Overview of lifestyle modifications for promoting fertility

Addressing lifestyle factors can optimise fertility and, in some situations, restore it, avoiding the need for infertility referrals. The website Your Fertility provides evidence-based patient and health professional information sheets about preconception planning.

Lifestyle modification and counselling includes:

• optimising nutrition
• appropriate body weight and exercise
• avoiding tobacco and recreational drugs and minimising alcohol intake
• discussing the normal fertile period and timing of sexual activity.