How Can I Increase My Chances of Getting Pregnant?

Getting pregnant can indeed be a journey, and while it might take some time, there are many proactive steps you can take to increase your chances of conceiving naturally. From adjusting lifestyle choices to meticulously tracking your cycle, you can take control of the "trying" part of trying to conceive.

This is a topic about natural conception and fertility that many people are navigating or are curious about. In this post, we'll go over some of the most effective strategies when trying to get pregnant naturally and safely improve your chances. It’s normal to feel anxious, but taking steps to boost your fertility can help ease your mind and put you on the road to parenthood.

Know Your Fertile Window

Advice about timing sex and making lifestyle tweaks is crucial, but have you ever tried figuring out your body's most fertile days? That’s a step in the right direction. For a baby to form, sperm must meet and fertilize an egg, allowing fertilization to occur. This only happens during a specific time in each menstrual cycle, known as the fertile window. The "fertile window" refers to the limited time in your menstrual cycle when pregnancy is most likely to occur. 

What is ovulation? Ovulation is the release of a mature egg from the ovary, which then travels down the fallopian tube where it can be fertilized by sperm. This process is crucial for conception. The egg lasts for only a limited time; it remains viable for only 12 to 24 hours after it is released. In contrast, sperm can survive within the female reproductive tract for up to five days. 

Your "fertile window" encompasses not just the day of ovulation, but also several days leading up to it. Rather than focusing solely on that specific 12-hour period when the egg is released, it's essential to ensure that sperm are present and ready during this entire fertile window. This approach increases the likelihood of successful fertilization when the egg is available.

Calculating your monthly fertility window can help you target the optimal time to have sex if you’re in the phase of trying to conceive or "TTC." Optimizing sex during this time maximizes your odds, as the natural monthly pregnancy odds are typically around 20-30% for healthy couples. This is key if you want to know how to increase the chances of getting pregnant. Understanding your body's most fertile days is crucial for conception, but how can you determine when ovulation occurs, and what signs should you look for?

Signs of Ovulation

When do you ovulate? Your body sends out some signals or clues that ovulation is coming or has already happened:

• Cervical mucus changes: As you approach ovulation, cervical mucus often becomes clear, slippery, and stretchy, resembling raw egg whites. This "fertile quality" of ovulation discharge helps sperm travel.

• Slight temperature rise: After ovulation, your basal body temperature (BBT) typically rises by about 0.5 to 1.0°F and stays elevated until your next period.

• Ovulation pain (Mittelschmerz): Some women experience mild discomfort or a sharp pain on one side of their lower abdomen during ovulation.

• LH surge: A surge in Luteinizing Hormone (LH) triggers the release of the egg. This surge is a strong indicator that ovulation will occur within 24 to 36 hours. The LH surge is what most home ovulation kits try to help you detect.

You can check when you ovulate with an ovulation test. An ovulation home test typically detects the rise in LH, which occurs just before the egg is released. Women usually use it to help determine the time in the menstrual cycle when getting pregnant is most likely. Tracking ovulation helps identify the fertile window, which is crucial for maximizing the chances of conception.

Tools for Tracking

The journey to parenthood and the path of conception can often feel deeply personal and, at times, quite overwhelming. It's completely natural to experience a mix of emotions along the way. While patience is essential, being mindful of timing intimacy and taking proactive steps can help couples feel more empowered. 

For couples or individuals having difficulty conceiving naturally, it can feel like trying to hit a moving target. However, tracking ovulation can be a proactive approach that significantly impacts the journey toward parenthood. 

By focusing on the days when a woman is most fertile, partners can work together to navigate their journey, making it a more hopeful and intentional experience. Lots of handy tools can help you pinpoint or nail down your fertile window:

• Calendar tracking: Keeping a record of your menstrual cycle can help predict future periods and potential ovulation dates, especially if your cycles are regular and predictable.

• Basal body thermometers (BBT): These highly sensitive thermometers detect the slight post-ovulation temperature rise. Tracking with a Mira BBT daily helps confirm ovulation after it has happened.

• Ovulation predictor kits (OPKs): Available at pharmacies, OPKs detect the LH surge in your urine, indicating that ovulation is imminent.

• Hormone monitors: Advanced devices, such as the Mira Hormone Monitor, Wands, and App, provide numerical hormone readings, eliminating the guesswork from fertility tracking. They learn your cycle, track your hormone levels numerically, and provide you with a comprehensive picture. This is a massive help if you have irregular periods, PCOS, or other hormonal imbalances when trying to get pregnant.

