Diet plays an important role in all aspects of health, and fertility is basically a health issue. We normally think of the mom-to-be as needing to watch her diet, but Dad can improve his chances by improving his diet, too.

For Mom, one of the first changes to make is to give up caffeine. It might be OK to allow yourself one cup a day, but it would probably be best to give it up altogether. Caffeine is found in coffee, tea, some soft drinks, and even in coffee flavored frozen desserts. It also can be found in headache and menstrual cramp remedies. Caffeine constricts blood vessels, which is why it is often used in combination with aspirin or acetaminophen to counteract pain. This action on the blood vessels is also why it can interfere with your ability to get pregnant. The theory is that the constriction of the blood vessels to the uterus can make it harder for an egg cells to take hold.

Quitting caffeine can be challenging because you are likely to feel draggy and experience excruciating headaches if you go cold turkey. Easing off is a better plan, but you might drag anyway. The headaches will probably be gone within a week, but the draggy feeling can last. Getting good nutrition and regular exercise will help you have more energy. While quitting your caffeine habit is a good idea, most fertility experts say that a very small amount of caffeine, such as only one cup of coffee a day, will probably not keep you from getting pregnant.