How to Prevent Infertility

The struggle to conceive a healthy baby can exact a brutal toll on a couple. It’s an emotional, psychological, and social challenge. Infertility is a burden that no one would like to carry. While some types of infertility are not preventable, some causes of infertility can be prevented.

Here are some steps you can take to improve your chances of getting pregnant:

Watch Your Diet

Food choices can help boost fertility. A well-balanced and nutritious diet can help support overall health and reproductive health in both men and women. You have to carefully watch your diet if you want to conceive.

plant based diet for cancer prevention and treatment

It is advisable to avoid the following foods to help prevent infertility:

  • Trans Fats may negatively affect the flow of nutrients and cause inflammation. Some studies also show that trans fats decrease sperm quality and count. Trans fats are often found in some baked goods, processed products, fried foods, and margarine.
  • Avoid animal products such as deli meat, low-fat dairy, and raw animal products. Replace them with plant-based proteins. One study published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology showed that making this switch could decrease the risk of ovulatory infertility by more than 50%.
  • Do not eat high-glycemic-index foods and drinks (e.g. soda) that cause a sudden increase in blood sugar. Instead, eat slow-burning carbs like brown rice and whole grains.
  • Keep off high-mercury foods such as tuna and swordfish.

Exercise and Maintain Health Weight

Weight Loss for Fertility

One way to prevent infertility is by maintaining a healthy weight. Underweight women should eat healthily and sustainably to gain weight. Obese or overweight people should reduce weight because your fat content affects your menstrual function and fertility.

Getting active is highly recommended for your health. It has positive effects on fertility for both men and women. In fact, one study by UK-based researchers suggests that increasing aerobic exercise and reducing weight leads to ovulation improvements. 

Avoid Smoking, Alcohol, and Caffeine

According to a study in the Journal of Human Reproductive Sciences, alcohol has a significantly detrimental effect on both female and male fertility. It is associated with a deterioration of semen quality and decreased likelihood of first childbirth in women. 

male infertility

It is also important to limit your intake of coffee, energy drinks, and other sources of caffeine. The same goes for harmful industrial toxins and smoke from cigarettes. Tobacco is one of the leading causes of preventable death and may affect your ability to have children. Smoking should be avoided completely to prevent infertility. 

Consider Age Factors 

It is a fact that the ability to conceive decreases with age. Sperms become less active and lower quality in men and the health of eggs deteriorates in women. The decision to get pregnant depends on several factors, including your readiness as a couple. But keep in mind that the odds of getting pregnant are highest in the 20s. Fertility in women begins to deteriorate in the 30s. 

While these tips to prevent infertility are useful, it is advisable to get diagnosed and seek professional help with you infertility concerns.

Check out our fertility blog or eBook for more on the causes of infertility and how to improve your chance to conceive. You can also schedule a visit to our clinic for expert personalised guidance.

Our Offer to You

Free Online Questionnaire

Fill in our online questionnaire for free – and save the $135 it would cost you to do this detailed medical history in person with a practitioner.  You can request a phone call from a practitioner after they have read your online form, or just book the 60 minute initial exam for $40.  So, call us on 07 846 7956 to book, or fill in the questionnaire now.

References

  1. Chavarro, J. E., Mínguez-Alarcón, L., Mendiola, J., Cutillas-Tolín, A., López-Espín, J. J., & Torres-Cantero, A. M. (2014). Trans fatty acid intake is inversely related to total sperm count in young healthy men. Human reproduction, 29(3), 429-440.
  2. Chavarro, J. E., Rich-Edwards, J. W., Rosner, B. A., & Willett, W. C. (2008). Protein intake and ovulatory infertility. American journal of obstetrics and gynecology, 198(2), 210-e1.
  3. Best, D., Avenell, A., & Bhattacharya, S. (2017). How effective are weight-loss interventions for improving fertility in women and men who are overweight or obese? A systematic review and meta-analysis of the evidence. Human reproduction update, 23(6), 681-705.
  4. Gude, D. (2012). Alcohol and fertility. Journal of human reproductive sciences, 5(2), 226.

