Can’t get pregnant? A few lifestyle changes may be in order.

Like we said, it’s never really as simple as have sex, get pregnant. Even a few lifestyle factors can mean boost or bust if you want to have a baby. If you’ve decided you’re ready to be a parent, consider our fertility don’ts. If you want to get pregnant and have a healthy head-start for your baby, time to start kicking some bad habits — or a least practice some self-control.

Here are our pre-pregnancy don’ts:

Cigarettes

We all know cigarettes are bad for our health, but you may be surprised that it can also diminish your fertility. Cigarettes bring toxins to your body that can damage your eggs — interfering with fertilization and implantation. They can also cause ovaries to age prematurely. Dr. Robert Barbieri OB-GYN at Brigham and Women’s Hospital Boston and co-author of the book 6 Steps to Increased Fertility explains, “the ovaries of a 35-year-old smoker function as if they belong to a 42-year-old and are therefore less fertile.” The good news is, when you quit smoking, ovarian function can normalize or improve.

Alcohol

More research indicates that alcohol over consumption diminishes a woman’s chances of getting pregnant. Alcohol can affect estrogen levels and also interfere with egg implantation. A glass of wine over dinner every so often shouldn’t be cause for concern, but binge drinking can lower your chances of getting pregnant. And of course, too much alcohol can definitely harm a growing fetus in the event that you find yourself already pregnant.

Caffeine

You should also consider cutting back on caffeine while trying to conceive and during your pregnancy. A recent study published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology found that women who drank the equivalent of caffeine found in two cups of coffee were twice as likely to miscarry as those who didn’t consume any. The bottom line: If you’re thinking about getting pregnant, limit your daily caffeine fix. Consider that caffeine can also be found in soda and chocolate… so limit where you’re getting your fix for the day.

His health matters too. The same things that harm your fertility can do a number on your husband’s reproductive health as well. Cigarettes, alcohol, a poor diet — any of these can contribute to lower sperm count or motility — the sperm’s ability to swim to fertilize an egg. Studies have traced chromosomal damage in sperm to cigarettes and heavy alcohol intake. Getting enough nutrients every day — particularly vitamins E and C and the mineral selenium — helps men produce healthy sperm. Dr. Christopher Williams, reproductive endocrinologist and author of The Fastest Way to Get Pregnant Naturally says, “it takes almost three months for a man to make new sperm, so he needs to think ahead too.”

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