7 Lifestyle Habits to Avoid for a Healthy Pregnancy: Infertility Checklist

Hello, this is Dalimchae Oriental Medicine Clinic. For couples waiting for a child, preparing for pregnancy is like servicing a vehicle before a 'long-distance car trip.' The performance of the engine (ovaries and testes) is important, but the success of the trip depends on what kind of fuel (food) you fill it with and how much rest the driver (autonomic nervous system) has taken. In particular, because survival takes precedence over reproduction in our bodies, if the body is too exhausted, it may turn off the 'pregnancy switch (circuit breaker)' on its own. Is your pregnancy preparation lifestyle in 'pregnancy-ready mode' or 'energy-saving mode'? Check right now through the checklist below.

1. Check Your ‘Pregnancy Preparation Lifestyle’ Score (Checklist)

If 3 or more of the items below apply, there is a high possibility that your current lifestyle is lowering the vitality of your ovaries and sperm.

• Enjoy delivery food or fast food 3 or more times a week.
• Eat food directly from hot delivery containers (plastic).
• Fall asleep after 1 AM, or sleep less than 6 hours a day.
• Look at a smartphone for more than 30 minutes in bed before sleeping.
• (Women) Use vaginal cleansers every day or too meticulously.
• (Men) Take a sauna every day or enjoy wearing tight underwear/pants.
• (Men) Taking protein supplements or hormone supplements for muscle growth.

2. 3 Key Habits You Might Be Missing (Fact Check)

① The Counterattack of Plastic and Delivery Food Delivery food is hard to avoid for busy modern people, but environmental hormones (Bisphenol A, etc.) coming from plastic containers touched by hot food cause hormonal disruption. This lowers the reserve of eggs and interferes with the maturation of sperm, so it is recommended to transfer food to glass or stainless steel containers if possible. ② Lack of Sleep and the Attack of ‘Cortisol’ Living a 'hardworking life' by reducing sleep can be poison for pregnancy. Lack of sleep increases the level of cortisol, a stress hormone, directly lowering the quality of ovaries and sperm. In particular, deep sleep between 11 PM and 2 AM is essential for reproductive hormone stability. ③ Men's ‘Heat’ Management and Sperm Health Sperm are very sensitive to temperature. Habits that raise the temperature of the testes, such as saunas, long-distance cycling, and using a laptop on the lap, rapidly degrade sperm motility. Fortunately, sperm are newly made every 3 months, so the figures can improve noticeably just by correcting lifestyle habits.

3. Dalimchae's Suggestion: Making a Body ‘Optimized for Pregnancy’

At Dalimchae Oriental Medicine Clinic, we fill in the areas where lifestyle correction alone is insufficient through 'Gut-Brain Axis treatment' and 'autonomic nervous system regulation.'

• Cheongyeol-ansim (淸熱安心): Balances the autonomic nervous system by lowering the heat of the heart surged by stress and lack of sleep.
• Bosin-ikjeong (補腎益精): Improves the 'quality' of eggs and sperm by reinforcing the fundamental energy of ovaries and testes.
• Geonbi-hwayui (健脾和胃): Reduces inflammation and maximizes nutrient absorption by improving the intestinal microbial environment. This also helps create a beneficial microbial environment in the uterus.

4. Pregnancy Preparation Lifestyle FAQ

Q1. Is it true that fruit helps with pregnancy? A1. Yes, research shows that consuming an appropriate amount of fruit rich in antioxidants increases pregnancy success rates. However, since they are high in sugar, we recommend eating them appropriately as snacks rather than as meal replacements. Q2. Does the husband also have to take folic acid? A2. While it is essential for women for birth defect prevention, folic acid and vitamin D intake are recommended for men to improve sperm quality and prevent damage to the sperm head. Q3. I get frequent vaginitis; will it interfere with pregnancy? A3. Excessive cleansing can kill beneficial bacteria, actually causing inflammation and lowering implantation rates. It is helpful to receive lower abdomen circulation treatment along with taking vaginal probiotics.

Where life blooms. For herbal medicine, trust Dalimchae. Check your lifestyle score and customized solutions right now through Dalimchae's website AI consultation. [👉 Go to AI consultation on Dalimchae website]

Tags: Pregnancy/Postpartum Care