When Should We Try To Get Pregnant

Sometimes Getting Pregnant Is Difficult

No matter how healthy you are, or what age you are, sometimes it is difficult to get pregnant.

If you have tried for 12 months or more , its time to talk to your doctor about your options. The best place to start is to see your general practitioner . You might like to complete the Healthy conception tool, and take your results, and your partners results , with you to discuss with your doctor.

Diet Exercise And Conception

There is no special diet that improves the odds of conception, but a healthy range of foods that includes lots of fresh fruits, vegetables and lean meats is recommended.

Vitamins and minerals are essential for the body to function. Read more about the benefits of vitamins and minerals for fertility and pregnancy health, including folate, iodine, vitamin D, zinc and selenium supplements.

Regular exercise also improves fertility. Australian and international guidelines recommend you do at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity such as brisk walking, gardening or dancing on most but preferably all days of the week. If possible, do some vigorous activity such as running, fast cycling or fast swimming every week as well.

For men and women who are overweight or obese, exercise can help to prevent further weight gain or achieve a modest weight loss that improves general health and fertility.

As part of weight management, international guidelines recommend that overweight or obese adults do 225-300 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise every week .

When Should I Have A Baby

Even though a lot of people expect to recognize the perfect time to have a baby, the reality is the timing may never feel totally perfect. But certain points in our lives are usually better than others to become a parent like when you know you can meet your childs needs and give them a loving and healthy home.

Its normal to have lots of different feelings about whether youre ready to take on the challenge of parenting. Here are some things to think about:

• Am I ready to be totally responsible for all of my childs needs?

• Will I be able to raise my child in a safe and healthy environment?

• Can I afford to raise a child right now?

• Who will I raise a child with? How will we share the work of parenting?

• How much support will I have from my family and friends?

• What would having a baby right now mean for my future?

• How would having a baby right now affect my family?

• Is someone pressuring me to become a parent?

• Am I ready to go through pregnancy and childbirth?

• Will I be able to take care of my health and get prenatal care in order to have a healthy pregnancy and child?

Parenting is a lifelong commitment. So no matter when you decide to become a parent, youve got to be totally sure its what you want to do for a very long time.

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Pop A Prenatal Supplement

“Any woman thinking about getting pregnant in the next three to six months should start taking a daily multivitamin with 400 micrograms of folic acid,” says Dr. Wider. According to the March of Dimes, getting enough of this B vitamin in prepregnancy and early pregnancy can reduce brain and spine birth defects by up to 70%. And the multivitamin itself is packed with other nutrients crucial for a healthy pregnancy, like iron to prevent anemia and calcium for strong teeth and bones. Pop the pill after you brush your teeth in the morning or stash a jar at work and set an e-mail reminder to take it. If you hate swallowing pills, they come in chewable form, too. Starting the habit now will make it easier to remember once you’re expecting.

Trying For Pregnancy After 35

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Many people try for a baby after 35. Around 1 in 5 pregnant Australians are between 35 and 39 years of age. There are risks and challenges you should know about when trying for pregnancy after 35 years.

It can be harder to get pregnant now than when you were younger. Females are most fertile in their 20s.

If you’ve been trying to get pregnant for over 6 months, you should see your doctor to discuss your fertility.

In general:

• Female fertility begins to decline faster after the age of 30. It declines more significantly after the age of 35.
• Male fertility begins to decline faster after the age of 40. It declines more significantly after the age of 45.

The older you and your partner are, the more likely it is to take longer to conceive. This can also increase the risk of pregnancy complications.

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Is There A Best Position To Have Sex In

Sexual positions that allow for deep penetration are likely to be the best for conception as they allow the sperm to be deposited as close to the cervix as possible. The missionary position is often recommended for this reason.

After youve had sex you might also like to place a pillow under your hips to tilt the pelvis and help the sperm to travel.

There is no science or research that proves or disproves either of these suggestions above. It is completely up to you whether you wish to try these ideas out.

When Is The Best Time In Your Cycle To Get Pregnant

Okay, here’s a quick biology refresher on how you really get pregnant: When you ovulate, your ovary releases a ripe egg into the fallopian tube that’s ready to be fertilized by a sperm. That egg has only 12 to 24 hours to meet that sperm.

Luckily, sperm stick around in the fallopian tubes for longer . That means that while it’s ideal to have sex on the day you ovulate, you may also get pregnant if you do the deed a few days before ovulation. Viable sperm should still be in your fallopian tubes when that egg arrives.

