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Fertility first aid: for her

 Unlike men, who produce new sperm every day, women are born with all their eggs. Fertility is, therefore, affected by both the timing of ovulation and factors which may prevent eggs maturing.

Smoking and drinking

Smokers take longer to conceive and have a higher incidence of miscarriage. This is because nicotine deposits in the follicular acid where the egg grows can inhibit its development. Avoid excessive alcohol - more than seven units a week: it can deplete the body of vital B vitamins.

Avoid stress

The stress hormone prolactin is a major impediment to women getting pregnant.

Embark on a programme of stress-reduction techniques, such as yoga, meditation and breathing exercises for at least six months.

A U.S. hospital introduced such a programme to help women deal with the stress of infertility; 40 per cent were pregnant six months later.

Watch your weight

Obesity or excessive dieting can affect fertility. Overweight women have excessive cholesterol which inhibits the effects of fertility hormones such as progesterone.

At the other extreme, if the level of body fat drops below the optimum level of 18 per cent of body weight, hormonal imbalances may result in failure to ovulate.

Diet

To increase chances of conception, ensure your diet is rich in iron to boost your red blood cells, increase your circulation and increase your body's overall health. Good sources are lean meat and offal.

Avoid tea which inhibits the body's uptake of iron. The diet should also contain a good supply of zinc - found in lean meat, shellfish, sunflower and pumpkin seeds - vitamin C, and essential fatty acids found in oil-rich fish and polyunsaturated oils.

Take supplements

Vitamin B6 supplements may help to increase levels of progesterone, one of the major female reproductive hormones. Take 50mg to 150mg for six months to assess your response.

Deficiency in folic acid may also contribute to difficulty in conceiving. Symptoms include fatigue, weakness, sore red tongue and shortness of breath. Take a folic acid supplement of no more than 5mg a day.

Choose the right time

Sometimes infertility is no more than bad timing. Nearly all pregnancies result from intercourse during the time that starts five days before ovulation and ends with the day of ovulation, around day 14 of the menstrual cycle.

If you are not tracking ovulation, have intercourse every other day - particularly on days eight, ten, 12, 14, 16, 18 and 20 after the first day of your last period.

This will ensure that when you do release an egg, there is sperm - which can survive up to three days - in your fallopian tubes.

Buy a kit

Knowing when your ovaries are about to release an egg will give you a clue to the best time to conceive. Hospital scans will give accurate results, but an over-thecounter ovulation test kit may also give a strong indication.

Cut out caffeine

Caffeine in large amounts has been shown to inhibit ovulation. Check soft drinks labels for content and opt for decaffeinated alternatives.

Think yourself pregnant

In addition to yoga, meditation and breathing, there are cognitive therapy techniques which can help. They work on the premise that you will enjoy better mental and physical health if you eradicate negative beliefs.

Take 15 minutes to sit quietly by yourself. Repeat to yourself that doctors haven't told you you can't have a baby and that such thinking is illogical. This should introduce a calmer state of mind.

Be cautious with medicine

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen may interfere with ovulation as well as the implantation of an embryo to the uterus. If you need a painkiller, take aspirin.

Also steer clear of antihistamines and decongestants which may reduce the secretion of cervical mucus.

Exercise

A steady level of exercise is important for overall good health. But many women who exercise excessively suffer from erratic menstrual cycles. This is because hormones secreted due to extreme exercise may affect the ovulatory cycle resulting in temporary or permanent absence of menstrual periods.

Fertility drugs

Women who experience a delay in conceiving can have blood tests to check on their levels of the hormone progesterone. If these are low during the second half of the menstrual cycle, it suggests ovulation is not occurring properly.

Ovulation fertility drugs are available in the form of medication such as Chlomid tablets, which stimulate the ovaries to produce more eggs each month.