What Can I Do To Get Pregnant Faster
You can increase your chances of becoming pregnant if you time intercourse for the day of ovulation or the days before.
Ovulation tests detect the surge of a hormone called LH which peaks 24 36 hours prior to ovulation. Using an ovulation test as soon as you start trying to conceive will help you understand your menstrual cycle and quickly identify any cycle length irregularities. While an ovulation test may not be able to remove your stress completely, it can give you confidence that you are maximizing your chances of getting pregnant.
Clearblue Ovulation Tests are at least 99% accurate at detecting your LH surge.
If after three monthly cycles you have not detected ovulation , we would advise you to see your doctor.
The Best Time To Get Pregnant
You are most likely to conceive if you have sex within a day or so of ovulation. This is usually about 14 days after the first day of your last period.
An egg lives for about 12-24 hours after it is released. For you to become pregnant, the egg must be fertilised within this time. Sperm can live for up to seven days inside a womans body. So, if you have had sex in the seven days before ovulation, the sperm will have had time to travel up the fallopian tubes to wait for the egg to be released.
Healthy Diet And Lifestyle Are Key
The best predictor for a healthy embryo is a healthy egg and sperm that goes for both natural conception and IVF.
Research has shown a healthy diet in the year prior to getting pregnant is associated with a lower rate of birth defects.
Both women and men are recommended to eat well, exercise regularly, and practice healthy lifestyle habits when trying to fall pregnant.
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It Starts With The Egg
Ovarian reserve is a term referring to the number of eggs a woman has in her ovaries. There are several hormones loosely linked to ovarian reserve, including FSH and AMH. However, multiple studies show that AMH and FSH dont correlate with how likely you are to get pregnant. Getting pregnant depends on many different factors, and AMH and FSH do not assess egg quality or the quality of the ovaries.
Multiple studies show that AMH and FSH dont correlate with how likely you are to get pregnant.
Read more in The Truth About Ovarian Reserve Tests.
Regardless of your egg count, women will usually ovulate just one egg per month. So the chance of a natural, healthy pregnancy wont depend on the number of eggs in reserve, but rather on the quality of the eggs and ovaries.
Unfortunately theres no test for egg quality, other than through IVF. But there is well-supported data on the association between a womans age and the chances of conception and miscarriage. This is why many doctors use age as the primary estimator for how many healthy eggs you have, and for your chance of getting pregnant each month.
Ive Already Had A Child But Am Struggling To Conceive Again
Professor Michael Thomas
A number of factors can impede your ability to get pregnant even after having had a child in the past. The most common issue is your current age. If you had a child in the past and you are now over the age of 35 years, your ability to get pregnant may be decreased. You may also have developed a problem with your ability to ovulate consistently or a polyp or fibroid in the uterine cavity that may impact an embryo’s ability to implant and thrive. Also, your male partner may have a sperm abnormality that has caused a decrease in his sperm count, motility or shape. If you are at all concerned consult your healthcare professional.
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Truth: Any Sexual Position Can Result In Pregnancy
Any sexual position that results in semen getting near the cervix can lead to pregnancy. For that matter, even if semen gets near the vaginal opening, pregnancy can occur.
The so-called “missionary position” of man on top, woman on bottom, is assumed to be the best position for conception. However, theres no evidence that youre more likely to get pregnant having sex this way.
Can You Get Pregnant With An Irregular Period
Yes, women can get pregnant with an irregular period. However, the ability to get pregnant decreases significantly. The disadvantage is ovulation becomes difficult to determine. The pregnancy success rate of a healthy woman with a regular cycle is 30%. Studies show this decreases exponentially if periods are off by ten days or more.
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When To Call A Doctor
Doctors recommend that you see a doctor about your fertility if
- You’re 35 years or older and have been trying for at least six months
- You’re younger than 35 and have been trying for at least one year
If either of these fit your situation then see a doctor, even if you have no symptoms of a fertility problem.
Not Getting Enough Vitamins And Minerals
Part of the overhaul in the lead up to pregnancy should include a look at your diet, Dr Nandi of Lister Fertility Clinic which is a part of HCA Healthcare advises.
Research shows that increasing intake of fruits and vegetables and reducing fast food increases chances of getting pregnant. In addition, you should take folic acid from at least a month before starting to try for pregnancy. If you have medical conditions or are taking medicine, you might need higher dose folic acid and hence you should consult with your GP.