So how do you pinpoint when you’ll be ovulating? First, determine the length of your average monthly cycle. To do this, count the days between your periods, starting at the first day of your period. While 28 days is average, there’s a wide range of normal.Trusted SourceAmerican College of Obstetricians and GynecologistsFertility-Awareness Based Method of Family PlanningSee All Sources Yours may be 21 days, 35 days or somewhere in between and that’s completely fine, fertility-wise.

Now, time for some math. The first half of the cycle varies from woman to woman. But the second half is usually the same for all of us: 14 days, though it can be 12 days. That means if you get your period 28 days after the last one began, for example, then you’ll likely ovulate on day 14 or 16.

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How Can You Track Ovulation

Many people follow the textbook “rule” that ovulation occurs 14 days after the first day of their periodbut the reality is that cycle lengths vary, and ovulation doesn’t always occur at the same time each month, says Machelle Seibel, M.D., Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Massachusetts Medical School.

Some people can detect ovulation symptoms. “If you’re in tune with your body, you may notice that you have an increased clear egg-white-like vaginal discharge a few days before ovulation,” says Yvonne Bohn, M.D., OB-GYN and co-author of The Mommy Docs Ultimate Guide to Pregnancy and Birth. But many miss this, and some mistakenly think their normal discharge is a sign of ovulation.

Instead of guessing, Dr. Seibel says that using an ovulation predictor kit can give a more accurate answer. The kit looks similar to a pregnancy test but instead of looking for the pregnancy hormone hCG, it is searching for a surge in luteinizing hormone , which precedes ovulation .

Charting your basal body temperature can also help identify ovulation for the best days to get pregnant.

How Long Does It Normally Take To Get Pregnant

No one can say exactly how long it will take to become pregnant, since so many factors come into play. Some people may conceive immediately, while others may need fertility treatments. In general, it may take more time if you’re older, have lifestyle habits that can affect fertility , or have a health condition that impairs fertility.

Of all people trying to conceive meaning they aren’t using contraception it’s estimated that about 85 percent will become pregnant within the first year. By two years, it’s over 90 percent.

Maternal age plays a big role in the speed of conception. The older you are, the longer it may take you to become pregnant. This is largely because egg quality declines over time especially after age 35. As years pass, fewer eggs are able to join with sperm to grow into a healthy embryo.

Male fertility also dips with age. Though some men can father children into their 60s, 70s, and even their 80s, sperm quality generally starts deteriorating in middle age, with a pronounced drop around age 50.

People have the greatest statistical odds of conceiving naturally during their 20s. Most women in their 30s have no issues, either. At age 30, a healthy person has about a 20 percent chance of getting pregnant each month. By the time you’re 40, that likelihood drops to around 5 to 10 percent. By age 45, very few people get pregnant without the help of a specialist.

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A Fertile Window Refresher

Your fertile window generally begins anywhere from a few days to a few weeks after the end of a period , and ends one day after ovulation. For someone with a 28-day cycle, this leaves about two weeks between the end of your fertile window and the start of the next expected period.

Ovia marks your fertile window on your in-app calendar. Although the exact date of ovulation is tough to pinpoint, you can assume that its usually the second to last day of your fertile window.

Stop Taking Birth Control Pills

Stop taking your birth control a couple of months before you plan to start trying for a baby, says Robert A. Greene, M.D., co-author of Perfect Hormone Balance for Fertility. This gives you some time to evaluate your natural menstrual cycle and figure out when you’re ovulating, which is the time of the month when you’re most fertile. If you’ve been taking the pill for a while, your cycle could be different from what it was before you started. Also, it can take a while for your hormone levels to get back on track after ditching the pill, but if your period’s still MIA after three months, you should see your doctor.

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Why Do People Decide To Become Parents

Parenting can be joyful, rewarding, and life-changing many parents say its the best decision they ever made. The loving bond you share with your kids and the pride you take in your childs accomplishments can be really fulfilling.

Raising a child not only takes a lot of love, it also takes a lot of energy and patience. Your childs needs will change constantly as they grow. As a parent, your job is to figure out what your child needs to live a happy and healthy life, and do your best to help make it happen.

Raising a child can be easier to handle if you have realistic ideas about what it means to be a parent.

How Do I Improve My Chances Of Becoming Pregnant

If you are female, you will have a better chance of getting pregnant if you understand your menstrual cycle. The average cycle is 28 days, but it can vary for different people.

