Once you’ve made the decision that you’re ready to have a baby, it is natural to want it to happen as soon as possible. But it is important to remember that getting pregnant takes time, and can take several months to a year for some women. According to ASRM, a healthy 30-year-old woman has about a 20% chance of getting pregnant each month. With that being said, the age-old question we get asked all the time at NCCRM infertility center Cary is, “What can I do to get pregnant faster?”. Of course, the most obvious answer is to have sex each month when you are most fertile. But if you want to up your odds of conceiving, here are six things NCCRM infertility center Cary recommends you can do to help you get pregnant sooner rather than later:
Have Sex Even When You Aren’t Ovulating
You’re most fertile the day you ovulate, when one of your ovaries releases an egg into a Fallopian tube where it becomes fair game for a sperm, as well as for two days after. However, having sex throughout the month can help to increase your odds of getting pregnant as well. For one thing, having sex after ovulation may improve your chances of getting pregnant on the theory that semen may play a role in embryo development and implantation. Research has found also that frequent sex makes for healthier sperm. Having intercourse throughout the month may improve the odds of conception because it keeps sperm strong.
Have Fun And Don’t Rush It
Some research has found that lengthier foreplay and increased sexual arousal may increase the quantity of sperm in men. For women, foreplay often means more cervical fluids. Cervical fluids are essential in helping sperm swim and survive the vaginal environment. Even if your lovemaking doesn’t yield a pregnancy, it will likely enhance your relationship and help to ease any anxiety you may be having around trying to conceive.
Lay Off The Lube
Personal lubrication products can be great for making sex more comfortable and pleasurable, but there has been research to suggest that some of them are harmful to sperm. During ovulation, a woman’s body usually provides extra lubrication, so try to do without products.
Do Not Douche
It has been said that women who used vaginal douches were 30% less likely to conceive in any given month when compared to women who did not douche. Douching has other known health-related drawbacks as well, including a higher risk of vaginal infections, pelvic inflammatory disease, and ectopic pregnancy. Most vaginal odor is healthy, but if yours is particularly pungent it could be a sign of infection. Rather than trying to mask the smell by douching, see your doctor.
Take Care Of Yourself
Besides getting regular physical exams, living a healthy lifestyle is vital to fertility. If you engage in any of these unhealthy habits, breaking them can make a difference in how quickly and easily you and your partner conceive:
- Smoking
- Eating junk food
- Being overweight or underweight
- Excessive alcohol drinking
- Excessive caffeine
- Over-exercising
Don’t Put Off Getting Help
How soon you’ll conceive is dependent on a number of factors, most of them out of your control. If you have been trying to conceive for 6 months and you’re over 35—or you’ve been trying for a year and you’re under 35—then you should see your doctor. Don’t delay, as some types of infertility worsen with time, and delaying treatment may significantly lower your potential for pregnancy success. Age is also a factor, so contact NCCRM infertility center Cary today to set up an appointment to discuss your options further.
