Can't get pregnant (young, old, causes, treatment)

Vitamin E and Vitamin C are powerful antioxidants that increase fertility. These vitamins are known to increase sperm quality and protecting it from damage. They can also help you to lose some pounds if you are overweight.

Vitamin E can be found in: nuts, almonds, peanuts, hazelnuts, sunflower oil, wheat and corn. You can also take as a dietary supplement. Click here to buy it.

Vitamin C can be found in: bell peppers, kiwi fruit, oranges, broccoli, berries, dark leafy greens. You can also take it from tablets. Click here to buy it.

Fruits and vegetables have many essential nutritions and antioxidants that can boost the fertility for both of you.

Fruits you should take: Bananas (B6 vitamin), Almonds (Vitamin E), Citrus fruit (Vitamin C), Peas (Zinc).

Vegetables you should eat: Romaine, spinach, arugula, broccoli, asparagus (folic acid) are improving ovulation in women and your man will have healthier sperm.

The first thing you should do if you cannot get pregnant is to visit your Gynecologist ("OB-GYN").

Also, go to a doctor if you have:

• Increased / decreased hair growth
• Absent or Infrequent period
• Previous cancer treatment
• Painful periods
• Changes in sexual desire

If you are over 30, you may have premature menopause. Your doctor will perform a physical exam as well as some tests. Symptoms include:

• Absent / Infrequent periods
• Sudden feeling of warmth spreading over the upper body
• Heavier or lighter periods than usual
• Emotional changes

Ovulating usually occurs two weeks before the next period. You need to know your average menstrual cycle. If it is 28 days, you will ovulate around day 14. Use this calculator for more precise information about your ovulation.

It lasts around 4-5 days, so the best time to have sex is during those days because chances for getting pregnant dramatically increase.

There are a number of factors that impact male's fertility. Tell him to go to an urologist if he has:

• Increased hair growth
• Erection or Ejaculation problems
• Problems with testicles (pain, lump or swelling)
• Cancer treatment (surgery, radiotherapy or chemotherapy)
• Changes in sexual desire

The urologist will check:

• Medical history and general physical examination
• Analysis of semen
• Scrotal ultrasound (for producing images inside your body).
• Post-ejaculation urinalysis
• Testicular biopsy
• Sperm function tests
• Hormonal testing
• Transrectal ultrasound

He may prescribe antibiotics if infection is found, perform a surgery (usually for varicocele), and give other medications for some other fertility-related problems.

If none of the solutions worked for you, then your partner should make an infertility test to be sure it is the culprit.

If the result is positive, your doctor will tell your partner what he can do to fix it. 

Artificial insemination is a technique where sperm is inserted directly into a woman's uterus, Fallopian tubes, or cervix. This technique is used if you tried all the solutions, but nothing helped you to get pregnant.

First, your doctor must be sure that you are ovulating in order to apply this technique. He will use blood tests, ultrasound, or ovulation kits in order to check the ovulation.

Abstain from sex 2-5 days prior to the ovulation (use this calculator or check this solution to see when it is most likely to happen) because his sperm count needs to be high (it becomes lower when he ejaculates). When ovulation occurs, your partner will have to produce sample of semen (by masturbating) and take it to the clinic or laboratory - where your doctor told you to do so. After all the procedures which are needed to be done with the sperm, it will be introduced through the vagina and cervix into the uterus.

If you are under stress it affects your reproductive system, so you should do some workouts in order to relieve the stress from your body.

Also, it helps you to lose some weight. Yoga is a great choice to start with. Watch this video for yoga poses that boost fertility:

If you don't have sex regularly, you are less likely to conceive. Have sex couple of times a week if you want to become pregnant.

Also, by having more sex, you will relieve stress and tension.

Soy has estrogen-raising properties, therefore increasing the estrogen/testosterone ratio which decreases the sperm production. 

In Vitro fertilization combines eggs and sperm in a laboratory - outside the body. Once an embryos form, then they are placed into the uterus. This technique is used if you cannot find a way to get pregnant.

Go to your doctor to consult about in vitro. Keep in mind that injections and medications will be used for the treatment. Also, it is one of the most expensive techniques for getting pregnant.

