Get To Know Your Cycle
How much do you know about your menstrual cycle? Really understanding helps you know when you’re most fertile, says Hillard. Ovulation is the best time to get pregnant. “This is the time to focus on having sex,” Hillard says.
It helps to become aware of the signs of ovulation, such as a change in your cervical mucus. It usually becomes thin and slippery when you are most fertile. Some women may also feel a one-sided twinge of pain.
Ovulation prediction kits can also help you predict the best time to get pregnant, says James Goldfarb, MD, director of the infertility service at the Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland. Not only can they help assure you that you are ovulating, “if you are having infrequent intercourse, this tells you when to have it to increase your chances of getting pregnant,” he says.
Here’s how it works: The first day of your menstrual period is considered day one. “Start testing on day nine and keep going until you get a positive,” advises Joanne Piscitelli, MD, an associate professor of gynecology at Duke University Medical Center in Durham, N.C. Women with a 28-day cycle tend to ovulate on day 14. But many women have longer or shorter cycles, so casting a wide net can help you be sure.
Do Certain Beauty Treatments Sparingly
Some research suggests that people who work in nail and hair salonswith frequent exposure to chemical fumes such as acetonehad a lower chance of achieving pregnancy and higher chance of miscarriage and even birth defects. An occasional mani-pedi or highlights shouldn’t be harmful for the average person. “Just make sure the salon is well-ventilated and wear a respirator mask if you’re really concerned,” Dr. Chaudhari says.
Keep Bad Habits Under Control
“A lot of men continue to smoke cigarettes or marijuana, and that can seriously affect the motility of sperm,” Dr. Ryley notes. This means that if you have a male partner, they should stop smoking as well as drinking in excess. It’s also helpful for male partners contributing sperm to reach a healthy weight too. Says Dr. Ryley: “The more overweight a man is, the lower testosterone and sperm function.” Obesity can also do a number on sperm production and ejaculatory function.
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Take A Prenatal Vitamin
Pavone recommends that women who are attempting to conceive start taking a prenatal vitamin even before becoming pregnant. This way, a woman can find one that’s more agreeable to her system and stay on it during pregnancy, she said.
Another possibility is to take a daily multivitamin, as long as it contains at least 400 micrograms per day of folic acid, a B vitamin that’s important for preventing birth defects in a baby’s brain and spine, Pavone said.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention urges women to take 400 mcg of folic acid every day for at least one month before getting pregnant, to help prevent birth defects.
Getting a head start on folic acid supplementation is a good idea because the neural tube develops into the brain and spine three to four weeks after conception occurs, before many women may realize they’re expecting.
I Have Pcos And I Want To Have A Baby What Do I Need To Know
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license.
Sara Holton, Deakin University and Karin Hammarberg, Monash University
Most women want and expect to have children. But women who have a chronic health condition such as polycystic ovary syndrome often have concerns about childbearing, including whether they can become pregnant.
PCOS is a complex hormonal condition which affects up to one in five women of reproductive age. Most women with PCOS have elevated levels of a type of hormone called luteinising hormone, which brings about ovulation, and reduced levels of a hormone called follicle stimulating hormone, which is essential for pubertal development and the function of womens ovaries and mens testes.
Women with PCOS also have an underproduction of oestrogen and an overproduction of androgens . This causes tiny cysts on the surface of the ovaries.
Due to these hormonal imbalances, women with PCOS often have irregular menstrual cycles because they dont ovulate or ovulate only occasionally. So women with PCOS are more likely to have trouble conceiving than other women.
While most women who have PCOS become pregnant, they often take longer to fall pregnant and are more likely to need fertility treatment than women without PCOS.
Read more: Explainer: what is polycystic ovary syndrome?
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Have Sex Before You Ovulate
If you want to get pregnant fast, it’s important to know that having sex before you ovulate boosts the chances that there’ll be sperm around to greet the egg once it leaves the ovary. Sperm can survive in your reproductive tract for up to five days under the right conditions, but an egg only lasts for 12 to 24 hours after it’s released.
If you’re using OPKs, experts say that you’ll want to have sex soon after getting a positive result, and then again for the next few days to take advantage of that pre-ovulation window.
If you’re tracking your cervical mucus, time baby-making sex with when you start to see fertile-quality mucusâthat raw egg white consistency.
If you’re less inclined to meticulously track fetility signs, you can start having sex at least a few times per week as soon as your period ends . Getting busy regularly after your period helps ensure you won’t miss your most fertile time, especially if your cycle length varies from month to month.
Aim For A Healthy Weight
Weight is one of the most influential factors when it comes to fertility for men and women. In fact, being either underweight or overweight is associated with increased infertility.
This is because the amount of fat stored in your body influences menstrual function. Having obesity especially is associated with lack of ovulation and menstrual irregularity but also with impaired egg development.
To improve your chances of getting pregnant, work with your healthcare provider to try to lose weight if youre overweight and gain weight if youre underweight. They can help you do it in a healthy and sustainable way.
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Try To Maintain A Healthy Weight
Your BMI is a measure that uses your height and weight to work out if your weight is healthy. The ideal BMI before conception is between 18.5 and 24.9.
Being overweight
Having a high BMI can reduce your fertility and increases the risk of complications in pregnancy. Being overweight can also contribute to fertility problems in men .
If you have a very high BMI you may feel like it is an impossible task to reach the healthy range and you may have been struggling with your weight your whole life. Try not to lose heart, bringing your BMI a few points down the scale can make a big difference.There is professional support available if you need it.
Being underweight
If your BMI is in the underweight range it may affect your fertility and cause health problems during pregnancy. It may help to put on weight gradually with a healthy diet. There are many reasons why a person may be underweight. You GP can give you help and advice.
Lifestyle Factors That Can Affect Fertility
Age
There are many lifestyle factors that can affect your ability to conceive, but evidence suggests that the age of both the man and woman plays the most important role. It is commonly reported that a womenâs fertility declines dramatically at 35, and although it is often beyond our control, some studies suggest that women should try to get pregnant before the age of 30 and men before 35 for the highest chances of success.
Weight
The weight of the both the woman and man can affect your chances of getting pregnant. Research shows being overweight â especially significantly so â can affect your chances of conceiving and having a healthy baby. But being underweight can also affect a womanâs fertility, causing hormone imbalances that affect ovulation and therefore make it harder to get pregnant.
Stress
Stress may also reduce a woman’s chance of becoming pregnant. One study found an association between high levels of a substance indicative of stress and a reduced chance of becoming pregnant. The researchers also noted that that stress may increase with the disappointment of several failed attempts at getting pregnant, setting off a cycle in which pregnancy becomes even more difficult to achieve. This suggests itâs important to look after yourself as much as possible while trying to conceive.
Lifestyle habits, diet and exercise
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Have Frequent Sex During Your Fertile Window
One of the most common questions among people trying to conceive is: How often should I have sex if Im trying to get pregnant?
The short answer is that it depends on your preferences as a couple, and whether there are any known fertility issues.
Overall, studies have shown that couples who have sex every day or every other day during the fertile window have the highest rates of pregnancy. Also, doctors often recommend sticking to just once a day during the fertile window.
If having sex every day or every other day isnt possible or enjoyable, set a goal to have sex throughout your cycle. This can get you and your partner into a regular sex routine, which can carry you into the fertile window.
Need A Little Extra Support
Health Concierge
Whether itâs taking you a little longer to fall pregnant than you expected, or you know youâll be needing a bit of extra help, Medibankâs Health Concierge service is there to help. You can call for support and guidance, available at no extra cost for members with residential hospital cover#.
Got a health question? 24/7 Medibank nurse phone service
Members with hospital cover can chat to experienced and qualified nurses over the phone to discuss any health questions or concerns and get professional advice on what to do next. Our nurses are available on ~ for round-the-clock health advice.
Optimal me
Medibank has partnered with Monash University to create OptimalMe, a research program designed to help mums-to-be optimise their health before they conceive. The program features tailored health and wellbeing tips and personal guidance on fitness and nutrition.
If youâre planning to have a baby in the next 12 months you may be eligible to take part. Find out more here
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Stop Drinking Alcohol Smoking And Using Certain Drugs
Smoking, drinking alcohol, and using certain drugs can cause many problems during pregnancy, such as premature birth, birth defects, and infant death.
If you are trying to get pregnant and cannot stop drinking, smoking, or using drugs, contact your healthcare provider, local Alcoholics Anonymous, or local alcohol treatment center.
Figure Out When You Ovulate
Understanding when you ovulate, or release an egg from your ovary, may be key to getting pregnant faster.
You ovulate only once each menstrual cycle usually, about two weeks before your period starts. If you can tell when you’ll ovulate, you have a better chance of conceiving during that cycle.
You can use a few different methods to determine when you ovulate. Here are the three reliable ways to predict ovulation:
Pinpointing ovulation could be difficult if your periods are irregular. In this case, ask your provider for advice.
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We Are Planning To Try For A Baby Are There Any Dietary Supplements Apart From Folic Acid That Can Help Me
Monica Moore, founder of Fertile Health, LLC
Eating a balanced diet and maintaining a healthy weight are incredibly important prior to conception. Any additional nutritional needs can be met by taking a daily prenatal vitamin that contains the necessary vitamins and minerals. In addition, it’s important to make sure that the prenatal vitamin contains DHA, which is an essential fatty acid that is critical for brain and neurological development. Babies depend on a maternal supply of DHA . If the prenatal vitamin doesn’t contain DHA, this should be added as a separate supplement to assure proper neurological health for the baby.
We Are Planning To Try For A Baby Are There Any Dietary Supplements That My Partner Should Be Taking
Monica Moore, founder of Fertile Health, LLC
We always recommend that our patients obtain their nutrients from food, whenever possible, instead of relying on supplements. Although some studies have shown that men’s sperm parameters might be improved by supplementing with a combination of certain minerals and anti-oxidants, whether or not this improvement translates into increased pregnancy rates is unclear in the literature at this point. What is known, though, is that lifestyle changes, such as maintaining a healthy weight, stopping smoking or any recreational drugs, and minimizing alcohol intake can improve the quality of sperm.
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How To Increase Your Chances Of Pregnancy
If youve decided the time is right to become a parent, then the odds are that youre eager to get pregnant as soon as you can.
Its rarely as simple as throwing the condoms away, though. For every 100 couples trying to conceive, 80-90 will achieve a pregnancy within one year. The remaining 10-20 couples will find it takes longer or that they need help to conceive.
There are things you can do to improve your chances of getting pregnant. It involves identifying your most fertile days each month and having sex then. You and your partner can also boost your fertility by improving your diet, weight and lifestyle.
Here are 5 top tips to improve your chance of getting pregnant.
How To Get Pregnant Quickly
This article was medically reviewed by Sarah Gehrke, RN, MS. Sarah Gehrke is a Registered Nurse and Licensed Massage Therapist in Texas. Sarah has over 10 years of experience teaching and practicing phlebotomy and intravenous therapy using physical, psychological, and emotional support. She received her Massage Therapist License from the Amarillo Massage Therapy Institute in 2008 and a M.S. in Nursing from the University of Phoenix in 2013.There are 19 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. This article has 34 testimonials from our readers, earning it our reader-approved status. This article has been viewed 1,515,363 times.
When you’ve decided you’re ready to start a family, you want the process to be as easy and stress-free as possible. Fortunately, there are several steps you can take to speed everything along. When you take measures to improve your fertility, time your ovulation cycle, and have intercourse effectively, you could be preparing for your bundle of joy in no time.
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Start Tracking Your Menstrual Cycle
Each new menstrual cycle is marked by the first day of your period. And tracking your cycle along with any daily symptoms youre experiencing can be incredibly helpful. Why?
Tracking your cycle helps you get to know your body better, including how long your cycle is. The length of your cycle is what determines your fertile window, which well get to in the next section.
Tracking the symptoms you experience such as changes in sex drive, mood or cervical mucus can help you identify patterns throughout your cycle, including what you typically experience leading up to your most fertile days.
How do you get started? When your next period arrives, start tracking since that is Day 1 of your cycle. You can keep a journal and write things down, or you can use mobile apps such as Fertility Friend and Clue.
Swap Out Your Partners Tight Underwear
Time to make the switch to boxers and trade your partners favorite skinny jeans for a less restrictive pair. Tight underwear and pants can have a negative effect on a mans sperm count and quality a study found that men who wear more forgiving options have higher sperm concentration and count than those who prefer bottoms that leave little to the imagination.
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When Should Seek Help
Depending on your age, itâs important that you donât wait too long to seek advice. IVF Australia recommends that couples under the age of 35, who have been trying for 12 months or more should seek advice from a fertility specialist. Couples over the age of 35 are advised to seek advice after 6 months, as fertility declines significantly in your late 30s.
Things To Consider Before Getting Pregnant On Your Own
If youre planning to get pregnant on your own, there are a few things you should consider:
- Its important to discuss your decision with your health care provider. They can give you some safety tips.
- When using a needleless syringe from an at-home insemination kit, its important to make sure it doesnt have any pockets of air.
- If youre artificially inseminating at home, make sure you protect yourself against sexually transmitted infections and that your donor has been tested. At-home insemination kits do not protect you from STIs.
- If youre using an at-home insemination kit, everything must be new, clean, and dry.
- Make sure you and your donor are in agreement about everything regarding the child. If youre doing this with someone who is not legally your partner, consider consulting with a reproductive lawyer first.
References
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