HAVE SEX AT THE RIGHT TIME

    Women are most fertile at day 10-16, with day one being the first day of their period. Sperm stay alive in the female reproductive tract for up to three days, says Bill Ledger, Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the University of Sheffield, so having intercourse at least every other day during this fertile time will be enough to make a baby.

    WHEN TO GET HELP

    Women's fertility drops rapidly after the age of 35. If you are in your early thirties and have been trying for a baby for a year without success, talk to your GP. If you are over 35, go after six months.

    WATCH YOUR DIET

    Both men and women should avoid being underweight or overweight, as weight problems can affect the hormones that control fertility. The Times nutritionist Amanda Ursell says that zinc-rich foods such as red meat and wholegrain cereal may improve sperm quality.

    GO EASY ON THE BOOZE

    It may loosen your sexual inhibitions, but alcohol isn't always good news for fertility. One study suggests that five drinks a week can affect women's fertility. Although you don't need to abstain from the sauce, it's a good idea to moderate your intake.

    STUB IT OUT

    Smoking harms the fertility of men and women. The damage is reversible in men, as they produce new sperm every 70 days. However, according to the British Medical Association, smoking reduces a woman's chances of conceiving by 40 per cent.

    HAPPY SEX

    Although there is only a six-day window of peak fertility in a woman's monthly cycle, it's important to have sex at other times, says Professor Ledger. Fertility problems strain relationships, so it's important to think of sex as fun, not simply a biological baby-making act.

    BE ROMANTIC

    Intense stress such as that caused by bereavement, divorce or redundancy, may disrupt ovulation for three or four months. However, every- day stress, such as that caused by your job, will not affect ovulation. The only way it affects fertility is by making people grumpy, and less likely to have sex. Counteract this drop in libido by planning a romantic meal, or a cosy weekend break.

    DITCH THE OLD WIVES' TALES

    Forget the myths about raising your bottom after intercourse, or not moving for 30 minutes. Sperm are chemically attracted to cervical mucus; within seconds of ejaculation they are safely on their journey. Anything that escapes doesn't contain any viable sperm.

    And, unfortunately, there are no positions that guarantee conception says Professor Ledger.

    KEEP THEM COOL

    Sitting at a desk all day can be bad news for sperm. Heat causes sperm damage, and testes should be one or two degrees cooler than the rest of the body. Professor Ledger recommends taking a five to ten-minute walk every hour to cool off your crown jewels.

    SEXUAL HEALTH

    Sexually transmitted infections （STIs）, such as chlamydia, can harm fertility. If you think there is a possibility that you may have caught something, it's well worth a visit to your GP or sexual health clinic.

    1. 在正确的时间做爱。 女性在经期结束后的10到16日，是她们的受孕期。“精子可以在女性的生殖道中存活三日，” 谢菲尔德大学的产科学与妇科学教授比尔·勒杰是这样说的，”因此在受孕期至少每隔一日发生性行为，就足以让女性怀孕。” 

    2. 适时寻求帮助。 女性的受孕能力在35岁之后就会急剧下降。如果你三十出头，一直尝试怀孕却不能成功，就应该去咨询你的医生。如果你已经超过35岁，尝试半年后再去。

    3. 注意饮食。 男性和女性都应该注意避免体重过轻或过重，因为体重问题常常会影响控制受孕的荷尔蒙的分泌。泰晤士报的营养学家阿曼达·厄塞尔说，富含锌的食物，例如牛羊肉和全谷物麦片，可以提高精子质量。

     4. 控制饮酒 饮酒或许可以让你“性”致勃勃，但酒精对与并不是对受孕绝对有益。某研究显示，每周饮酒五杯会影响女性的受孕能力。尽管你不用彻底戒酒，但适当控制饮酒还是应该的。 

    5. 掐灭你的烟头。 吸烟有害男性和女性的生育能力。吸烟对男性生育能力的损害是可逆的，因为男性每70天就产生新的精子。但是，根据英国医学会的研究发现，吸烟会将女性的受孕几率降低40%。 

    6. 快乐性生活。 虽然在女性的生理周期中，每个月只有六天的受孕高峰期，但在其余时间的性生活也是很重要的，勒杰教授如是说。不孕问题压迫两性关系，因此把性爱作为乐趣而非单纯生理上的“造人”行为，是非常重要的。 

    7. 讲求浪漫。 极端的压力，例如由丧亲、离婚或裁员而引起的压力，会使排卵受阻三到四个月。但是日常的压力，例如来自工作上的压力，不会对排卵产生影响。日常会影响生育的唯一方式是使人们脾气暴躁，于是提不起”性“致。所以策划一个浪漫晚餐，或者温馨的周末度假，可以提高下挫的里比多。

    8. 摈弃那些无稽之谈。 忘掉那些旧时迷信，例如在性交之后抬起臀部，或者保持不动30分钟。子宫粘液对精子有化学性吸引力；射精的那几秒钟里精子们就已经安全地踏上了旅程。任何漏网之物不含有具活性的精子。 并且不幸的是，勒杰教授说，没有任何一种体位可以保证受孕。 

    9. 让小家伙们保持凉爽 在书桌前久坐一天对于精子们来说可不是好消息。热度会造成精子受损，并且睾丸温度理应保持比人体其他部位低一两度。勒杰教授建议，男性可以每小时起身散步五分钟，让宝石散散热。

    10. 性生活健康 性传染病，例如衣原体，会损害生育能力。如果你觉得你有可能得了什么病，绝对值得去看你的医生或者到性病诊所求医。