If your cycle is regular, you will probably ovulate 2 weeks before the start of your next period. So, you can work out the best time for sexual intercourse to result in pregnancy.

If you are male, talk with your partner about their menstrual cycle.

Both you and your partner should be as healthy as you can be. Apart from anything else, this really will help your chances of getting pregnant. You can both:

• eat a healthy diet
• if you smoke, stop smoking and avoid passive smoking when possible

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Its Easy To Check His Sperm Count

According to the Journal of Human Reproductive Sciences, up to 40-50% of infertility in couples is linked to the male. One of the most common problems contributing to male infertility is low sperm count. You can check if your sperm count meets the threshold for fertility quickly, easily, and privately at home with SpermCheck Fertility. This FDA-cleared kit is available online or at your local retailer and is a product of DNA Diagnostics Center , a corporate sponsor of the American Pregnancy Association. SpermCheck is simplelike a home pregnancy test and results are ready in minutes. Keep in mind that other fertility factors like sperm mobility and morphology are also important and should be checked by a healthcare professional.

If youre younger than 35 and havent gotten pregnant after trying for a year, or youre older than 35 and youve been trying for six months, it may be time to see a fertility specialist.

If you still have further questions regarding ovulation, we encourage you to talk with your health care provider or contact the American Pregnancy Association for more information. Being informed about how your body works can help you feel more in charge of your health.

Weight Fertility And Conception

Being overweight or underweight can cause hormonal changes that interfere with ovulation and reduce fertility. On average, women who are obese take longer to conceive than women in the healthy weight range and are more likely to experience infertility.

In men, obesity can lower fertility. This is likely due to a combination of factors including hormone problems, problems with erection or other health conditions linked to obesity.

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How Long Should I Wait To Try And Get Pregnant Again

Do you have baby fever again? Youre still getting the hang of late-night feedings and swaddling, but you and your partner are anxious to add another to the crew. Oh, how quickly we forget about those 36 hours of hard labor.

If you want multiple children, you may wonder what the proper spacing should be and how soon you can safely start trying again. And for some older couples, the proverbial clock is ticking louder than ever to get started.

Pregnancy spacing is an important part of family planning, but there are some factors that youll need to consider before you give it a go. We spoke with Heather Reed, MD, an OBGYN at Banner University Medicine North in Tucson, AZ, on what you need to know so your next pregnancy is healthy and happy.

How Often Should You Have Sex To Conceive

Conception can be more complicated than some people might think. Luckily, Flos here to answer the popular question, how often should you have sex to get pregnant?

• Is too much sex harmful?

Pregnancy comes with a multitude of changes physical, emotional, and behavioral. But the events leading up to it are sometimes just as tricky to navigate. Learn about the various factors that come into play, as well as how often you should have sex to conceive.

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When To See A Fertility Specialist

It is a good idea to see your doctor when you are thinking about conceiving to be sure your health is optimal and that any medications you take are OK to continue during early pregnancy, says Dr. Levy. Your doctor can help you understand your cycles and get you started on prenatal vitamins.

Many couples will conceive within the first year of trying, says Dr. Levy. However, because a persons fertility chances drop as they get older, its advisable that if you’re over the age of 35 to see a doctor if youve been trying unsuccessfully for six cycles or if your cycle has become so irregular that you arent sure when your fertile window might be.

Dr. Levy advises that you can speak to your health care provider if youve experienced:

• A history of pelvic infections
• A previously ruptured appendix
• Conditions that affect fertility, like polycystic ovary syndrome, which can lead to your period becoming irregular or a cycle when you dont release an egg
• Trying for a baby for longer than 12 months

Anytime you start to feel anxious about becoming pregnant, see a medical professional, Dr. Levy says. Putting your mind at ease will help your body function best.

What You Need To Know About Ovulation:

• An egg lives 12-24 hours after leaving the ovary.
• Normally only one egg is released each time of ovulation.
• Ovulation can be affected by stress, illness, hormonal imbalances, travel, or significant changes in weight, exercise, or sleeping patterns.
• Some women may experience light spotting around ovulation.
• Implantation of a fertilized egg normally takes place 6-12 days after ovulation.
• Each woman is born with millions of immature eggs that are waiting to be released during ovulation.
• A menstrual period can occur even if a woman has not ovulated.
• Ovulation can occur even if a woman has not had her menstrual period.
• Some women feel a bit of pain or aching near the ovaries during ovulation called mittelschmerz, which means middle pain in German.
• If an egg is not fertilized, it disintegrates and is absorbed into the uterine lining.

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