Can't get pregnant (young, old, causes, treatment) (I'm 30 or over)

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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).

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

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. 

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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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.