But while its essential to up the intake of certain vitamins and minerals, its vital to stay away from some. Avoid certain vitamins like vitamin A, she says as large amounts can harm an unborn baby. To this end, staying away from foods containing liver or liver products, such as pâté which is high in vitamin A, is also a good idea.
For men, its important to avoid red meat, processed meat and full fat dairy as these have been associated with a lower sperm quality, whilea diet rich in omega-3 fatty acid, antioxidants is associated with better sperm production.
As with all changes to diet, speak to your GP if youre unsure about what which foods to eat during the conception process.
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How Does An Abortion Impact Ovulation
Abortions do not typically have any impact on ovulation or fertility.
Its important to bear in mind that prior to an abortion, ovulation will have stopped due to pregnancy. However, after an abortion, your body will restart its menstrual cycle. This means that you can expect to ovulate and have your period in the weeks following an abortion.
When Should I See A Doctor For Secondary Fertility
The guidelines on when you should see a fertility doctor for secondary infertility are exactly the same as for any woman trying to get pregnant.
You should seek the assistance of a reproductive endocrinologist if you are under 35 years old and trying to conceive for 12 months.
It is recommended that you seek help after just 6 months of trying if you are 35 years old or older.
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Stress Depression And Anxiety
Your mental state has a lot to do with your physical state, and it’s the case as far as fertility is concerned, too. According to the Calm Clinic, anxiety has been linked to infertility and can decrease the chance of pregnancy. “It’s proven that stress leads to depression and anxiety, which can affect fertility,” Dr. Ross says. “In order to reduce stress, it’s important to manage it. Relaxation training, mindfulness, yoga, and acupressure are successful ways to battle the negative energy and help you towards and through pregnancy.”
When Will I Conceive
Of course, the best way to conceive is through regular intercourse. Aim to have sex every 1-2 days during the fertile window. Keep in mind, however, that conception probably wont happen right away. Even if the timing is perfect and there are no other diagnoses at play, the chance of pregnancy per month is about 25 percent for young women and drops to less than 5 percent by the time we get to our 40s, says Dr. Kudesia.
She also warns that if your typical menstrual cycle isn’t between 21-35 days, you might not ovulate regularly. Couples may be suffering from infertility if theyve havent conceived after one year of trying . In this case, consider visiting a reproductive endocrinology and infertility specialist. There are many factors that could be at play some relate to lifestyle and may be modifiable, but in other cases, medication is required to induce ovulation, she says.
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Plan Your Attempts Carefully
Once you get the hang of tracking your cycle and predicting ovulation, you should then be aware of when you are the most fertile so that you can plan sex with your partner at the right times.
On average, there are only about six days during your cycle where you can get pregnant. These six days are what doctors often refer to as your fertile window, and it starts around five days prior to ovulation and ends the day after ovulation. To maximize your chances of conceiving, you should aim to have sex with your partner as much as possible during this window of time.
What Type Of Treatment Is Available For Women With Secondary Infertility
Secondary infertility is treatable, and many women diagnosed with it go on to have successful subsequent pregnancies.
There are various treatment options based on the womans specific fertility profile, including Intrauterine Insemination , where sperm is inserted into a womans uterus at the time of ovulation.
In Vitro Fertilization is another option, where sperm and egg are fertilized outside the womans body and a resulting embryo is transferred back into the womans uterus in hopes of implantation.
No matter which treatment path you pursue, you should have hope that we are here for you and you can overcome secondary infertility with just a little bit of help.
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Should Women With Irregular Periods Panic
Irregular periods are concerning. More so if getting pregnant is on the cards. Missing periods can also be a sign of an underlying medical issue. Theres no need to panic. Take action early. Seek advice from your OB/GYN, as doctors can help increase the chances of a successful pregnancy.
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Options For Infertile Couples
If you are having fertility issues, your doctor can refer you to a fertility specialist, a doctor who treats infertility. The doctor will need to test both you and your partner to find out what the problem is. Depending on the problem, your doctor might recommend treatment. About 9 in 10 cases of infertility are treated with drugs or surgery. Don’t delay seeing your doctor, as age also affects the success rates of these treatments. For some couples, adoption or foster care offers a way to share their love with a child and to build a family.
