How to help conceive

7 Easy Tips To Conceive Quickly

Written by Denise Mann

You are ready to get pregnant. Now. Once you are ready to start a family, waiting is the last thing you want to do.

Although Mother Nature has a hand in the timing, there are some things you can do -- or not do -- to help increase your chances of getting pregnant ASAP. Read on for seven expert-approved tips for getting pregnant.

1.Get a preconception checkup.

Before you officially start trying, get a checkup. Ask your doctor about prenatal vitamins that have folic acid, which helps protect against some birth defects, such as spina bifida. Folic acid works during the early stages of pregnancy, so that's why it's important to make sure you're getting enough folic acid even before you get pregnant.

"Do this the cycle before you start trying," says Paula Hillard, MD, a professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Stanford University. "If you have any underlying medical problems, they need to be under control before you can safely become pregnant. "

2. Get to know your cycle.

How much do you know about your menstrual cycle? Really understanding helps you know when you're most fertile, says Hillard. Ovulation is the best time to get pregnant. "This is the time to focus on having sex," Hillard says.

It helps to become aware of the signs of ovulation, such as a change in your cervical mucus. It usually becomes thin and slippery when you are most fertile. Some women may also feel a one-sided twinge of pain.

Ovulation prediction kits can also help you predict the best time to get pregnant, says James Goldfarb, MD, director of the infertility service at the Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland. Not only can they help assure you that you are ovulating, "if you are having infrequent intercourse, this tells you when to have it to increase your chances of getting pregnant," he says.

Here's how it works: The first day of your menstrual period is considered day one. "Start testing on day nine and keep going until you get a positive," advises Joanne Piscitelli, MD, an associate professor of gynecology at Duke University Medical Center in Durham, N. C. Women with a 28-day cycle tend to ovulate on day 14. But many women have longer or shorter cycles, so casting a wide net can help you be sure.

What if you've been using birth control? Do you need to wait a while before trying to get pregnant? Not really, says Goldfarb. "Years ago, the conventional wisdom was to wait a certain amount of time after stopping birth control to try to get pregnant but that is no longer true. You can start trying to conceive right after you stop birth control," Goldfarb says. The only thing to keep in mind is that you could get pregnant before you get your period, so tracking ovulation may be difficult, and it might be harder to figure out your due date. For this reason, "some people may feel better waiting until they get one period on their own," he says.

3. Don't worry about the best positions for getting pregnant.

Myths abound about the best positions for getting pregnant, but they are just that -- myths. There is really no scientific evidence saying that the missionary position is better than the woman being on top when it comes to maximizing your chances of making a baby.

"Very rarely, a woman's cervix is in an unusual position where certain positions can make a difference," Goldfarb tells WebMD.

Certain gravity-defying positions, such as sitting or standing during intercourse, however, may discourage sperm from traveling upstream. "It's a matter of gravity [and] you don't want all the semen to run out -- and semen are quick little critters," Hillard says.

4. Stay in bed right after intercourse.

You have probably heard this one -- lie in bed with your feet in the air after having sex to increase your chances of getting pregnant. The verdict? Not (totally) true.

"It's good advice to lay in bed for 10 to 15 minutes after intercourse, but you don't need your feet in the air," Goldfarb says. "Your pelvis does not move when you put your legs in the air." Don't go the bathroom during this time either, he says. "If you wait 10 to 15 minutes, the sperm that is going to get into the cervix will be in the cervix."

5. Don't overdo it.

Having sex every day even during ovulation will not necessarily increase your chances of getting pregnant. "In general, every other night around the time of ovulation helps increase your chance of getting pregnant," Goldfarb says. Sperm can live up to 5 days inside your body. The best suggestion is to have sex regularly -- when you're ovulating, and when you're not.

Speaking of sperm, "wearing tight-fitting clothing can negatively affect sperm count," Piscitelli says. So too can spending time in hot tub or Jacuzzi. Your man's cell phone habits may also also need some work. A study in the journal Fertility and Sterility showed that men who used a hands-free device with a cell phone and kept their phone close to their testicles had poorer sperm quality.

They might need to pass on the edamame and other soy foods for a while, too. Men who eat a lot of soy foods may have a lower sperm concentration than men who don't eat soy foods, according to a study published online in Human Reproduction.

6. De-stress any way you can.

Try not to get stressed out about starting a family. You may roll your eyes if someone says, "Just relax and it will happen," but stress can actually interfere with ovulation. So the more relaxed you are, the better!

Whatever helps you de-stress is fine, as long as it's healthy. "There is some evidence that acupuncture can help reduce stress and increase your chances of becoming pregnant," Goldfarb says. And although drinking too much alcohol when trying to get pregnant isn't smart, a glass of wine won't hurt.

7. Live a healthy life.

Exercising is a healthy habit -- especially if it helps keep you at your ideal weight. Just like anything else, though, you can get too much of a good thing. "Too much exercise can cause you not to ovulate," Goldfarb says.

What's too much? It may be different for different women. If you are a hard-core exerciser and are still getting your period regularly, your exercise regimen is most likely not a problem, he says. But, Goldfarb adds, your menstrual period is not the first thing to go if you are exercising too heavily. "The first thing that happens is that you have a shorter second half of your cycle. You should have a period 14 days after you ovulate, but too much exercise can shorten this phase." This would be the first hint that you need to curtail your fitness regimen. He suggests tracking how long it takes you to get a period after you ovulate as the best way to know for sure.

Goldfarb says the best way to increase your chances of getting pregnant while getting the health benefits of regular exercise is to do moderate exercise -- think brisk walking -- two and a half hours each week (or at least 30 minutes, 5 days a week).

