What you can do yourself to naturally enhance your fertility

With simple things and a healthy lifestyle, you can optimize your fertility and increase your chances of getting pregnant:

• Eat a healthy and balanced diet
• Reduce your coffee consumption
• Avoid excessive alcohol consumption
• Start taking an appropriate folic acid supplement before getting pregnant (at least 400mg or 0.4mg of folic acid daily)
• Occasionally have your iron levels (ferritin) and vitamin D levels checked by a doctor. If there is a deficiency, targeted supplements can work effectively
• Quit smoking. It is scientifically proven that smoking negatively affects both female and male fertility, reducing the quality of eggs and sperm
• Check if you are vaccinated against rubella, hepatitis B, and chickenpox (for women) and receive any necessary vaccinations
• It is strongly recommended for women planning to conceive to get vaccinated against the flu
• Engage in physical activity, stay fit, and stimulate your circulation
• Get sufficient sleep
• Aim for your optimal weight. Irregularities in the menstrual cycle often normalize on their own. A body mass index (BMI) between 18.5 and 24.9 is considered desirable
• Find balance if you have a hectic daily life
• Have your dental status checked by a dentist once a year
• Maintain a menstrual cycle calendar. Significant irregularities should be investigated!
• Monitor your ovulation, for example, using the Ava Armband or urine test strips (LH tests), to better pinpoint your fertile days

Special measures for stress reduction:

• How can I deal with stress during fertility treatment?
• Talk to your partner
• Recognize that you are not alone. Seek conversations with others who are experiencing infertility
• Read books about infertility to realize that your feelings are normal
• Learn stress management techniques such as yoga or meditation
• Avoid excessive caffeine or other stimulants
• Engage in regular exercise to release or reduce physical and emotional tension
• Ensure that you and your partner are comfortable with the treatment plan
• Learn as much as possible about the causes of infertility and available treatment options
• Determine the level of support provided by your insurance and create a financial plan for the treatments
• Seek psychological help if the burden is blocking you too much and significantly affecting your quality of life

Optimize your insurance coverage:

Your goal is to achieve a timely pregnancy with a smooth delivery. Consider obtaining private or semi-private insurance with the freedom to choose your doctor and hospital if you wish to benefit from optimal health insurance coverage at the time of your child's birth.

Special considerations for obstetrics:

• Caution: Some insurers exclude coverage for obstetrics.
• Tip: Choose another provider that includes obstetrics coverage!
• In most cases, insurance companies also impose a waiting period, which means there is a timeframe during which no coverage is provided for hospital stays and childbirth.
• Tip: Obtain insurance coverage early enough

Reproductive surgery:

• Occasionally, as part of fertility treatment, surgical procedures such as uterine and abdominal endoscopy may be necessary.
• Note: Private insurance coverage generally excludes pre-existing conditions known at the time of insurance enrollment.
• Tip: Upgrade your insurance coverage before new conditions are diagnosed.

Acupuncture, TCM, additional medications, and examinations:

• Some supplementary insurance policies cover the costs of acupuncture, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), as well as non-compulsory medications or tests

Checklist for supplementary insurance:

• Early inclusion of obstetrics coverage (usually with a 12-month waiting period before coverage begins)
• Hospital insurance with the freedom to choose your doctor and hospital, private ward/semi-private ward without restrictions to specific hospitals
• Inclusion of acupuncture, TCM, and complementary medicine if desired