Keys To Increase Fertility On A Daily Basis
On June 4, World Fertility Day is celebrated to raise awareness about the increase in problems associated with infertility. Learn about some factors, related to habits, that you must take into account to take care of your fertility .
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LatinAmerican Post | María Fernanda Ramírez Ramos
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Leer en español: Claves para aumentar la fertilidad en el día a día
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), it is estimated that there are between 48 million couples and 186 million people with infertility in the world. "It is a disease of the male or female reproductive system consisting of the inability to get pregnant after 12 months or more of regular unprotected sexual intercourse," says the organization. For this reason, fertility treatments are becoming more and more popular. However, fertility care can, and should, begin before the time of seeking conception.
Although there are multiple factors that have to do with fertility problems, there are some daily habits that can have a significant impact. In this regard, the WHO points out that in both women and men, environmental and lifestyle factors have been associated with lower fertility rates. Here are some recommendations
Take care of your diet
A guide from the Ministry of Health of Argentina, points out that a fundamental factor for fertility care is having an adequate diet. "Eating disorders (obesity, low weight, bulimia, anorexia, among others) can hinder reproductive capacity," he says.
On the other hand, there are some foods that are important for fertility. The consumption of folic acid, which is found in green leafy vegetables, fish, nuts and legumes, is essential. On the other hand, eating foods that contain antioxidants, iron, vitamin E and selenium are also essential to promote fertility and the subsequent development of the baby . Finally, to promote the quality of sperm and fertility, it is advisable to eat healthy fats that contain Omega 3, such as olive oil, oily fish and nuts.
Avoid ultra-processed foods
In addition to eating those foods that promote fertility, it is also important to avoid consuming fast and ultra-processed foods. In this sense, it is convenient to eliminate or restrict the consumption of sugar, alcohol, sweeteners, refined flours and artificial colors, as well as fish that may have traces of mercury. It is also necessary to avoid tobacco consumption.
Use condoms
To take care of fertility it is essential to protect the reproductive system. For this reason, using a condom during sexual intercourse is a recommended habit. Especially when you don't have a stable and unique partner. In this regard, a guide from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of the United States, CDC, indicates that "a risk factor for infertility for women and men that is recognized and can be prevented is untreated sexually transmitted infections (STIs). In particular, Chlamydia trachomatis infection increases the risk of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) in women."
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Avoid exposure to environmental contaminants
According to a CDC guideline on fertility "Early environmental, chemical, or workplace exposures (for example, in utero or during infancy) may permanently impair fertility or biological capacity by affecting gynecologic, urologic, or or pregnancy health. These exposures may also affect fertility outcomes (for example, multiple births or premature births)" . In addition, they can increase the risk of developing diseases such as ovarian, uterine or prostate cancer.
In this sense, it is essential to avoid exposure to endocrine disruptors, which are often found in household cleaning products or dermo-cosmetic products. Likewise, this type of substance has been found in plastic products, in food packaging and in small amounts of toxins in foods.