Tips to increase your chances of getting pregnant

27 Jul

Tips to increase your chances of getting pregnant

For pregnancy to occur, sperm needs to be deposited into the vagina, where it travels through the cervix and uterus to the fallopian tubes to fertilize an egg. Various factors contribute to getting pregnant such as the timing of intercourse, lifestyle factors, underlying health conditions, substance use, and more. It is essential to prepare the body by controlling the factors to maximize the chances of conception. Here are 7 getting pregnant tips to improve your chances of getting pregnant:

Record Menstrual Cycle Frequency

It is essential to record the menstrual cycle frequency for six months or more to establish the pattern. Tracking the first day of every period helps to determine if the cycle is regular or irregular. Recording this information on a calendar or a period tracker makes it possible to predict ovulation and have sex within the fertility window for the best chances of conception.

Monitor Ovulation

Ovulation is when one of the ovaries releases a mature egg viable for fertilization for about 12 to 24 hours. The five days leading up to ovulation and a day after are called the ‘fertility window’- the period with the highest pregnancy chances days. For women who have regular 28-day menstrual cycles, ovulation occurs about 14 days before the next period starts. For women with an irregular cycle, this period could vary between 12 to 16 days. Ovulation can be monitored by observing:

Change in vaginal secretions: Cervical mucus discharge increases along with the mucus becoming noticeably thin and clear, resembling raw egg whites. The mucus thickens after ovulation.
Increased Basal Body temperature: The basal body temperature, measured and tracked with a thermometer, shows a slight increase of about 0.4 to 1.0 degrees Celsius during ovulation.

Have Sex During the Fertile Window

Once the ovulation day has been narrowed down after months of tracking, having sex every day or every other day is ideal for increasing chances of conception. The fertile window starts five days before ovulation and extends to one day after it.

Maintain Healthy Bodyweight

Many women find getting pregnant when overweight difficult as the body mass index influences ovulation. In a study published in 2020, researchers looking into the data of more than 50,000 couples from China found that the woman’s ability to conceive decreased with increased BMI within a given time frame. Women who are underweight with a BMI less than 18 could also stop ovulating and have difficulty conceiving.

Quit Smoking and Alcohol

Smoking has a detrimental effect on the fertility of both men and women. Therefore it is ideal to quit the habit long before trying for pregnancy. Heavy alcohol consumption must also be stopped when trying for pregnancy as it can make it difficult for women to conceive.

Cut Down Caffeine Intake

The total caffeine intake should be cut down to 200mg per day to stay within the safe limits. However, it is best to completely cut caffeine intake while trying to conceive or being pregnant.

Eat healthy foods

While there is no diet specific to pregnancy, critical nutrients such as protein, calcium, iron, folic acid, etc., need to be obtained from various sources. Consume different types of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, dairy products, and healthy fats.

Conclusion

Following these tips can help to maximize pregnancy chances when there are no underlying health conditions that affect pregnancy. It is advisable to consult a health care provider if attempts to conceive have been unsuccessful for over 1 year.

References:

https://www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/trying-for-a-baby/trying-to-get-pregnant/

https://fertilitynetworkuk.org/fertility-faqs/factors-affecting-fertility/lifestyle-fertility/conception-tips/

https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/getting-pregnant/in-depth/how-to-get-pregnant/art-20047611