Taking care of your mind and body during treatment

It’s a good idea to start making healthy changes to your diet three months to a year before you conceive. Eating a balanced diet will help you maintain a healthy weight and get more of the nutrients your body needs. Your doctor may recommend taking vitamins or supplements to ensure that you’re getting enough folic acid, zinc, and calcium. They can also recommend the amount of supplements and vitamins to take, and what to avoid.

Certain substances may impact your fertility if consumed in large amounts. Consider making dietary changes if your consumption of the following items is excessive:

• Caffeine
  Consuming too much caffeine per day could reduce your chances of becoming pregnant. After conception, it may increase the chance of miscarriage
• Alcohol
  High levels of alcohol may be linked to infertility, although reports are not clear on whether moderate drinking has an impact. Alcohol in any amount should be avoided during pregnancy
  
  Talk to your doctor or call the National Alcohol and Drug Dependence Hope Line at 1-800-622-2255 if you need help getting alcohol consumption under control

Because living a healthier lifestyle can be beneficial to your own reproductive health and that of your future baby, it’s important to consider the following when trying to conceive a child:

• Exercise
  Moderate exercise can help protect your fertility and improve your mood. If you’re not already exercising, talk to your doctor about the best way to add physical activity to your daily routine
• Smoking
  Cigarettes are thought to disrupt your hormones and reduce the number of eggs in your ovaries. It’s not easy to quit smoking—ask your doctor for advice and resources
• Illegal drugs
  Drugs like cocaine, heroin, and marijuana affect your hormones, impacting fertility
  
  If you need help saying no to drugs, talk to your doctor or call:
  National Drug Help Hotline, 1-800-662-4357 
  National Alcohol and Drug Dependence Hope Line, 1-800-622-2255
• Environmental toxins
  Heavy metals, toxic chemicals, and radiation affect your fertility. Talk to your doctor about any substances or materials you should avoid at work and at home

It’s important to make sure any health conditions, such as asthma, diabetes, oral health, obesity, or epilepsy, are under control before becoming pregnant. If you’re taking any over-the-counter or prescription drugs, including dietary or herbal supplements, talk to your doctor about whether they’ll be safe to continue taking during pregnancy. While you’re there, double-check that all your vaccinations are up to date.

For men hoping to become fathers, it’s important to understand how certain lifestyle choices can affect your fertility and your quality of life.

Talk to your doctor about your proper weight range, and make a plan for achieving it. While you’re thinking about your diet, ensure adequate intake of zinc and vitamin E, both of which can boost fertility. They’re found in many foods, but it might also be a good idea to talk to your doctor about adding a multivitamin to your daily routine.

Consider the effects alcohol may have on your fertility. When consumed in large amounts, alcohol can affect sperm count. Aim to reduce your alcohol consumption to reduce the impact on your fertility.  

If you need help getting alcohol consumption under control, talk to your doctor or call the National Alcohol and Drug Dependence Hope Line at 1-800-622-2255.

Making adjustments to your daily lifestyle can help improve your fertility, bringing you one step closer to parenthood:

• Sleep
  Getting enough sleep can help with the quality and quantity of your sperm
• Exercise
  Daily exercise can increase your sperm count and quantity. When choosing an exercise program, it’s best to avoid prolonged cycling and sitting on a bike, which can decrease sperm count and concentration. Contact sports may also cause injury to the testicles
• Smoking
  Cigarettes can affect the number and quality of your sperm. Ask your doctor for advice and resources if you need help quitting
• Illegal drugs
  Drugs like cocaine, heroin, and marijuana can affect sperm quality, impacting your fertility
  
  If you need help saying “no” to drugs, talk to your doctor or call:
  National Alcohol and Drug Dependence Hope Line, 1-800-622-2255
  National Drug Help Hotline, 1-800-662-4357  
• Environmental toxins
  Heavy metals, toxic chemicals, pesticides, and radiation can damage sperm. Talk to your doctor about any substances or materials you should avoid at work and at home
• Heat and friction
  Allowing your testicles to become too hot can decrease sperm quality. Try to avoid hot tubs, saunas, long showers, heating pads, electric blankets, and tight clothing

Some prescription medications affect fertility. Talk to your doctor about your medication usage and whether it is safe to take steps to eliminate medicine that could interfere with your reproductive health or the quality of your sperm.