cause infertility problems in women. To increase your chances of pregnancy, eat a balanced and varied diet. Consume less processed meats (sausages, bacon) and more vegetable proteins. Folic acid as well as vitamins B9 and E would help promote fertility [3].
Quit smoking
Smoking seriously harms health… and fertility. The next time you light a cigarette, be aware that smoking disrupts menstrual cycles, reduces egg count, disrupts egg maturation, and slows egg flow through the tubes. It is considered that with tobacco, fertility could drop by 10 to 40% per cycle and almost double the period of baby trials. When do you stop? [4]
Try relaxation techniques
As we know, stress can affect fertility and disrupt a woman's cycle. In addition to regularly practicing a sports activity (very beneficial for combating stress), yoga, sophrology, meditation, or other relaxation exercises can help you reduce and control your negative emotions [5].
Boost your ovulation with herbs
For millennia, women have used plants to increase their chances of getting pregnant [6]:
False unicorn root is said to help stimulate ovulation and reproduction as well as regulate the hormonal system
Raspberry leaf would restore the hormonal balance of women
Evening primrose oil capsules help regulate menstrual cycles by boosting hormone production
Red clover is said to be effective in maintaining the balance of the uterus and relaxing the nervous system
Chaste tree berries (or vitex) would restore the balance of menstrual cycles, correct hormonal imbalances, stimulate ovulation and reduce the risk of miscarriage.
However, ensure to talk to your doctor to avoid any risk or drug interactions with other medications you’re taking, and if you continue to consume them during pregnancy.
Boost your fertility with homeopathy
Women looking for a boost to boost their fertility often turn to homeopathy. This soft medicine which acts on certain hormones would help to find regular menstrual cycles and would boost ovulation. It is best to consult a homeopath who will be able to advise you and prescribe an appropriate treatment [7].
Have sex every other day around ovulation
To boost your chances of getting pregnant with sperm from a donor or that of your partner, the first step is to first identify your ovulation period using an ovulation test or by taking your curve temperature every morning.
To obtain good quality sperm, it is better to respect a period of 2 to 3 days of abstinence between each report, preferably 2 days before and after ovulation [8].
Lauretta Iyamu (she/her) is a freelance medical writer and health content strategist. She completed her Doctor of Pharmacy degree (PharmD) at the University of Benin, Nigeria, and holds a Postgraduate diploma certificate in Clinical Research. Lauretta has over five years of experience in various patient-facing roles as a clinical pharmacist and over 9 years of experience in the healthcare industry researching, reporting, editing, and producing a variety of health and web content. Her passion is to convey scientific research and innovation to a broader audience by presenting it in a simpler way.
Medical Disclaimer:
The information provided in this blog is intended for general informational purposes only and should not be considered as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your healthcare provider or qualified medical professional with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read in this blog.
Sources
1. World Health Organization. Preventing and managing the global epidemic. In: Report of the World Health Organization on obesity. Geneva: World Health Organization; 1997. (Accessed July 2022)
2. Silvestris E, de Pergola G, Rosania R, Loverro G. Obesity as disruptor of the female fertility. Reprod Biol Endocrinol. 2018 Mar 9;16(1):22. doi: 10.1186/s12958-018-0336-z. PMID: 29523133; PMCID: PMC5845358. (Accessed July 2022)
3. Janet W, et al. Adolescent body mass index and infertility caused by ovulatory disorder. AJOG. 1994;171(1):171–177. doi: 10.1016/0002-9378(94)90465-0. (Accessed July 2022)
4. Dorfman SF. Tobacco and fertility: our responsabilities. Fertil Steril. 2008;89(3):502–504. doi: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2008.01.011. (Accessed July 2022)
5. Oosthuyse T, Bosch AN. The effect of the menstrual cycle on exercise metabolism: implications for exercise performance in eumenorrhoeic women. Sports Med. 2010 Mar 1;40(3):207-27. doi: 10.2165/11317090-000000000-00000. PMID: 20199120. (Accessed July 2022)
6. Henry M. Hess, 23 - Herbs and Alternative Remedies, Editor(s): Donald R. Mattison, Clinical Pharmacology During Pregnancy, Academic Press, 2013, Pages 383-394, ISBN 9780123860071, https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-386007-1.00023-4. (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780123860071000234) (Accessed July 2022)
7. Tieraona Low Dog, CHAPTER 7 - Integrative Strategies During Pregnancy, Editor(s): Tieraona Low Dog, Women's Health in Complementary and Integrative Medicine, Churchill Livingstone, 2005, Pages 90-117, ISBN 9780443066399, https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-443-06639-9.50013-7. (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780443066399500137) (Accessed July 2022)
8. Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. (2021, December 11). How to get pregnant. Mayo Clinic. Retrieved July 4, 2022, from https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/getting-pregnant/in-depth/how-to-get-pregnant/art-20047611. (Accessed July 2022)
