For fertile couples, the chance of becoming pregnant each cycle is between 20 and 30 percent. This means that while some couples will get pregnant in the first month of trying, other couples may take a couple of years before they conceive. If you wish to increase your chances of conceiving quickly you can enhance your chances by making a few simple change in the methods you're trying.
Have Morning Sex
Some times of day may be better for conception than others. There are no statistics to show that making love during any particular time of day will increase conception odds, but a man's sperm count is generally highest in the morning, said fertility expert Niels H. Lauersen in the book "Getting Pregnant." In the morning hours, male hormones are at their peak, which is why many men have their strongest sexual urges upon wakening.
Know Your Positions
There are certain positions during sexual intercourse that encourage or hinder conception. Although the effectiveness of positions varies among couples, Lauersen suggests using the rear-entry position to increase your chances, as it allows your partner to deposit his sperm closer to your cervix. The rear entry position can also be very effective for increasing the power of a low sperm count, he says.
Another prime position is the missionary style, with the male dominating. Lauersen says this can be especially effective by placing a pillow underneath your pelvic region, which causes the vagina to tilt backward. Positions to avoid are the female-dominating missionary position, standing, and sitting. These positions discourage the fast transportation of sperm, Lauersen says.
Keep Still After Sex
Ignore the urge to go about your day or night after sex. Lauersen says remaining immobile after making love may help in getting pregnant as well. "You can help encourage sperm to remain in your body and flow upward toward your fallopian tubes," he writes. For this, he suggests lying on your back with a pillow under your pelvis for 20 to 30 minutes after sex. You can also encourage sperm to stay in your body by pressing the labia, or lips, of your vagina together with your fingers for several minutes, Lauersen says.
Adjust Your Habits
For some, the problem may lie in lifestyle instead of conception technique. Certain lifestyle choices may be inhibiting your chances for pregnancy and may affect your baby once he is conceived. Alcohol damages the cells that make sperm, says Anne Charlish, medical and health writer and author of another book titled "Getting Pregnant." The sperm becomes weak, which can cause an inability to make it to the egg or, in the event that it does, cause serious birth defects, such as malformed facial features and heart deficiencies, says Charlish. Women and men who are heavy drinkers should halt their alcohol intake.
Smoking also causes conception problems because it reduces fertility and is harmful to the baby, Charlish says. If conception does occur, smoking increases the chance for miscarriages and stillbirths.
References
- Baby Centre: How Long Will It Take to Get Pregnant?
- "Getting Pregnant"; Niels H. Lauersen and Colette Bouchez; 2000
- "Getting Pregnant"; Anne Charlish; 2002
Member Comments