Many women try everything they can to conceive during their next cycle once they’ve decided to have a baby. It’s vital to keep in mind, though, that getting pregnant takes time.
Each month, a healthy 30-year-old woman has a 20% chance of becoming pregnant. It’s not uncommon for it to take several months or even longer.
There are a few things you can do to make “trying” more effective if you’re desperate to get pregnant.
Here’s how to improve your odds without risking your life.
The basics
It’s likely that your high school health teacher made it sound like you can get pregnant at every time you have sex. But it’s a little more difficult than that.
Each month, your body undergoes a sequence of hormonal changes that cause an immature egg in the ovary to mature and grow. Each woman’s cycle is unique. Beginning with a woman’s menstrual period, this procedure takes about two weeks on average.
Ovulation is the process through which the mature egg is expelled from the ovary. The egg then makes its way to the uterus via the fallopian tube. Once discharged, the egg is only viable for roughly 24 hours.
If a sperm cell fertilises the egg during this time period, the fertilised egg will continue down toward the uterus. After that, it will attach itself into the uterine lining.
It’s important to have sex in the days leading up to and during ovulation. When the egg is discharged, the sperm cells will be in the fallopian tubes. Fertilization is much easier as a result of this. Sperm can live for up to four or five days in the female reproductive system.
Getting the timing right
Making sure you’re having sex at the proper time in your cycle is the best strategy to enhance your chances of getting pregnant rapidly.
You’ll ovulate two weeks before your period if you have regular cycles. This means that your reproductive window will be seven days before to ovulation.
It’s a little more difficult to estimate when you’ll ovulate and what your viable window will be if you have irregular cycles.
You can use a variety of approaches to pinpoint your ovulation and fertile window with more accuracy.
Ovulation predictor kit
These kits are similar to a pregnancy test for urine. Starting a few days before you think you’ll ovulate, you’ll urinate on the test strips every morning.
Luteinizing hormone is detected by the test strips (LH). It peaks just prior to ovulation.
You should have sex that day and for the next several days if you get a positive result (see your test instructions for specifics). These test kits are available at your local drugstore over the counter. Kits for predicting ovulation are available for purchase.
Basal body temperature
You might be able to detect a very tiny fall in temperature followed by a very slight rise in temperature for three mornings in a row if you measure your basal body temperature every morning before getting out of bed.
It’s possible that the temperature rise will be as minimal as half a degree. This could indicate that you’ve ovulated. Remember that an egg only lives for around 24 hours following ovulation, so the so-called fertile window may not be an useful signal of when you should have sex.
Other reasons that can induce a spike in temperature, such as infection, raise concerns that this procedure isn’t always reliable. Some ladies have a hard time detecting a temperature increase.
Cervical mucus changes
Your oestrogen level rises when the ovarian follicle — a tiny bag in the ovary that holds the mature egg — develops. Your cervical mucus becomes thin and slick as your oestrogen levels rise. Cervical mucus production may also rise.
As soon as you see these changes, start having intercourse every day or every other day until ovulation. When you ovulate, your cervical mucus thickens and becomes sticky. It may also appear cloudy.
Follicular monitoring
If you’re having trouble detecting your ovulation using the methods listed above, speak with your doctor about your alternatives. Some doctors will conduct regular blood hormone testing and ultrasounds of your ovaries to keep track of your progress. This will assist you in determining the exact time of your ovulation.
Positions, orgasms, and lube
There are a lot of myths about sex, fertility, and how to make pregnancy more likely. Some of these recommend different positions or keeping the hips elevated after sex for a period of time.
Others claim that if the woman orgasms (or doesn’t), conception is more likely. Unfortunately, there are no studies that support these claims.
The one thing you should think about is your lubricant. Certain products can decrease sperm motility and viability. These are important when trying to get pregnant.
You should stay away from:
- Astroglide
- K-Y jelly
- saliva
- olive oil
If you need to apply lubrication, try the following:
- Pre-Seed
- mineral oil
- canola oil
Your partner’s sperm will not be harmed by these products.
Healthy body, healthy pregnancy
You should endeavour to be as healthy as possible before attempting to conceive. Most doctors would advise you to schedule an appointment with your obstetrician before you get pregnant.
You’ll discuss any existing health issues and get examined for genetic illnesses during this preconception consultation. You can also discuss any other health issues you may have.
Before you become pregnant, your doctor may advise you to make lifestyle adjustments. These could include the following:
- achieving a healthy weight
- enhancing dietary and physical activity habits
- removing alcohol from the equation
- Quitting smoking or, if you already smoke, reducing coffee intake
If you drink a lot of coffee or soda, now is a good time to start cutting back. Caffeine intake should be limited to fewer than 200 mg per day, according to current standards. This is around the same as a 12-ounce cup of coffee.
As soon as you decide to start trying to conceive, you should start taking a prenatal vitamin with at least 400 mcg of folic acid every day. This is done in order to lower the chances of certain birth abnormalities.
When to get help
Within a year of actively attempting to conceive, the majority of healthy couples will conceive. If you are under 35 and haven’t gotten pregnant in a year, you should see your doctor for a fertility evaluation.
If you’re over the age of 35, you should see a doctor within six months.
If a couple has had many miscarriages or knows they have a genetic or medical problem that may compromise their fertility, they should contact a fertility specialist.
The takeaway
When pregnancy does not come immediately away, it can be difficult, but try to be patient. This is very normal. It doesn’t imply it won’t happen to you in the future.
Keep the baby-making joy going, be adventurous, and be relaxed.
These steps can help you improve your chances of receiving the favourable outcome you’ve been hoping for.
FAQ
How do I maximize my chances of getting pregnant?
Step-by-step instructions on how to become pregnant
– Menstrual cycle frequency should be recorded.
– Keep an eye on your ovulation.
– During the fertile window, have intercourse every other day.
– Make an effort to maintain a healthy body weight.
– Prenatal vitamins should be taken.
– Consume nutritious foods.
– Reduce the amount of time you spend doing intense exercises.
– Be aware of the effects of ageing on fertility.How long should you keep sperm inside to get pregnant?
To keep the sperm collected at the top of the vagina, some experts advocate staying in bed for 20 minutes to an hour after intercourse. To emphasise this position, a lady might raise her knees, or she can lay her feet on the wall and her hips on a little pillow, which is much better.
What helps you get pregnant?
“In general, becoming pregnant every other night around the time of ovulation increases your chances,” Goldfarb explains. Sperm can survive in your body for up to 5 days. The greatest advice is to have sex on a regular basis, both while you’re ovulating and when you aren’t.
What things to avoid when trying to get pregnant?
If you want to get pregnant, don’t do any of the following:
– Lose or Gain a Significant Amount of Weight…
– Exercising too much…
– You’ve put off starting a family for far too long.
– Wait until your period is missed before you stop drinking.
– Smoke.
– Double Up on Your Vitamins…
– Boost your energy with energy drinks or espresso shots.
– Don’t skimp on the sex.