If the reason is that low sperm count, check out the solutions for the low sperm count problem.

If your partner has hot and long showers, it can decrease his sperm production up to 5 times.

Tell him to have cool and shorter showers if you want to get pregnant easily.

Adding zinc to the diet will boost fertility in both partners.

Women's body needs a certain amount of zinc to produce mature egg for fertilization, and also it keeps hormone levels stable throughout the entire menstrual cycle.

In men, it is especially important because zinc deficiency can lead to creation of immature sperm which isn't ready for fertilization (it has low mobility and sperm strength).

Click here to buy it.

Good teeth hygiene is important for both partners: 

• If the male partner has a poor oral hygiene it can affect his sperm which may reduce the chances for pregnancy.
• Gum diseases increase the risk of premature birth in women.

Therefore, brush your teeth and tongue regularly, and don't forget to floss the teeth. Check your dentist for a routine control.

If you are a smoker, quit as soon as possible because not only it affects your general health, but it also affects the lining of the uterus and thus makes the implantation an issue.

Also, he should stop smoking as it damages his sperm (DNA damage).

If you have a BMI index over 25 (click here to calculate), it means you are overweight and this may cause irregular ovulations so your chances of getting pregnant are reduced.

Ideal BMI for getting pregnant is between 22-25. Also, men who are overweight or obese have a lower sperm count.

Check solutions here on how to lose weight.

Having a poor sleep (not enough sleep or you wake up many times) stresses your body, your immune system is getting down and you are more prone to getting infections thus affecting the reproductive cycle. Check solutions here to change your sleeping habits. 

Folic acid or Vitamin B9 is an essential supplement before getting pregnant, as well as during pregnancy as it prevents major birth defects of the baby's brain or spine.

You should take 400 mg of folic acid every day until you're in the 12th week of pregnancy.

You can buy it here.

Avoid using any artificial lubricants as they can negatively affect his sperm quality. Instead, in order to get "wet", do more foreplay. 

If he uses a laptop on his laps frequently, or he keeps the cell phone in the pocket, it may negatively impact his sperm over time.

Tell him to reduce the exposure to EMR if you want to get pregnant.

If he ejaculates on a daily basis, his sperm count decreases as much as 50 percent. He should avoid masturbating a week before you are trying to get pregnant.

These fats are very important for your hormones to function well and also for his semen because of prostaglandins (lipid compounds essential for sperm count, motility and quality) found in omega 3 fats. 

Click here to buy it.

If none of the techniques helped you to get pregnant including in vitro and artificial insemination, maybe adopting a child is an option you should consider about.

Having a child will give you joy and pleasure, and also it can lead you to fulfilling, meaningful life. 

Talk with your partner if he is also ready to do so. Also, your family and friends would be a great help in making the decision.

If you are trying to get pregnant all the time, it can make you depressed and anxious. Sometimes you find yourself pregnant, when you stop 'trying' to have a baby.

Stop it for a while, and you will find yourself more relaxed and out of stress.

Some OTC medications such as ibuprofen and paracetamol can have a negative effect on conception if you take it around the time of ovulation. They can suppress hormones called prostaglandins, which help in releasing eggs into the Fallopian tube.

If your partner eats genetically modified foods, it can reduce his sperm count for up to 50%. But it's not the case only in men. Women are also affected by GMO foods.

Buy only 100% organic food when you are trying to get pregnant.

If your BMI index (calculate here) is below 18.5, you are underweight and it can be a problem for conception because at least 17% of total body fat is needed for regular ovulation. If you don't ovulate regularly, chances for getting pregnant reduce a lot.

Increase the amount of fat in your diet. Also, if you exercise too much, try to reduce it a little bit. Ideal BMI for getting pregnant is 22-25. Check out the solutions for "I'm skinny".

If you want to get pregnant, then stop eating high mercury fish such as tuna or swordfish as it is linked to fertility issues. Also, your (male) partner should avoid it.

Instead, consume low mercury fish: sardine, catfish, flounder, clams or haddock.

Bisphenol A, a chemical found in canned food may have an impact on your fertility. Avoid canned food while trying to get pregnant (also your partner should avoid it).

