At first glance, pregnancy seems pretty easy to come by—some people conceive without even trying. And come to think of it, we did manage to populate the planet long before fertility aids came along. But for many couples, it takes months of trying, timing, and visits to the doctor before the tests turn up positive. That’s because with today’s environment and pace of life, women’s bodies are much less inclined to conceive, even if they want to. So whether you like it or not, you and your partner have to work a bit harder to start a family. It’s good to let nature take its course, but it won’t hurt to give it a little nudge either.
So how do you increase your chances of getting pregnant? There’s no single answer to this question, since every woman’s body works differently. To help you get started, here’s a guide to the basics of conception and some tips on tilting the odds in your favor.
Tracking your fertility
Knowing when you’re fertile is one of the most important factors in pregnancy. A couple can technically get pregnant by just quitting birth control and having sex a few times a week—their sexual activity is bound to fall on a fertile day at some point. But studies show that the “timing” approach only works for some 20% of couples, and it can take months of trying before something happens. To get better results, you want to know when you’re most fertile—or to be more specific, when you’re ovulating.
There are several ways to know when you ovulate. The most direct method is using an ovulation tracker, many versions of which can be found online for free. Basically, you count two weeks from the first day of menstruation, and it’s around that time that most women ovulate. However, the cycle can be much shorter or longer, and these trackers use only the average of 28 days. You can also use basal temperature charts, check your cervical mucus and dilation, or note when you get the slight cramps that signal ovulation.
All of these methods require a few months of diligent note-taking and tracking. Once you spot a pattern, you can figure out when the best time is to try for a baby.
Stopping contraception
Obviously, you’ll have to stop birth control if you want to get pregnant. For some couples, this simply means doing away with condoms or diaphragms. If you’re on the pill, read your brand’s indications and see how long it takes to lose efficiency. This can range from a few days to several months. You can also ask your doctor or pharmacist to give you tips on getting off safely. If you’re using an intrauterine device, arrange to have it removed and ask your doctor for a check-up to make sure you’re ready for the change.
Preparing your body
It’s a given that your body changes dramatically once you get pregnant. Maybe you’re already gearing up for it. In any case, you should start preparing your body before conception occurs—not only because it takes some getting used to, but because a healthy body contributes to your fertility and makes pregnancy more possible. Start by reaching and maintaining a healthy weight through proper diet and exercise. Lifestyle adjustments will make it easier to keep up once you do get pregnant, and even afterwards when you’re breastfeeding. Quit bad habits such as smoking and drinking, sleeping late, and overworking. Once you’re pregnant, your body will need all the good stuff it can get, and the earlier you get started, the better.
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