- A well balanced nutritional diet 3-4 months prior to conception maximises the chance of conception and live birth. This is true for both natural conception as well as IVF & ICSI.
- Folic acid taken daily reduces neural tube defects;
- Reducing stress improves ovulation and the chance of spontaneous conception;
- High caffeine intake decreases fertility;
- Smoking
- increases the incidence of infertility 3 times;
- reduces the response to fertility drugs;
- increases the risk of ectopic pregnancy;
- increases the miscarriage rate;
- increases fetal abnormalities.
[Fertility and Sterility (2004), 81(2): 384]