If you're trying to conceive, don't get discouraged if it doesn't happen immediately. A variety of factors, from your diet to the general health of you and your partner, influences your fertility. Even in the best conditions, conception may or may not occur. Fortunately, there are ways you can boost your chances of becoming pregnant. Consult your doctor for any recommendations specific to your body or health.
Chart Your Menstrual Cycle
During ovulation, your body releases an egg that then travels to one of your fallopian tubes. According to the University of California-Santa Barbara, the egg remains viable for only 24 hours. A woman with a standard 28-day menstrual cycle will ovulate on day 14 of her cycle, but not all women's menstrual cycles are the same. Having intercourse immediately prior to and during ovulation is crucial to becoming pregnant. Charting your menstrual cycle helps you determine the days on which you're the most fertile.
Watch for Ovulation Signs
A few days prior to ovulation, the consistency of your cervical mucus will change. Pre-ovulation cervical secretions are often clear and slippery. Watch for a change in your cervical mucus and have intercourse during this time frame to increase your chances of becoming pregnant.
Another sign of ovulation is a rise in resting, or basal, body temperature. You will get the most accurate reading by taking your temperature each day after you wake up but before getting out of bed. Your basal body temperature increases slightly in the days following ovulation --- informing you of when ovulation occurs in your cycle.
Have Your Partner Stop Smoking
Smoking isn't healthy for a pregnant mother or a growing fetus, but your partner's smoking habit can actually hurt your chances of becoming pregnant. A 2010 article in "New Scientist" magazine cited a German study suggesting that smoking may decrease a man's fertility.
The study compared sperm samples of both smokers and non-smokers. The smokers' sperm contained higher levels of a chemical known to harm the sperm. Because sperm take several months to develop, researchers recommend that men kick the habit well before trying to conceive.
Change Your Diet
The glycemic index determines how quickly your body processes a given carbohydrate. Foods high on the glycemic index, such as white bread, sugar and white rice, process quickly --- increasing your blood sugar and insulin levels.
A study performed by Harvard University notes that a diet high in "fast" carbohydrates can disrupt your body's reproductive hormones and, in turn, adversely impact ovulation --- causing a condition known as ovulatory infertility. Researchers recommend that women trying to conceive limit carbohydrates high on the glycemic index and incorporate more "slow" carbohydrates such as oat bran, whole-grain bread and brown rice.
