You might be focusing on furthering your education, pursuing a particular career, traveling, or simply believe the time for you and your partner to start a family is still far in the distance. 

That’s perfectly normal and not something to be ashamed or stressed over. However, just because getting pregnant isn’t on your agenda for tomorrow, doesn’t mean you and your partner shouldn’t start taking steps to set yourselves up for pregnancy success in the future! On the flip side, you might be ready to begin your TTC journey and are looking for some ways to begin supporting fertility. Below, we discuss some general thought and lifestyle changes you might want to consider in your twenties to make getting pregnant as seamless as possible. 

Start the Conversation 

Typically, a great first step towards supporting fertility at any age begins with opening the floor for discussion between you and your partner, family, and doctor. Regardless of your prior knowledge about pregnancy, biological factors that affect women - or even individual families in particular, making sure you have as much information about starting a family as possible can help make the process a little easier. 

Consider beginning with a conversation with your mom or another female loved-one who might have insight into any family history surrounding pregnancy. Here are some questions to help open the dialogue:

  • What was your experience with trying to conceive?
  • Has there been any family history of infertility or pregnancy complications?
  • Do you know of any history of underlying conditions, such as PCOS?

These conversations can help guide conversations with your doctor. For example, many women have no idea about the role a thyroid can play in fertility—so identifying any problems or imbalances prior to trying to actively conceive is important for your future pregnancy journey. 

Take Care of Yourself 

Regardless of where starting a family falls on your personal timeline, it’s never too soon to start prioritizing your own health—be it through a healthy diet, regular exercise, getting enough sleep, and minimizing stress. There are a number of different diet and exercise trends that suit some individuals more than others, so make sure to consult your doctor on what might work best for you. Here are just a few suggestions you can try to prioritize your physical and emotional health. 

  • Folic acid is one of the most important nutrients to incorporate into your diet when trying to conceive. You can find this helpful nutrient  in certain green foods like spinach, asparagus, and brussels sprouts. 
  • Vitamins B, C, D and minerals like Zinc can also be helpful for your fertility. Try to supplement these vitamins in your diet through foods like poultry and red meat. 
  • Fat is one of the most essential sources of energy for your body, especially when trying to conceive and making sure all sex hormones are balanced. Sources of healthy fats include oily fish, avocados, nuts, olive oil, and olives. 
  • Stress Management is no joke, because when your body is continually stressed, it will prioritize survival, not ovulation and other processes necessary for child-bearing. Reflect on what might be causing you the most stress, and engage in practices like mediation, breathwork, or even designating certain times in the day to decompress. 
  • Prioritizing sleep allows your body to repair and recharge, regulate hormones, and reduce stress. Don’t miss out on the 7-9 hours of nightly sleep your body deserves!
  • Exercise has many benefits for general health, but too much may be harmful for your fertility. Excessive exercise changes the hormones in your body and can result in irregular or absent periods or extreme weight loss that decreases important body fat. Consider your current exercise regimen! 

Understand Your Body & Cycle 

Every woman’s body is strong, beautiful and incredibly individual. Therefore, taking the time and steps to understand just how intricately your body and your menstrual cycle work is no understatement. Luckily, we at OvuSense strive to help all women navigate learning about their own bodies and what each unique cycle, ovulation, and pregnancy might look like. Being able to track your cycles and identify any irregularities is powerful knowledge and especially helpful when you decide the time is right for you and your partner to start a family. 

In addition to using OvuSense, starting a relationship with an OB-GYN that you find to be the best fit can dramatically change your fertility journey. You might have to try out a few doctors before landing on the one you feel most comfortable with, but that’s okay, you have time! Like OvuSense, your doctor is there to help you with any questions or concerns you might have—so using the cycle data you collect, your doctor has an even clearer picture of how exactly your body is working and what areas might need more support to help promote fertility. 

Your Body, Your Time

The idea of starting a family might seem overwhelming and a distant dream, or it could be the next exciting chapter of your life. Regardless of where on this spectrum you fall, there are steps and changes of lifestyle you can take—at the convenience of your own home—that can support your TTC journey, whenever it may begin. Taking control over your own body and knowledge about such is incredibly powerful and as simple as all the suggestions above!