About Trying to Get Pregnant

Overview

Pregnancy involves several different steps, including the release of a mature egg, the egg's fertilization, and the fertilized egg being accepted by the uterus. Due to the complexity of this process, it can be difficult for some couples to conceive a child. Pregnancy requires the right timing as well as fertility on the part of both the man and the woman.

Reproductive Ages

Both men and women develop the ability to reproduce at puberty. A woman's reproductive life begins at puberty and ends at menopause. This is because after menopause the ovaries stop producing viable eggs. Although a man's sperm count may decrease as he ages, men can fertilize from puberty until the end of their life.

Ovulation

A sperm can only fertilize an egg when it is available, which is during ovulation. Ovulation typically occurs halfway through a woman's menstrual cycle. The exact timing, however, varies from woman to woman and from month to month. Consequently, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), doctors recommend that a couple trying to conceive have intercourse from day seven to day 20 of the menstrual cycle.

Male Infertility

If a couple is having a difficult time conceiving, infertility of one or both people must be considered. Male fertility depends on a number of factors. For example, the man's sperm needs to be produced in sufficient quantity and to be mobile enough to fertilize an egg. The man must also be able to achieve both an erection and orgasm, and have the sperm be released during orgasm.

Female Infertility

Most problems with female fertility are due to problems with ovulation. Sometimes this is the result of premature ovarian failure, in which the ovaries stop producing eggs before menopause naturally occurs. Sometimes female fertility difficulties are the result of irregular ovulation. Other causes of female infertility are problems with the Fallopian tubes or the uterus.

Treatments

Regardless of the cause of infertility, there are a number of options for treatment. Infertility can be treated with medication or surgery. For some women, artificial insemination (in which sperm are injected into the woman) can aid conception, as can other techniques, such as in vitro fertilization. In addition, some lifestyle changes, such as reducing stress and diet modification, can treat fertility problems.