When you have decided that the time is right to conceive a baby, you may feel impatient and upset if you do not get pregnant within the first month or two. "Fitness" magazine points out that it takes the average couple four to six months to conceive a child. Boost your chances of conceiving by getting healthy, observing your fertility signs, timing intercourse correctly and knowing when to seek help if necessary.
Chart Your Cycles
To maximize the chances that you will become pregnant during any given month, you must have intercourse during the fertile phase of your cycle. According to Dr. Toni Weschler, author of "Taking Charge of Your Fertility," a woman is only fertile for five or six days each menstrual cycle. These days are the four days leading up to ovulation, the day of ovulation itself, and up to 24 hours after ovulation. In order to determine when you are fertile, learn to chart your cycles by using the sympto-thermal method of fertility awareness. The steps include taking your basal, or waking, temperature every day and observing your cervical position and cervical fluid.
Don't Overdo It
According to "Fitness," having sex more often than every day or two can actually cause a reduction in sperm count. Not only should you focus your efforts around the time of ovulation, but you should not overdo it when you are actively trying to conceive during the most fertile phase. Remember that sperm can live for up to three days, making very frequent sexual activity unnecessary.
Aim for a Healthy Weight
Not only will losing weight if you are overweight or obese help you to have a healthier pregnancy, it may also make your more fertile. According to "Fitness," women who are overweight or obese often have a harder time getting pregnant. Don't go on a crash diet, and check with your physician before beginning any weight-loss regimen, especially if you have a lot of weight to lose. Eat foods that are low in fat and high in fiber to help your efforts along and to increase your chances of having a relatively easy pregnancy.
Know When to Get Help
If you are under 35 and have been trying to conceive for a year with no success, it may be time to see a reproductive endocrinologist for an evaluation, says "Fitness." Women over the age of 35 should seek help after six months. Weschler states that if you have been observing and charting your fertility signs for several months and have noticed that you are not ovulating, or that you have a shortened luteal, or post-ovulatory, phase, talk to your doctor sooner, as these are conditions that can be treated. If you have the symptoms of polycystic ovarian syndrome, or PCOS, the American Fertility Association suggests that you see your doctor promptly. Symptoms include irregular periods, facial hair and acne.
References
- Fitness Magazine: Fertility: 8 Myths and Truths
- American Fertility Association: Diagnosis and Treatment of PCOS
- "Taking Charge of Your Fertility"; Dr. Toni Weschler; 2001
