Managing chronic health conditions on the journey to parenthood

An individual’s overall health is deeply connected to their reproductive health. Even minor health problems reflect on reproductive health in one way or another. From missed periods to low sperm count, there are many ways the overall health impacts fertility, making it challenging to achieve pregnancy naturally or healthy delivery. Particularly when battling chronic diseases like diabetes, PCOS, obesity, endometriosis, autoimmune diseases and others, reproductive health is affected severally.However, it does not mean one cannot get pregnant. By managing the condition and embracing a healthy lifestyle, it is possible to navigate infertility in the case of both men and women. Here are a few things one can do:
Managing the bodyweight
Weight gain is a symptom associated with varied chronic diseases like diabetes or PCOS. Similarly, some diseases can also lead to weight loss, reducing one’s chances of conceiving naturally. Therefore, it is significant to maintain a healthy body weight, both for men and women, when trying to get pregnant. Check the healthy BMI and take positive measures to maintain a balanced lifestyle for better overall health.
Regular exercising
Battling with chronic diseases is not an excuse to skip workout. On the contrary, regular exercise helps manage the condition and a healthy weight, improving the overall health. Even low-intensity workouts like running, walking, yoga and others can help to stay fit and active, providing enough strength and stamina to reverse the chronic condition.
Balanced diet
Nothing impacts one’s health more than their eating habits. Food reflects on one’s skin, hair, weight and overall health. If one is eating a clean, healthy and well-balanced diet, it will significantly improve their health and body weight. Food rich in all the micro and macronutrients also improves fertility, promoting reproductive health and hormonal balance. Heance, add lots of colours to the meal in the form of beans, legumes, green leaves, cruciferous vegetables, root vegetables and more to get all the vital nutrients.
Regular check-ups
Apart from eating right and exercising, regularly monitor the health. If on medication for any condition, make sure not to skip doses and consult the doctor regularly for guidance. Right guidance at the right time will help take the necessary steps to improve the condition while skipping medication will only increase the chances of complications and take one several steps backwards.
Avoid smoking and drinking
Cigarettes and alcohol have never done any good to anyone, and when dealing with chronic diseases, they only slow down the recovery process. It also interferes with the reproduction process and can lead to complications in fertility or the ability to conceive. Along with these, it is also best to avoid frizzy or sugary drinks when on medication and looking to improve one chance of conceiving.
Follow a healthy lifestyle
Quality sleep, stress-free life, and adequate hydration are other small lifestyle changes that have an immense impact on one’s reproductive as well as overall health. Embracing these changes can contribute to better health and increase the chances of conceiving naturally.
(Dr. Navina Singh, IVF Specialist, Birla Fertility & IVF, Mumbai)