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Monica

I am originally from Hebei province in China. I hold a NZ bachelor’s degree of health and science with a major in acupuncture. I am honoured to be an acupuncturist at Centre of Balance. Helping patients to alleviate their pain brings me the greatest joy. Chinese medicine emphasises the unity of human beings and nature. During the treatment, I hope to not only relieve your pain but also help you to understand the principles behind acupuncture’s effectiveness, as well as the significant impact of diet, emotions, lifestyle habits, and living environments on disease recovery. Self-healing is an ability that our bodies are naturally endowed with.

I studied acupuncture in New Zealand and completed one and a half years of supervised clinical internship before graduating. In the early stage of my training, I mainly worked with patients experiencing neck, shoulder, and lower back pain. Under the guidance of senior clinical tutors, I gradually developed hands-on experience and confidence in treating musculoskeletal pain conditions.
As my clinical exposure expanded, I began treating a wider range of internal conditions. Alongside traditional acupuncture, I was introduced to Umbilical Acupuncture and Tungs-acupuncture Points. What interested me most about these approaches is that they often do not require needling directly at the painful area, yet can still achieve very effective results.
I was especially inspired by observing my supervisor use Umbilical Acupuncture to treat common conditions such as insomnia, menstrual irregularities, and even rheumatoid arthritis, with very positive outcomes. Another supervisor was highly skilled in Tungs-acupuncture Points and achieved excellent results in treating pain, infertility, menstrual disorders, and a variety of women’s health conditions. After completing my studies and entering clinical practice, once I observed Dr. Szenan Phua using Tungs-acupuncture points to help cancer patients relieve pain, which further strengthened my trust in this treatment method.
I later completed training in Dr. Tan Balance Acupuncture, which had a strong influence on the way I approach treatment. One of the most noticeable features of this method is how quickly patients often feel improvement, especially with pain conditions. Dr. Szenan Phua’s New Balance Acupuncture combines meridian regulation with structural adjustment and internal organ balancing, including techniques such as pulse balancing and spinal adjustment.
From my clinical experience, pain is rarely just a local issue. It often involves underlying organ weakness or structural imbalance. When these aspects are addressed together, treatment can be more thorough and longer-lasting. I also apply this approach to internal conditions, particularly in fertility and women’s health. This includes supporting natural conception, IVF preparation and embryo transfer, pregnancy support, early-pregnancy nausea, and late-pregnancy labour induction. I combine these treatments with concepts learned from a few additional fertility training, which has given me a broader and more flexible clinical perspective. This has reinforced my belief that acupuncture should be adapted to each individual rather than applied through fixed formulas.
Two other areas of study that have been very helpful in my clinical work are Tongue Diagnosis and Dr. Zhu’s Scalp Acupuncture. Although tongue diagnosis is taught in my standard Chinese medicine training, further study allowed me to deepen and refine my diagnostic skills.
My first formal training was in Li’s Tongue Diagnosis, which looks not only at organ patterns, but also at how different areas of the tongue reflect the body’s structure. This system also explores personality traits and changes during pregnancy, making it both clinically useful and engaging. I later attended online lectures on Yin’s Tongue Diagnosis and studied the related materials independently. this learning has helped me make clearer and more accurate pattern differentiation, allowing my acupuncture treatments to be more targeted. It covers a wide range of conditions, including skin disorders, oncology-related presentations, mental health patterns, and joint or limb problems. In practice, tongue observation often provides valuable insight even before a patient begins describing their symptoms.
In addition to the methods above, I regularly use local bloodletting techniques, which can be very effective for improving circulation, reducing swelling, and relieving pain. I also incorporate auricular (ear) acupressure and stimulation, which I commonly use for allergies, insomnia, headaches, stress management, and various internal conditions.
In my clinical work, I value taking the time to listen carefully to each patient and to understand their overall health, lifestyle, and concerns. Based on each individual’s condition, I also provide personalised dietary guidance and lifestyle or wellness advice to support overall health and long-term wellbeing. I commonly support patients with musculoskeletal pain, such as neck, shoulder, knee, and back pain, as well as stress-related conditions, sleep issues, migraines, digestive concerns, and women’s health and fertility-related conditions.