How to Increase Fertility

If you find that you are struggling to naturally conceive, you may look for ways to increase your fertility. Thankfully, there are many things that you can do to turn your troubles around.

In this article, we will outline different ways in which you can increase your fertility including natural methods, and external supplements that you can use to promote overall health, which subsequently will affect fertility rates. Around one in seven couples in the UK will struggle to conceive naturally. Natural conception is something that can easily be taken for granted. It is a common misconception that you simply have unprotected sex once and you fall pregnant, unfortunately, it is not that easy, and a lot of people will require help. 

Key Takeaways

Fertility Tests Can Help Identify Issues:

If you're struggling to conceive, there are home tests available for both men and women to check fertility. These tests can provide quick insights into sperm count, ovarian reserve, and the best times for conception.

Supplements Can Boost Fertility:

Taking fertility-focused supplements can help improve your overall health, which in turn can boost fertility. There are specific supplements designed for men, women, and even for conditions like PCOS.

Healthy Lifestyle Improves Fertility:

Eating a balanced diet rich in nutrients and maintaining regular exercise can positively impact fertility. Foods like beans, fruits, oily fish, and nuts, along with regular exercise, can help regulate hormones and improve reproductive health.

Increasing Fertility After 35 Years Old

If you're specifically interested in learning how to increase your fertility levels after the age of 35 years old our dedicated guide has the advice you need.

What tests can I take to check fertility? 

If you believe that your own personal fertility is causing you issues, there are many fertility tests that you can take to put your mind at ease.

The Babystart range of products includes tests for both men and women that can shine a light on any potential problems, or that can settle your mind by showing you the issue may not lie at your door.

Babystart Fertility Tests

Below are the tests that Babystart provide so you can quickly and easily check fertility in the comfort of your own home.

• Babystart FertilCheck Female Fertility Tests

The Babystart FertilCheck fertility test has been designed so that women can check whether their body is experiencing lower levels of fertility. The test works by detecting follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) in the urine of a woman. If there is a high concentration of FSH in the urine then this can be an indicator of reduced ovarian reserve. If you have reduced ovarian reserve then your body will struggle to produce fertile eggs. This test is 99% accurate and will provide results quickly, you won’t be sat staring at the strip for what feels like a lifetime like you would with other tests. The pack even contains two tests so you can repeat the process. Do not be concerned though if the test does show a reduced ovarian reserve as there are different ways that you can increase the quality of your eggs. 

• Babystart FertilCount2 Male Fertility Tests

This test provides 99% accurate results quickly and with the comfort of being able to be used in your own home. The Babystart FertilCount2 is a sperm count test that measures the sperm concentration in a man's ejaculate. This pack of two tests provides results in as little as 15 minutes. Sperm cells are dyed blue in the sample provided, the darker the colour, the higher the concentration of sperm and the more fertile you are. This test is ideal for people beginning to explore their fertility, providing an insight into sperm count before it becomes a major issue. As sperm count can vary, this test is not an indicator of infertility and can be repeated. There are even ways you can boost your sperm quality. 

• Babystart FertilTime Ovulation Tests

Babystart FertilTime Ovulation tests are easy to use, home testing kits that can tell a woman the best two days to have unprotected sexual intercourse if she is trying to get pregnant. During a woman’s menstrual cycle, there will be times when it is easier to fall pregnant, these are known as her fertile days. This test is 99% accurate and can provide the woman with the information she needs in order to plan her and her partner’s sexual activity. The pack provides five tests so that the user can redo her test whenever she is menstruating to always ensure she is giving herself the best chance of conceiving. 

What are the best supplements for increasing fertility?

Having good overall health is a huge factor when it comes to fertility and conception. Whilst you can positively affect your fertility through natural changes, such as diet and exercise (BBC, 2019; Create Fertility, 2022), there are also a range of fertility focused supplements that can aid not only fertility but also overall health.

Babystart Supplements

This range of supplements is provided by Babystart. There are supplements for both men and women, and specialised supplements for specific problems such as PCOS. PCOS stands for Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, a common condition that can change the way a woman’s ovaries work. Babystart FertilOva supplement sachets have been designed especially to help with PCOS, and contain active ingredients to promote healthy, regular menstrual cycles, as well as high quality, fertile eggs.

As mentioned, Babystart also provides other supplements for both men and women. These include day to day supplements that not only include ingredients that are ideal for fertility, but also general, overall health that can in turn greatly benefit fertility. For men, the FertilMan vitamin supplement and the FertilMan Plus have all of the ingredients needed to help male fertility problems. For females, FertilCare Vitamin Supplements and FertilWoman Plus are both great options for both fertility and general health. 

What are natural ways to increase fertility?

There are also natural ways that you can help your own personal fertility levels. Much like other health problems, it is important that you maintain an overall healthy lifestyle in order to ensure your body can perform when you need it to.

Diet and Exercise

Perhaps the easiest way of doing this is by adapting your exercise and dietary routines to include foodstuffs that promote greater fertility. 

Some foods that you can eat to promote your fertility include:

• Beans, Seeds, and Lentils - Great for fibre and protein content

• Fruits - Full of vitamin C and folic acids

• Natural Yoghurts and Cheeses - Provide vitamin D, calcium and probiotics

• Oily Fish - A great source of protein and omega-3

• Nuts - Source of omega-3 and omega-6, closely linked with sperm quality

You should also look to increase your exercise output. There is a definite link between exercise and fertility, as well as fertility rates among people of different weights. Mussawar et al (2023) concluded that exercise advice for women trying to conceive should be personalised: vigorous exercise may help overweight women with PCOS, but for healthy women, it could harm fertility, so it's important to check how exercise affects a female's menstrual cycle and fertility. Similarly, Brinson et al (2023) found that whilst more research is needed, exercise might improve male fertility.

People who are overweight have a higher level of a hormone known as leptin. Leptin is produced by fatty tissue, and is known to lead to hormone imbalances which can be a factor for infertility (Chou & Mantzoros, 2014). This is reversible, and the effects can be reversed by regular exercise and weight loss (Fontana et al, 2023; Bouassida et al, 2006). 

No matter what stage you are at with your fertility, there are definitely ways you can give yourself a boost. Whether it be through natural means, or whether you seek out something new, Babystart are always there to support you.