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What Happens At A Preconception Checkup
At your preconception checkup, your provider checks your overall health to make sure your body is ready for pregnancy. You and your provider can talk about:
Your provider may:
- Give you a physical exam that includes taking your weight and checking your blood pressure.
- Give you a pelvic exam. This is an exam of the pelvic organs, like the vagina, cervix, uterus and ovaries, to make sure theyre healthy. The cervix is the opening to your uterus that sits at the top of the vagina. If you have any problems in these organs, getting treatment before pregnancy may help prevent problems during pregnancy. Treatment also can help if you have fertility problems .
- Do a Pap test. This is a medical test in which your provider collects cells from your cervix to check for cancer.
- Test your blood to check your blood type and Rh factor. Rh factor is a protein found in red blood cells. If your Rh factor is negative, it can cause problems for your baby if her Rh factor is positive.
- Recommend that you see a genetic counselor if certain health conditions run in your family. A genetic counselor has training to help you understand about genes, birth defects and other medical conditions that run in families, and how they can affect your health and your babys health.
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.
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Causes Of Infertility And Impaired Fecundity
Women face two types of problems when trying to get pregnant: infertility and impaired fecundity. We define infertility as the difficulties in getting pregnant after a full year of trying to conceive. Impaired fecundity, on the other hand, applies to couples who have been struggling to conceive or carry a baby to term .
According to the CDC, the following are the known or potential causes of infertility and impaired fecundity:
- Maternal aging
- Health conditions that interfere with ovulation
- Sexually transmitted infections
- Environmental toxins
- Lifestyle factors
As previously mentioned, one of the known causes of having troubles with getting pregnant is natural aging. As such, it is important for women who are planning to have kids someday to know how good their chances are of conceiving. They should also seek medical advice on whether they are still able to carry a healthy baby to term.
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Copyright 2021 by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. All rights reserved. Read copyright and permissions information.
This information is designed as an educational aid for the public. It offers current information and opinions related to womens health. It is not intended as a statement of the standard of care. It does not explain all of the proper treatments or methods of care. It is not a substitute for the advice of a physician. Read ACOGs complete disclaimer.
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How Can I Tell If I Have Secondary Infertility
If you were able to get pregnant naturally and gave birth without issue in the past but are having trouble conceiving on your own for the second or third time, you may have secondary infertility.
However, it is also possible that there is another cause for your infertility, and doing the necessary fertility testing will help you determine the cause so you can move forward with the appropriate treatment.
All patients at RMA undergo diagnostic testing to get a complete picture of their fertility before moving onto treatment this includes fertility bloodwork to learn more about a patients egg count, which can help determine whether or not she is experiencing secondary infertility.
Fertility In The Aging Male
Unlike the early fertility decline seen in women, a mans decrease in sperm characteristics occurs much later. Sperm quality deteriorates somewhat as men get older, but it generally does not become a problem before a man is in his 60s. Though not as abrupt or noticeable as the changes in women, changes in fertility and sexual functioning do occur in men as they grow older. Despite these changes, there is no maximum age at which a man cannot father a child, as evidenced by men in their 60s and 70s conceiving with younger partners. As men age, their testes tend to get smaller and softer, and sperm morphology and motility tend to decline. In addition, there is a slightly higher risk of gene defects in their sperm. Aging men may develop medical illnesses that adversely affect their sexual and reproductive function. Not all men experience significant changes in reproductive or sexual functioning as they age, especially men who maintain good health over the years. If a man does have problems with libido or erections, he should seek treatment through his primary care provider and/or urologist. Decreased libido may be related to low levels of testosterone.
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The Easiest Method To Check For An Irregular Period
A one-off occasion of a late or early period should not cause concern. To check, record the last day of the last period to the first day of the first period. Repeat for at least three months. A significant difference over the timeframe means a possible irregular period. To be safe, schedule an appointment with a gynecologist.
You Don’t Smoke Cigarettes
Studies have shown that cigarette smoking has a negative impact on fertility. So if you’ve never smoked, you are already giving yourself a leg up when it comes to getting pregnant.
“Cigarette smoking has been shown to accelerate the loss of eggs over time and is associated with shortening a womenâs reproductive lifespan,” Dr. Sekhon says. So just by keeping away from cigarettes, you’ve likely already boosted your chances of getting pregnant.
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