How can I increase my chances of pregnancy?

There are some steps you can take to help give you the best chance of conceiving, but keep in mind: The amount of time it takes to get pregnant varies from person to person. Some people get pregnant quickly, while others may try for years without success.

“There are no magic tricks to make it happen faster than it will,” he says BabyCenter Community member of VioletPuma. “Just enjoy your partner, try not to notice the symptoms and try not to stress. Good luck!”

Before you try to have a baby, it’s a good idea to prepare yourself. When you’re ready to start, these tips can increase your chances of getting pregnant quickly.

Get ready

• Make an appointment with a gynecologist or midwife before conception.
• Give up unhealthy habits such as drinking, smoking cigarettes or marijuana, or using illegal drugs.
• Maintain or work towards a healthy weight.
• Take at least 400 mcg of folic acid daily for at least a month before you start trying to conceive. This nutrient can dramatically reduce the risk of certain birth defects.

If you have started trying for a baby, tell your gynecologist and ask for their advice early.

– Tarun Jain, MD, Board Certified Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility (REI)

Determine when you ovulate

Understanding when you ovulate, or release an egg from your ovaries, can be key to getting pregnant faster.

You only ovulate once in each menstrual cycle – usually about two weeks before your period starts. If you know when you ovulate, you have a better chance of getting pregnant during that cycle.

“Track your periods and your fertile period,” he says BabyCenter Community member of 23bunny. “Baby dance every day to every other day during your fertile period, especially the day before, day and day after ovulation.”

You can use several different methods to determine when you ovulate. Here are three reliable ways to predict ovulation:

1. If your cycle is regular, meaning it’s about the same number of days each time, try our ovulation calculator to determine when you’re most fertile each month.
2. Use an ovulation predictor kit to test your hormone levels mid-cycle – it will show when you will ovulate.
3. Track ovulation symptoms, such as changes in basal body temperature and cervical mucus, to find the ideal time to try for a baby.

Determining ovulation can be difficult if your periods are irregular. In this case, consult your doctor for advice.

Have sex during your fertile period

The “fertile window” is three to five days before ovulation, plus the day you actually release an egg. Once you know your ovulation window, plan to have sex around this time.

If you’re not sure when you’ll be most fertile, aim to have sex every other day during the middle two weeks of your cycle. For example, if your entire menstrual cycle lasts four weeks (from the start of one period to the start of the next), you often have sex during the second and third weeks. That way, you’re likely to have healthy sperm in your fallopian tubes whenever your body releases an egg.

Another tip: if you and your partner are trying to time sex until ovulation, make sure you haven’t gone through too long of a dry spell beforehand. Your partner should ejaculate at least once in the days right before you become most fertile to ensure that there is plenty of healthy sperm in the semen.

Help ensure healthy sperm

Strong, healthy sperm have the best chance of fertilizing an egg. Male partners can do several things to try to optimize their fertility, such as:

• Avoid tobacco and recreational drugs, including marijuana.
• If you don’t drink alcohol, don’t start. If you do, limit your drinks to no more than two a day.
• Maintain or work towards a healthy weight.
• Get enough of certain key nutrients—like zinc, folic acid, and vitamin C—that help produce strong, rich sperm.
• Eat a healthy diet, exercise regularly, and find techniques to combat stress.

The sooner your partner makes these changes, the better: sperm take some time to mature, so any improvement now will yield better sperm in about three months.

Note: Many vaginal lubricants can slow sperm down. This includes store-bought products as well as homemade versions, such as olive oil. If you’re having trouble conceiving and want to use a lubricant, ask your doctor to recommend one that won’t affect fertility.

What are the best sex positions for pregnancy?

There is no evidence that any particular sexual position is more likely to lead to conception. You may have heard that some positions, such as missionary (man on top), are more promising than others because the sperm settles closest to the cervix. But no scientific studies confirm this.

And although you may have heard that lying still after sex speeds up pregnancy, there is no evidence to support this. As ovulation approaches, you may notice a sticky vaginal discharge called cervical mucus. This type of mucus “traps” the sperm, so even if some sperm leaks out, most of it remains alive in your body. And with millions of sperm in each ejaculation, a large number of them should be heading for the egg, even if you stand up immediately.

How long does it usually take to get pregnant?

No one can say exactly how long it will take to get pregnant, since so many factors come into play. Some people can get pregnant right away, while others may need fertility treatments. In general, it may take longer if you are older, if you have lifestyle habits that can affect fertility (such as smoking), or if you have a medical condition that impairs fertility.

“If you’ve started trying for a baby, let your gynecologist know and seek their advice early,” says Tarun Jain, MD, a reproductive endocrinology and infertility (REI) physician. “If you’re not successful, get a referral to a fertility specialist straight away, as it can often take several months to see a specialist.”

Of all people who are trying to get pregnant – meaning not using contraception – an estimated 85% will get pregnant within the first year. In two years it is over 90%.

There are no magic tricks to make it happen faster than it will. Just enjoy your partner, try not to notice the symptoms and try not to stress. Good luck!

– Member of the BabyCenter VioletPuma community

The age of the mother plays a big role in the speed of conception. The older you are, the longer it may take to get pregnant. This is mainly because egg quality declines over time – especially after the age of 35. (You’re born with all the eggs you’ll ever have, and they’re as old as you are.) As the years go by, fewer and fewer eggs can fuse with sperm to grow into a healthy embryo.

Male fertility also declines with age. Although some men can have children in their 60s, 70s, and even 80s, sperm quality generally begins to decline in middle age, with a marked decline around age 50.

People have the highest statistical chance of conceiving naturally during their 20s. Most women in their 30s also have no problems. At the age of 30, a healthy person has about a 20% chance of getting pregnant every month. Once you turn 40, that probability drops to about 5 to 10%. By the age of 45, very few people get pregnant without the help of a specialist.

When should I see a fertility specialist regarding pregnancy?

The time depends largely on your age and overall health.

• If you’re under 35 and haven’t gotten pregnant after a year of trying, you may want to see a fertility specialist.
• If you are between 35 and 40, talk to a specialist after trying for six months without success.
• If you are over 40, talk to your gynecologist as soon as you decide you want to get pregnant.

If you or your partner have a known health problem that could lead to fertility problems, you may want to see a specialist even before you start trying.