For most individuals, the fertile window typically includes the five days leading up to ovulation and the day of ovulation. A study found that about 2% of women are in their fertile window by the fourth day of their menstrual cycle, and 17% by the seventh day. This percentage peaked on days 12 and 13, with 54% of women in their fertile window. This variation of the fertile window highlights why tracking is crucial, as the fertile window is not the same for everyone. 

Tools for tracking ovulation can help you understand your cycle, but it's also important to recognize when ovulation has passed. Signs ovulation is over include a rise in basal body temperature, changes in cervical mucus consistency, and a decrease in libido. Also, breast tenderness and ovulation pain, if present, will subside.

Proven Ways to Increase Chances of Getting Pregnant

When a couple or individual is actively attempting to conceive, they may explore a variety of natural methods, consider fertility treatments, and pay close attention to timing, all while navigating the emotional ups and downs that come with this deeply personal endeavor.

But beyond just timing things, your daily habits play a massive role in both partners' TTC fertility. Making a few adjustments to your routine can significantly enhance your overall reproductive health. Prepare your body for a healthy pregnancy before conception by knowing what to add and what to eliminate.

What to Quit

Some habits can negatively impact fertility, so it's best to cut back or stop them:

• Smoking: Reduces fertility in both men and women and increases the risk of miscarriage and ectopic pregnancy.

• Excess alcohol: Can affect ovulation and sperm quality. Most doctors recommend eliminating alcohol when trying to conceive.

• Heavy caffeine: A little bit of coffee is usually okay, but too much (like over 200 mg a day) might be linked to lower fertility and higher miscarriage risk.

What to Add

To improve your chances of getting pregnant, focus on adopting healthy habits. Regularly visit a healthcare provider to address any health concerns you may have. These changes can significantly enhance your fertility.

Balanced diet

Eating well supports your whole body, including your reproductive system. Focus on:

• Fertility-friendly nutrients: Folate, zinc, selenium, iron, omega-3s, and antioxidants are vital.

• Best foods: Leafy greens, eggs, salmon, nuts, seeds, lentils, whole grains, citrus fruits, and fortified cereals.

• Foods to limit: Processed meats, trans fats, and sugary drinks.

• Consider Mira Fertility Tea, an herbal blend designed to support hormonal health, relaxation, and hormonal balance naturally.

Prenatal vitamins

Start taking a prenatal vitamin at least 3 months before trying to conceive. This ensures you're getting essential nutrients, such as folic acid, which is crucial for preventing neural tube defects during early pregnancy.

Moderate exercise and sleep

• Aim for 7-9 hours of sleep per night to support hormonal balance and overall well-being.

• Reduce environmental toxins (e.g., those found in plastics, certain cleaning products, and pesticides) that can disrupt hormone function.

• Switch from extensive, high-impact exercises to moderate and low-impact activities like walking, swimming, or yoga, which can help reduce stress and improve circulation without over-stressing the body.

These general tips for getting pregnant at 30-35 also involve making conscious choices, such as quitting smoking, reducing alcohol consumption, and limiting caffeine intake. Simultaneously, incorporating a balanced diet rich in fertility-friendly nutrients, taking prenatal vitamins, engaging in moderate exercise, and prioritizing adequate sleep can collectively increase your chances of conception.

Time Sex for Success

To get the best chances of getting pregnant, try to have sex every 1−2 days during your fertile window. This way, you've always got fresh, healthy sperm ready and waiting for the egg. Not having long gaps between ejaculations can also help maintain sperm quality. This directly boosts your chances of pregnancy during ovulation.

Manage Stress Effectively

Stress can be a real roadblock on your fertility journey, affecting all sorts of body systems, including the ones for making babies.

Stress and Fertility

While stress itself usually doesn't cause full-on infertility, chronic stress can mess with your hormones. This hormonal imbalance might throw off ovulation and even lower your sex drive. When you're stressed, your body pumps out stress hormones like cortisol, which can interfere with that delicate hormone dance needed for pregnancy.

Relaxation Techniques

Supporting your emotional well-being is key while trying to conceive:

• Journaling: Helps process emotions and reduce anxiety.

• Therapy: A fertility counselor can provide coping strategies and emotional support.

• Yoga or gentle movement: Can reduce stress and improve body awareness.

• Time off from "scheduled" TTC: Taking a break from strict tracking and timed intercourse can alleviate pressure and bring back spontaneity.

