Evidence-based preconception planning — nutrition, weight, thyroid, diabetes screening, vaccination, folate and supplement protocols — for couples who want to do this properly.
What you do in the 90 days before conception shapes egg quality, sperm DNA integrity and the early weeks of pregnancy. This is one of the most undervalued chapters of fertility care in India — and one of the most rewarding when done right.
Eggs take roughly 90 days to mature from the primordial pool into the dominant follicle of a given cycle. Sperm take 72–90 days to develop from spermatogonia into mature, motile cells. The micronutrient status, thyroid balance, blood-sugar control and inflammation levels during this window directly affect chromosomal integrity, mitochondrial energy and embryo quality after fertilisation.
Indian data consistently shows under-treated subclinical hypothyroidism, vitamin D deficiency below 20 ng/ml in nearly 70% of urban women, and undiagnosed prediabetes in roughly one in five — all of which quietly reduce conception odds and increase miscarriage risk. Three months of focused correction often makes the difference between a sixth failed cycle and a positive test.
Our nutrition advice is built around what's actually on Indian tables — not imported diets. The core idea is a Mediterranean-style pattern adapted for our kitchens: more dals, more leafy greens, more fish or eggs where culturally appropriate, whole grains in place of refined flour, healthy fats from nuts and cold-pressed oils, and a sharp reduction in ultra-processed snacks and sugar-sweetened drinks.
For women with PCOS or insulin resistance — a huge proportion of our patient base — we add a low-glycaemic structure, regular movement, and where indicated, metformin. Weight loss of even 5–7% can restore ovulation in many PCOS patients without any further medication.
Folate is non-negotiable — 400 mcg daily for most women, 5 mg for women with high BMI, prior neural tube defect, MTHFR mutation or on anti-epileptics. Vitamin D should be corrected to above 30 ng/ml. B12, iron and omega-3 are added based on individual deficiencies. CoQ10 (200–400 mg) and DHEA in carefully selected low-reserve patients have reasonable evidence.
What we don't recommend: expensive 'fertility blends' marketed online, herbal cocktails of unverified composition, or megadoses of antioxidants that can paradoxically worsen sperm quality. Less is more, when each addition is justified.
Sperm quality responds remarkably well to lifestyle change inside one full spermatogenic cycle. We focus on five things: avoiding scrotal heat (laptops on laps, hot tubs, tight underwear), stopping smoking and limiting alcohol, controlling weight, managing diabetes and hypertension, and a targeted antioxidant protocol where DFI is elevated. Add varicocele correction where indicated, and a 90-day window often transforms a borderline semen analysis into a healthy one.
No — preconception care is for anyone planning pregnancy, natural or assisted. It often helps couples conceive without further intervention.
We work alongside what you trust, but we'll be honest about what the evidence supports and what may interfere with conception or with prescribed medication.
The biggest gains are in the 90 days before conception. Once you're pregnant, we transition you to antenatal care with appropriate supplements continued.
45-minute consultation, booked directly with Dr. Sana on WhatsApp. She consults at Apollo Fertility, Hyderabad. No referral needed.