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There is a period on the menstrual cycle when  a woman has the opportunity to become pregnant. That’s called the fertile window. It is the six days in your cycle which lead up to ovulation.

To talk about fertility and conceiving in women, first you should know about the menstrual cycle. A menstrual cycle is around 28 days but may be different from person to person. These 28 days are halved into two 14 days by the ovulation day. The first half starts with menstrual bleeding, which occurs by the uterus wall being shed, and ends usually in 5 to 7 days. Then the fertile window begins. Six days later an egg (ovum) will be released from one of the two ovaries. If there were any live sperm available in these 6 days, then the chances are high that you become pregnant. If not, or if pregnancy does not occur, your uterus will start repairing itself for the 14 remaining days, to be ready for next month’s fertile window.

But what can you do to boost your fertility chances?

Try to be friends with your menstrual cycle

It is important to really know your period’s cycle. Which day it starts, how many days you bleed, when your ovulation date is, if your cycle regular or irregular. For example in an irregular cycle, it is hard to forecast the ovulation day. This may lead to not getting pregnant or having an unintended pregnancy.

Know when to have sex

Sperms can be alive in a woman’s body for at last 5 days. So in order to be sure that you have enough sperms in your body, it is important to have intermittent sex during your fertile window every other day. You can find your ovulation timing by measuring your temperature which rises during ovulation. You can also use an ovulation kit, which finds your ovulation timing by measuring your LH levels.

Lifestyle is important

• Smoking

We are often told by doctors that anyone who had smoked even one cigarette as an addict. Although you may think there is no need to be this hard on someone, but it shows how important it is to be aware of smoking harms. Smoking causes sperm and ovum damage, besides changing the sex hormones both in men and women. Not only smoking makes it hard for the fertilised egg to rich uterus, but also it makes the uterus environment not hostile for its growth and development.

• Alcohol

The more you use alcohol, the more likely to have irregular periods, which makes it hard to conceive. But stopping using alcohol before getting pregnant, not only rises the chances of pregnancy, but also increases the chance of giving birth to a healthy child.

• Healthy diet

One the most important parts of a healthy lifestyle is healthy eating. It is reported that changing your diet to a fertility specific one, rises your chance of pregnancy by 80%. A fertility specific diet is rich in fiber, vegetables, antioxidants, full fat diaries, nuts, legumes and beans, and low in trans fatty acids, sugar, carbohydrates, with moderate animal based proteins, and caffeine.

• Take your multivitamins

Consuming enough vitamins and minerals ensures your health by regulating your body’s functions. Some of these micronutrients are more important regarding pregnancy chances and health. For example it is essential for women who are trying to get pregnant to use folate, 3 months before getting pregnant. Vitamin D deficiency decreases the chance of fertility both in men and women. Iron fortification and supplementation is also an important factor in having a regular fertility chances. Irofix is an iron supplement with an innovated technology, which makes iron digestion easier and faster with the slightest side effects. So do not forget to take your Irofix.

Talk to a doctor

If you have been trying for a while, considering all the aforementioned, but not getting any results, be sure to talk to your doctor about it. By taking a good medical history, performing a physical exam, and related lab tests, if needed, your doctor will help you open up your fertility window.

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