When to See a Doctor

Infertility can be an emotional and challenging experience. It’s defined as the inability to become pregnant after a year of regular, unprotected sexual intercourse. If you suspect you might be facing fertility issues, doctors can answer common questions about infertility and fertility while addressing your concerns.

Also, knowing when to seek professional help can save you time and reduce worry during your fertility journey, particularly: 

• If you are under 35 and have been trying to conceive for 12 months without success

• If you are 35 or older and have been trying to conceive for six months without success

• If you are aware of any fertility issues, such as PCOS, endometriosis, thyroid problems, or very irregular cycles

Also, consider looking into PCOS Supplements to help balance hormones, regulate ovulation, and improve egg quality, especially if you have been diagnosed with PCOS. A Hormone Health Clinic for Fertility can also offer personalized coaching on lifestyle, nutrition, and hormones to significantly boost your conception and provide guidance on how to increase the chances of getting pregnant.

What to Know About Stopping the Pill

It's important to know that becoming pregnant may happen right after you stop taking the pill. For some women, this can occur in the very first cycle after their last dose. However, it's perfectly normal for others to take a little longer as their bodies readjust and their natural menstrual cycles return. This can sometimes take a few months, and it's completely okay to give your body that time to find its rhythm again.

Missing a period after stopping birth control does not always indicate pregnancy or infertility; it may simply be your body re-regulating. If you haven't resumed regular periods within three months of stopping hormonal birth control, it’s essential to talk to your doctor. 

Long-term use of the pill does not cause any permanent delays in fertility, but factors such as your age and overall health still play a significant role in your ability to become pregnant.

Myths About Getting Pregnant

Let’s take a moment to address some common misconceptions that might be weighing on your mind. By distinguishing between fact and fiction, we can help alleviate your worries and spare you unnecessary stress and effort.

Include Male Fertility Too

Is infertility mainly a woman's issue? No, infertility affects both men and women equally. About one-third of infertility cases are attributed to female factors, another third to male factors, and the remaining third involves a combination of both or has no identifiable cause. The idea that infertility primarily affects women is inaccurate; in reality, both genders face infertility at similar rates.

What Helps

To optimize male fertility, consider these key factors:

• Antioxidant-rich diet: Foods rich in antioxidants (e.g., fruits, vegetables) can improve sperm health.

• Staying cool: Avoid hot tubs, saunas, and tight underwear, as prolonged heat can negatively affect sperm production.

• Avoiding tobacco, alcohol, and marijuana: These can mess with sperm quality, count, and how well they move.

When to Test

If you've been trying to get pregnant for more than 6 months without success, it's a good idea to consider a semen analysis. At-home tests, such as the Mira Male Fertility Kit, can assess sperm count, motility, and morphology, providing quick results that you can share with your doctor. This helps catch any male infertility issues early on!

Conclusion

Achieving pregnancy naturally can feel overwhelming and a bit frustrating. However, by focusing on the evidence-based tips discussed and understanding your own body's rhythm, you can make the process feel more straightforward and empowering. 

It all starts with preparing your body for a healthy pregnancy, which can begin even before conception. Prioritizing a balanced diet, finding ways to manage stress, and staying active, while also understanding your unique menstrual cycle, can make a positive difference in your journey and put you in the driver's seat. Knowing your fertile window and signs of ovulation is crucial when trying to conceive because it allows you to time intercourse around the most optimal period for fertilization, thereby significantly increasing your chances of getting pregnant. Therefore, focus on cycle tracking and maintaining consistency. 

Remember, with patience and a little effort, you’ll be well on your way to welcoming your little one, and those cherished moments of changing diapers will be here before you know it.

Frequently Asked Questions

We have been planning for the last 4 months, but have not been able to conceive. What do we do?

If you are under 35, continue trying for a few more months while focusing on cycle tracking and lifestyle adjustments; if you are 35 or older, or have any concerns, it's a good idea to consult a doctor and schedule an infertility evaluation.

Can you get pregnant on the first try?

While it is possible, the chances of getting pregnant on the very first try are low, typically around 20-30% for healthy couples each cycle. More than half of healthy couples get pregnant within the first six months of trying to conceive.

How do I get pregnant after forty without IVF?

When improving fertility in your 40s, focus on maximizing your fertile window through precise tracking, prioritize overall health, manage stress effectively, and consider consulting a fertility specialist early to explore all natural options.

What should I do before I get pregnant to make sure my baby is healthy?

Get a preconception check-up, start taking a prenatal vitamin with folic acid, adopt a balanced diet, maintain a healthy weight, quit smoking, limit alcohol consumption, and manage stress levels effectively.