Although some people seem to become pregnant easily, many women experience difficulties as they try to conceive. You may be wondering if there is anything you can do to increase your odds of becoming pregnant before seeking medical help for infertility. Whether you have been trying to get pregnant for some time or have just decided you are ready to have a baby, you may want to try a few things to boost your chances of becoming pregnant.
Understand Your Cycle
Even though it may seem like pregnancy just happens naturally for many women, timing plays a large role in conception. According to the Mayo Clinic, the best time to conceive is during the time an egg released from your ovary begins traveling down one of your fallopian tubes. You can get a good idea of when this occurs by marking your calendar on the first day of your period. If your period normally lasts about 28 days, you probably ovulate around the 14th day of your period. Since your husband’s sperm live up to three days inside your body, having sex right before you ovulate increases your chances of conceiving.
Temperature Fluctuations
Since many women experience irregular periods, you may want to take your temperature to get a good idea of the timing of ovulation. Begin taking your temperature early in the morning, as soon as you wake up. Keep a basal body thermometer on your nightstand. Use it before you get out of bed. Write down your temperature each day to keep track of any changes. Your best time to have intercourse is a few days before you notice the increase in temperature. Although this method may not help you conceive during the current month, it will give you a good idea of the best time to have intercourse the following month. According to Women’s Health, a government website for women’s health information, your most fertile period is 12 to 24 hours after ovulation.
Frequency of Intercourse
The Mayo Clinic recommends regular sex for the best chances of conceiving. Even though your husband’s sperm count may drop slightly after sex, this shouldn’t be a cause for concern if you enjoy this activity daily during your expected time of ovulation and every two to three days the rest of the time.
Healthy Changes
Certain lifestyle factors may affect your ability to become pregnant. Women’s Health advises that drinking alcohol and smoking may have a negative impact on your fertility. Other factors, such as being very overweight or underweight, may cause problems when it comes to getting pregnant. Eating disorders, stress and strenuous exercise may cause difficulties. Resolve these problems by achieving and maintaining a healthy weight for your height, tossing out the cigarettes and abstaining from alcohol. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, smoking may also have a negative effect on your husband’s fertility, so have him dispose of his smokes, too.
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- pregnant woman and her husband image by Andrejs Pidjass from Fotolia.com