Bisphenol A, a chemical found in plastic containers can reduce the sperm count or the number of viable eggs. Avoid using anything from plastic, especially those containers which have 3 or 7 number on the bottom of it.

Alcohol may affect fertility in women, so avoid drinking alcohol whenever possible.

Also, the male partner should avoid heavy alcohol consumption as it may lead to lower testosterone levels and less active sperm.

Avoid drinking soda (e.g. Coca Cola, Pepsi, Fanta and many more) as they are high in sugar, and therefore raise the blood sugar quickly which may have a negative impact on your fertility. This applies both to you as well your (male) partner. 

Do not consume more than 100 mg of caffeine a day as it increases the length of time it takes to conceive, and also it can make hormonal imbalance (estradiol or other hormones).

Although male orgasm is essential for pregnancy (as it is required for ejaculation) also for women it can be beneficial to have one to increase chances of pregnancy as it helps you to reduce stress thus makes you more fertile.

Doing it in missionary style will make the penetration deeper, therefore more sperm gets to the cervix which increases chances for pregnancy. 

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB's) and some similar pollutants found in animal meat (beef mostly) can stay in your body and makes it harder to conceive.

Also tell your male partner to reduce meat consumption as it is associated with more "bad / ineffective" sperm.

Keeping a journal will help you to relieve stress by writing all the negative thoughts onto paper or computer. Once you start writing, depression and anxiety will disappear and you will be more positive through reading it.

If he watches tv or sits in front of the computer many hours a week, his sperm counts reduces for more than 40%.

Tell him to get involved in various activities such as exercising, walking with you, or playing some sport.

Trans fats contained in animal products, fried foods, snack foods, margarine and many other foods increase insulin resistance which affects ovulation. Also, they can make you overweight. Don't eat these foods while you are trying to get pregnant.

We all know that it is hard to live without children, especially after all the unsuccessful attempts trying to become pregnant. 

Parenthood is just one way to become happy. Focus on other things that give you happiness and that make your life more meaningful. Here are some benefits of child-free living:

• Freedom - You can travel wherever you dreamed of, take an early retirement, or going to university for second degree.
• Self-expansion - Having more time for yourself means that you can explore parts of yourself that you never knew existed.
• Control your life - Children can have lots of problems e.g in school, when they are sick, or some accidents may happen. It means that you lose a certain amount of control over your life. 

Be more realistic about your life's circumstances and accept the fact before you can move forward. Meanwhile, stay connected with your family and friends - they will help you to overcome if you are depressed.

Egg yolks are rich in choline (water-soluble nutritient) which protects against neural tube effects and they contain vitamin D which has a key role in boosting fertility. Also, they are rich in carotenoids and antioxidants which boost fertility in women.

Take 1 or 2 egg yolks a day for best results.

Skim milk promotes infertility, so change it with whole milk as soon as possible.

It contains a good amount of calcium which is good for bone and reproductive health. Also, it has fats that are needed for pregnancy. Drink one glass per day to get the required fats and calcium.

Oysters are rich in zinc which is a very important nutrient if you are trying to conceive. It increases testosteron and semen levels in men.

Add Oysters in your diet if you want to get pregnant.

Olive oil will help you to increase insulin sensitivity and decrease inflammation throughout the body as inflammation interferes with ovulation and conception.

Use olive oil on salads or for cooking instead of butter.

By eating whole wheat bread which contains complex carbs you will keep blood sugar stable. Increased blood sugar levels means increased insulin which disrupts reproductive hormones.

Choose:

1. Dark bread instead of light.
2. Brown rice over white.
3. Whole wheat paste over white.

Maca is a hormone balancing herb which boosts fertility. You can use it with any food or drink.

It comes in powder or capsule form.

If your partner has a problem with erection, check out the solutions for Erectile dysfunction.

Stinging nettle nourishes the uterus and promotes strengthening of the kidneys and adrenal glands which will help you in getting pregnant.

Drink 2-3 cups of Stringing Nettle tea per day. Click here to buy it.

Red Clover has high amounts of calcium and magnesium which improves the woman's ability to conceive. 

Drink 1-2 cups of tea per day. Click here to buy it.