Infertility is a silent epidemic. It has become so normal for couples to try to have children for years without success, that people just assume that it’s a part of life.
But it’s not. Infertility doesn’t always have to be the end of your hopes and dreams of starting a family. With these ways, you can deal with infertility better and come out on top!
Diet and Exercise
Diet and exercise are a huge factor in infertility. A woman’s body needs to maintain a proper hormonal balance, so if she is not eating well or exercising enough, it can throw off her hormone levels. It can take as little as two weeks for these hormones to return to normal if the woman changes her diet and starts exercising regularly.
Part of this is also due to the body’s ability to produce adequate amounts of female sex hormones like estrogen and progesterone that would otherwise help regulate ovulation cycles, menstruation, and menopause.
Exercise also helps boost fertility by increasing blood flow in the pelvic area. This allows more oxygen and nutrients to reach eggs during ovulation, which increases their chances of being fertilized.
As a side note, there are many preconceived notions about what results in healthier pregnancies–things like avoiding caffeine or alcohol–but scientific studies show that these things don’t change the chance of getting pregnant at all.
Another thing that you should be mindful of is your weight; studies have shown that women with normal weight have a higher chance of getting pregnant than overweight women. Diets high in sugar, processed foods, and trans fats can lead to an increased risk for infertility because they increase inflammation levels in your body.
Get Support
For many people, it takes several years to achieve a pregnancy. And, for some it never happens. When you’re struggling with infertility, it can be hard to keep up your spirits and maintain a positive outlook. Luckily, there are lots of ways you can find support for yourself and your partner on the journey together.
An important first step is reaching out to the people in your life for help and support. Share about how you’re feeling, ask for advice, and lean on those who care about you. If you don’t have anyone in your life that can offer that kind of support, there are plenty of online communities where you can connect with others who understand what you’re going through. There are also fertility experts who specialize in providing emotional support over the phone or through Skype conversations to help couples get through the tough times when they feel like giving up hope.
Change Your Perspective
If you’re struggling with infertility, the most important thing to do is change your perspective. You need to focus on what you have instead of what you don’t have. If you want children and can’t have them, that doesn’t mean the end of your hopes and dreams.
Think about it this way: think about all of the things you do have in your life already. You might not be a mom yet, but you have a career that makes an impact on people. You may not be married yet, but you still have family who loves and supports you. Think about what other things are important in your life and remind yourself how much good there is in the world even if one area seems bleak right now.
Find the Right Doctor
The first step to dealing with infertility is finding a doctor that you can trust. It’s so important to find a fertility specialist who is skilled and experienced in the field. Your doctor should be knowledgeable about the latest treatments and technology available, as well as have a compassionate bedside manner.
Identify the source of your infertility
Start by identifying the source of your infertility. Is it caused by an underlying medical condition? For many people, the reason for their infertility can be pinpointed to a single root cause like low sperm count or poor egg quality.
But if you’ve been trying for years with no success, then there are other factors at play. It may be time to consult a specialist and consider exploring assisted reproductive technologies like surrogacy and in vitro fertilization.
Consider IVF
If you’ve been trying to conceive for a year or more and still haven’t been successful, you may want to consider IVF.
IVF is the process of fertilizing an egg outside of the body, then transferring it back into the uterus. It has a high success rate because it bypasses many obstacles that would typically prevent conception from occurring.
As many as 5% of couples will require IVF to start a family. It can be expensive, but it does have a high success rate, which is why some people choose this method before looking at other options.
If you do decide to go this route, research your doctor and hospital thoroughly. You want to make sure they are reputable and experienced in the IVF field so you know you’re getting the best quality care available.
Be Grateful for What You Have
It’s easy to feel sorry for yourself when you can’t have children. You may even start to believe that it’s your fault. But this is a common misconception. Infertility isn’t always related to something wrong with the woman, and sometimes it can be related to something wrong with the man. So don’t let your diagnosis define you.
One of the best things you can do is be grateful for what you have in life. Whether or not you are able to procreate, there are so many other wonderful things in life that make it worth living. If you want children, talk about adoption or fostering. If you don’t want children, focus on how lucky you are to have such a fulfilling career and lifestyle as an only child or a single parent. There’s plenty of reasons to be happy!
Support your partner
Being a part of a couple dealing with infertility is difficult. The emotional and physical toll that it takes on both partners can be exhausting. It may not seem like much, but your support for your partner is an invaluable way to deal with infertility. Whether it’s just being there for them when they need someone to vent to, or going out for a walk or run together, sometimes all you need is a break from the daily struggle.
Be optimistic
Infertility is a difficult time. You might not have been expecting it, and every day you’re waking up to the same disappointment. But your mindset can make or break your fertility journey.
There are many people out there who have successfully dealt with infertility and found success with it. You can be one of those people. And rather than getting down on yourself, be optimistic – because optimism breeds positivity, which will help you through this tough time in your life.
Conclusion
It’s natural to feel overwhelmed, sad and frustrated when dealing with infertility. And it’s not easy to find out the source of your infertility and what can be done to fix it. But it doesn’t mean that you are powerless. There are steps you can take to help you get through this difficult time. Here are 10 ways to deal with infertility: