Ways You Probably Won’t Get Pregnant When Having Sex
How hard is it to get pregnant? The chances of conception depend on various circumstances, ranging from your menstrual cycle to your birth control. Here, experts share the scenarios where you’re least likely to conceive.
Many women spend the better part of their fertile years actively trying not to get pregnant, so it might be a surprise to learn that conception isn’t that easy. Indeed, there’s a relatively short window during a woman’s cycle that’s ideal for conceiving, whether or not she’s on birth control or actively trying, says Anate Brauer, M.D., a reproductive endocrinologist at the Greenwich Fertility and IVF Centers and assistant professor of OB-GYN at NYU School of Medicine.
According to the American Pregnancy Association, a healthy 30-year-old has a 20 percent chance of pregnancy each month with frequent unprotected sex. Of course, every woman is different, and you should always use protection if you’re not trying to conceive. But if you’re wondering which occasions make for the least likely opportunity, check out these expert-stamped scenarios where your chances of pregnancy are lowest.
Consider Going Off Birth Control Ahead Of Time
Its possible to get pregnant as soon as you stop your birth control method. There is no medical reason that you need to take a break from hormones before trying to conceive.
But if youre using a hormonal method of birth control, it may be worth going off it ahead of time and using an alternate form of protection until youre ready to start trying. The reason is that when you are using hormonal birth control, you dont have a true menstrual cycle. With some forms of hormonal contraception, you still bleed, and with others, you do not. But even if you bleed, its not a real period. The synthetic hormones suppress your natural cycle.
Note that with progestin-only forms of hormonal birth control, such as the Mirena IUD and the mini-pill, you may still ovulate even if youre not getting your period. But if youre taking a combined oral birth control pill, or have a Nuvaring or Nexplanon, then you are likely not ovulating.
Since its so important to learn to track your natural cycle in order to increase your chances of conceiving quickly, going off contraception early can give you some time to reacquaint yourself with your cycle and learn how to track it. Theres a bit of a learning curve with most methods, so you may appreciate some time to practice before you feel the pressure to conceive.
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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Increase Your Fertile Mucus
Follow a healthy diet that increases the production of fertile cervical mucus. Avoid eating too much dairy and wheat products that make the vaginal mucus thick. Drink lots of purified water.
If you don’t produce enough clear egg while mucus, there is also great vitamin supplement, called FertileCM that can help you increase your vaginal fertile mucus. Keep tract of your cervical mucus.
It really comes down to having lots of fertile cervical mucus that is clear, stringy and looks like egg white. You need to have a least 3-5 days of fertile mucus around the time you ovulate.
The amount of fertile mucus allows the sperms to live longer and swim faster. Not having fertile mucus when you are going to ovulate can make you infertile.
Aim For A Healthy Weight
According to the Mayo Clinic, attaining a healthy weight before conception can help set you up for success, both improving your odds of getting pregnant fast and reducing your risk of certain complications. Obesity is associated with irregular ovulation, so it may take longer to conceive if your body mass index is 30 or higher.
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Stop Smoking Recreational Drugs Alcohol
It’s best to avoid smoking, recreational drugs and alcohol while you are trying to get pregnant and throughout your pregnancy.
If you smoke or take recreational drugs then giving up will improve your chances of having a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby.
Drinking in pregnancy can lead to long-term harm to your baby, with the more you drink the greater the risk. If you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, the safest approach is not to drink alcohol at all, to keep risks to your baby to a minimum. If your partner smokes, drinks or takes drugs then it is also important that they cut down on these substances while you are trying to get pregnant. Apart from the secondary effects on you, cigarettes, recreational drugs and alcohol can all have an adverse effect on the quality of sperm.
Optimise Vaginal Health Use A Sperm
Vaginal dryness is more common than we may think. In a study across 11 countries involving over 6,500 women, up to 18% of women aged 1834 years reported always or usually experiencing vaginal dryness4. This can be worse when trying to conceive as there is a tendency to have lots of baby-making sex. Some of the most commonly available lubricants can be harmful to sperm so be sure to use a sperm-friendly lubricant.If you have any abnormal vaginal discharge, it is worth speaking to your doctor. Common vaginal infections, such as bacterial vaginosis or thrush, can be treated easily and make trying for a baby easier.
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Other Things To Do When Trying For A Baby
If you are trying for a baby there are things you can do to improve your fertility, reduce your risks of problems during your pregnancy and protect your babys future health.
Once you start having unprotected sex you wont know youre pregnant for the first few weeks. Trying to make some lifestyle changes now will give you peace of mind when you get pregnant.
Find out more about things to do when trying for a baby.
Other Tips To Consider
Sex positions are not the only thing that can affect your chances of conceiving. Did you know that there are still a few other things that you can do to boost your fertility?
- Orgasm helps
We all know that for a man, ejaculating is vital to getting his partner pregnant. Though its not the case for a woman, her orgasm can help the sperm reach the destination if she climaxes.
- Watch your weight
Remember that being too heavy or too thin could lower your fertility rate.
- Dont smoke
We all know the bad effects of smoking, right? It also increases the odds of infertility and even miscarriage.
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We Are Planning To Try For A Baby Are There Any Dietary Supplements That My Partner Should Be Taking
Professor William Ledger, Fertility Specialist
Not unless he has specific health problems or has dietary restrictions. If you’ve been trying for a while its worth asking your doctor to arrange a sperm count for him – if this is normal then dont worry about supplements. Stop smoking, drink moderately on no more than two or three occasions per week, keep your weight in the normal range for your height and enjoy a happy love life.
Start Taking Folate Supplements
Also known as vitamin B9, folic acid is incredibly important if you are trying to conceive. Folic acid supports the neural tube formation of your baby, ensuring proper brain development.
Doctors recommend taking at least 400 micrograms of folic acid a day leading up to conception and for the following 12 weeks after conception.
Why should you start taking folic acid before youre pregnant? The neural tube begins to develop quite soon after conception and is usually complete just four weeks into your pregnancy. Therefore, it might start to develop before you know youre pregnant.
Start taking a prenatal vitamin with folate as soon as you start trying for a baby. You can also get folate from eating beans, green leafy vegetables, and whole grains like brown rice.
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Don’t Forget These Other Sperm
These other fertility foods may also belong on the menu when you’re trying to conceive:
- Oysters. Were not sure if oysters are an aphrodisiac, but we do know that their zinc content pumps up the production of sperm and testosterone. If your partners not a fan, he can get his share of zinc from lean beef, poultry, dairy, nuts or eggs, though oysters have the highest concentration of this nutrient.
- Fruits and veggies. Produce is rich in the vitamins that can help protect sperm from cellular damage. He can get folate from leafy greens men who dont get enough of this B vitamin tend to have sperm with abnormal chromosomes. Citrus fruits, tomatoes and berries provide vitamin C, which can boost sperm quality. Carrots, red peppers and apricots have lots of vitamin A, which keeps sperm from getting sluggish. Sweet potatoes are rich in all three folate, A and C!
- Pomegranate juice may up sperm count and quality, per some animal studies. While it remains to be seen if it has the same effects on humans, you can always try swapping out the usual morning glass of OJ.
Use A Fertility Monitor
If you have been trying to conceive for over 6 months, consider investing in a fertility monitor. I like the Ovacue Fertility Monitor because it measure the electrolytes in your saliva that correlates with the hormonal changes that occur in your cycle just prior to ovulation and it is very accurate.
The Ovacue fertility monitor is very popular because it’s easy to use. In my opinion, using Ovacue doubles, will double your chances of conception each month.
This monitor is the only one that can tell you 5-7 days in advance when your are about to conceive. Ovacue is recommended for all women who are trying to conceive with low ovarian reserve to help increase the chances of conception.
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If You Still Have A Negative Result
Sometimes, life doesnt go according to plan. You might try to get pregnant for a long time and keep getting disappointing results from pregnancy tests. You might wonder whether youre trying the right sex positions for conception, or if it just isnt meant to be.
Many people have to try for several months before getting a positive pregnancy test result.
If you think your partner may have some fertility issues or health concerns, you still have several options for growing your family.
How Can You Find An Acupuncturist
Look for a practitioner who is certified by the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine.
Most states also require that acupuncturists get certified. Check with your state medical board for local requirements.
Some doctors are qualified to do acupuncture. The American Academy of Medical Acupuncture has a list of acupuncturists who are also medical doctors.
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Strive For A Healthy Body Weight
A woman’s weight can also impact the chances of conceiving: Being overweight or underweight may reduce those odds. Research has shown that a woman who is overweight can take twice as long to become pregnant as a woman whose body-mass index is considered normal weight, Pavone said. A woman who is underweight might take four times as long to conceive, she said.
Having too much body fat produces excess estrogen, which can interfere with ovulation, according to the Cleveland Clinic. A 2017 study suggested that couples in the study in which both partners were very obese, with BMIs of at least 35, took from 55% to 59% longer to become pregnant, compared with couples who were not obese, the researchers reported in the journal Human Reproduction.
In a study published in 2020 in the journal PLOS One, researchers looked at data from more than 50,000 couples in China trying to conceive over the course of a year they found that women’s ability to conceive within a given timeframe decreased as their BMI increased.
Male obesity, which can disrupt the male endocrine system as well as sperm viability and concentration, can also affect a couple’s ability to become pregnant, scientists reported in 2020 in the journal Andrologia.
Women who are underweight, with a BMI less than 18, might not be getting regular periods or could stop ovulating, which also hinders their ability to become pregnant, according to the University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority.
Take Vitamins And Folic Acid
Take a vitamin and mineral supplement that includes at least 0.4 milligrams of folic acid.
- Folic acid reduces the risk of birth defects, especially problems with the baby’s spine.
- Start taking a vitamin with folic acid before you want to get pregnant.
- Avoid high doses of any vitamin, especially vitamins A, D, E, and K. These vitamins can cause birth defects if you take more than the normal recommended daily amounts. Regular pregnancy prenatal vitamins do not have excessively high doses of any vitamin.
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If Youre Worried About Fertility
If youve been having regular, unprotected sex for a year and youre not pregnant yet, it doesnt mean you cant get pregnant but its a good idea to go and see your GP. Make an appointment sooner if:
- you have a known fertility issue, such endometriosis or polycystic ovary syndrome or premature ovarian insufficiency
- your partner has a known fertility issue, such as low sperm count
- you are concerned you or your partner may have a medical problem that may be stopping you getting pregnant
- you have irregular or no periods.
Your GP will talk to you about your lifestyle, general health and medical history. They can advise you about the things you can do to improve your chances of getting pregnant and how your partner can improve their fertility.
How Long Does It Usually Take To Conceive
If you and your partner are healthy and under the age of 35, you have about a 30 percent chance of conceiving in the first month of trying and an 80 percent chance in the first year.
Infertility isnt diagnosed until youve been trying unsuccessfully to get pregnant for a full year. If youre under 35 and have been trying for a year, you may want to consider making an appointment with a fertility specialist. If youre 35 or older, youve got a little less time to work with, so make the appointment after six months.
Older couples may take longer to conceive because of age-related declines in the egg and sperm. When women reach menopause, they no longer release eggs for fertilization, making it almost impossible to conceive without medical intervention.
The decision to start a family is exciting and deeply personal, as each persons experience is unique. Contact your health care provider with any questions about conception, and reach out to your loved ones if youd like additional support.
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Your Periods Aren’t Extremely Heavy
While everyone’s period is different, your chances of getting pregnant may be related â at least tangentially â to your flow.
“Women with very heavy periods may have fibroids, which are benign tumors that can alter the architecture of their uterus and interfere with embryo implantation and a growing pregnancy,” Dr. Sekhonsays. So if you’ve never dealt with fibroids, or particularly heavy periods, you may be more likely to get pregnant easily.
How To Get Pregnant Over 40
Last Updated: June 29, 2021References
This article was co-authored by Carrie Noriega, MD. Dr. Noriega is a Board Certified Obstetrician & Gynecologist and medical writer in Colorado. She specializes in womens health, rheumatology, pulmonology, infectious disease, and gastroenterology. She received her MD from the Creighton School of Medicine in Omaha, Nebraska and completed her residency at the University of Missouri – Kansas City in 2005.There are 13 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been viewed 60,677 times.
It used to be fairly uncommon for women over the age of 40 to have children, but many women are now delaying pregnancy to finish their educations or get established in their careers.XTrustworthy SourceMayo ClinicEducational website from one of the world’s leading hospitalsGo to source Although it can be more difficult to conceive after 40, it is still possible to get pregnant. Try conceiving naturally and then consider fertility treatments if you have any difficulty getting pregnant.
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When Should You Do It
So, which of the best sex positions to get pregnant should you try? Well, anyone of this would do if you can, why not try them all? What matters is that you know when to do it, and that is when you are ovulating.
What is the best sex position to get pregnant will depend on you and your partners preferences.
Choose the best position to conceive and enjoy it! Remember, there is no real pressure as to when you have to do it or how many times.
You must also try other ways to boost your fertility to increase your chances of having a baby.
As long as you are familiar with the basics of conceiving, as long as you know how to keep yourself healthy and stress-free, then just enjoy your lovemaking and wait for your blessing regardless of choosing the sex positions to get pregnant.
