Many men discover that conceiving a child is not as easy as they expected it to be. In fact, an average healthy couple only has a 25 percent chance of conceiving a baby in any given menstrual cycle, even if they had sexual intercourse every single day, explain Dr. Aniruddha Malpani and Dr. Anjali Malpani in their book "How to Have a Baby: Overcoming Infertility." Although the process is not always easy, steps can be taken to increase the chances of conception happening sooner rather than later.
Step 1
Both spouses should get preconception checkups. This enables you to rule out potential medical conditions that may impair fertility or interfere with conception. A doctor can also provide advice specific to your situation that may increase the likelihood of success.
Step 2
Encourage your wife to learn to predict when she is about to ovulate. Most women ovulate between days 11 and 21 of their menstrual cycle, but some women ovulate at other times, explains the American Pregnancy Association. Women who learn how to chart their basal body temperatures, monitor fertility signs and use ovulation predictor kits can predict when ovulation is likely to occur.
Step 3
Initiate sexual intercourse around ovulation. If you can have sex with your wife a couple days prior to ovulation or on the day of ovulation, you increase the likelihood that she will become pregnant. Some men mistakenly believe they should "save up" their sperm for this time, but maximal sperm counts occur with ejaculations at 24- to 48-hour intervals, explains Dr. Marjorie Greenfield, a contributor to DrSpock.com. Although how often to have sex during this time is a couple's personal preference, Greenfield suggests having sex at least every other day around the time of ovulation.
Step 4
Keep sex loving and interesting. Having scheduled sex to conceive a child can make it feel more like a chore or obligation instead of a pleasurable, bonding activity. Remember to show your wife how much you love and desire her during the act of lovemaking instead of focusing on the sole purpose of conceiving a baby. If you do so, you may find it easier to maintain a higher frequency of sexual encounters and increase the likelihood of conception.
Step 5
Talk to a doctor. Although it takes many healthy couples several months to conceive a baby, couples who take longer than this may need medical intervention. If you and your wife are under 35, both of you should see a doctor after one year of unsuccessful trying. If you are both over 35, you may both want to talk to a doctor after trying unsuccessfully for more than six months, suggests the March of Dimes.
Tips and Warnings
- Both you and your wife should also avoid alcohol, drugs, smoking and other toxins. These may impair fertility in both women and men. Couples trying to conceive should also strive to be as healthy as possible. This includes getting plenty of rest, regular exercise, maintaining a healthy body weight, eating healthy foods and avoiding stress.
- Lubricants can impair the motility of sperm, according to MayoClinic.com. If using a lubricant is unavoidable, find a vegetable-oil-based product or check the package to make sure it is a sperm-friendly product.
References
- "How to Have a Baby: Overcoming Infertility"; Dr. Anirudha Malpani and Dr. Anjali Malpani; 2001
- American Pregnancy Association: Understanding Ovulation
- DrSpock.com: Trying to Conceive--Myths and Truths
- March of Dimes: Thinking About Fertility Treatments
- MayoClinic.com: Healthy Sperm