Stop smoking to increase your chances of getting pregnant," Hillard says. Aside from all the other negative health effects of smoking, this nasty habit also decreases fertility. "It affects estrogen levels and ovulation."

And don't worry too much about your day planner. "Eighty-five percent of women will become pregnant within one year of trying," Hillard says.

Conception Tips | Fertility Network

It’s important you prepare your body and adjust your lifestyle to maximise your chances of conception. Here are some tips that can really make a difference to your level of fertility.

• Water
  When trying to conceive it is very important to drink lots of water (about 8-10 cups a day). This helps the kidneys to flush out waste products from the body and increases fertile quality cervical fluid.
• Avoid alcohol
  It is a good idea to avoid or strictly limit alcohol intake as this reduces fertility. Department of Health advice is to avoid alcohol completely if trying to conceive or during pregnancy.
• Caffeine
  Caffeine is thought to restrict the growth of a developing baby by constricting blood vessels and reducing blood flow to the uterus. Current advice is to limit caffeine intake to below 300mg per day, equivalent to 4 cups of instant coffee, 3 cups of fresh coffee or 6 cups of tea.
• Smoking
  Women have a 40% lower chance of getting pregnant if they smoke, according to a report published by the British Medical Association (BMA). Smoking decreases sperm count and increases sperm abnormalities in men. Ask your GP or Practice Nurse for help in quitting.
• Exercise
  Women who exercise regularly are less likely to experience the uncomfortable side effects of pregnancy (back pain, piles, swollen ankles, etc), to have excessive weight gain and more likely to feel good about their changing body. A fit, healthy body is also more likely to cope better with child birth. Find a balance though because excessive amounts of exercise can lead to fertility problems such as irregular periods and anovulatory cycles (cycles where ovulation does not occur).
• Stress less
  There are so many people who worry excessively about becoming pregnant and once they release that stress, their body reacts to the new peace by creating a new life. So try not to worry and enjoy the fun of trying to conceive.
• Supplement
  Taking a supplement specially formulated for before conception will provide you with 400mcg folic acid and other nutrients such as l-arginine vitamin D and vitamin B12 which help support the nutritional requirements of women trying to conceive.
• Sex
  Have sex often, at least 3 times a week, the more often you try, the more chances you get at becoming pregnant.
• Lay low
  Lying down for at least a few minutes after sex increases the odds that the sperm will be able to keep their date with the awaiting egg.
• STDs
  Make sure that you have been properly screened for STDs. Pelvic inflammatory disease is common amongst women with the number-one cause being an untreated sexually transmitted disease.

Medications
If you are taking any prescription or over-the-counter drugs be sure to ask your doctor if it’s safe to continue taking them once you start trying to conceive. Contrary to popular belief, taking the contraceptive pill, antibiotics or analgesics should not affect the accuracy of your pregnancy test.

Pill
If you have been on the pill for a long time you may be low on certain vitamins and minerals especially the B-group vitamins.

Calendar
Keep a menstrual calendar and note the date when your period starts, the number of days it lasts and anything else your doctor or midwife might want to know.

Numbers game
Keep in mind that baby making is a numbers game. Even if you do everything ‘right’ you still only have a 25-30 percent chance of conceiving in any given cycle.

Diets
Don’t go on a crash diet. They affect your ovulation and consequently your fertility.

Eating a healthy balanced diet when trying to conceive helps the body to be in optimum condition for conception and pregnancy , and also helps to build adequate stores of vitamins and minerals for the baby to call upon when needed.

Foods to consume while trying to get pregnant:

• Leafy greens such as broccoli, fortified breakfast cereals, citrus fruits and pulses provide folic acid which is important for the baby’s neural tube development.
• Fortified breakfast cereals, lentils, soy beans, dried fruit and leafy greens such as spinach are great sources of iron.
• New research (Dr Jorge Chavarros, Harvard School of Public Health) indicates women who want to get pregnant should eat a Mediterranean-style diet rich in avocados and olive oil but light in diary and meat.
• Eating mono-unsaturated fat – found in peanuts, almonds and cashews may support conception too.
• Fish, wholegrain breads, asparagus, spinach and watercress will provide zinc to help keep the immune system strong, which is essential when trying to get pregnant. Zinc can also help the production of healthy eggs, as well as healthy sperm.
• Fibre rich beans and whole grains keep the bowels healthy, helping to flush away the bodies waste, thereby increasing the chances of getting pregnant.
• It is also a good idea to consider taking a supplement designed to support conception which contains 400mcg folic acid and other nutrients to help support the nutritional requirements of women trying to conceive.

Planning for a baby is one of the most important times in a couple’s lives, but for many it can be confusing and complicated. Here we dispel some of the common fertility myths below.

• Myth: Having sex every day will increase our chances of conceiving
  Couples trying to conceive are encouraged to have intercourse regularly to increase their chances of conception, but having intercourse every day is likely to leave you exhausted, particularly as it takes many couples 6-12 months to conceive. However, as sperm can survive up to 5 days after release, and predicting ovulation is an in-exact science, most GPs advise having intercourse every 2-3 days to maximize the chances that sperm are around to fertilize an egg once ovulation occurs.
• Myth: You can’t get pregnant when you are menstruating
  While women cannot conceive during menstruation as the hormones resulting in menstruation are the opposite of those required for a pregnancy to occur, she can conceive from sex during menstruation as she may ovulate early and sperm can survive for up to 5 days after release. Research in the USA1 has found that women may be fertile as early as day 4 of their cycle (day one is taken as the first day of bleeding) therefore pregnancy could occur at any point in a cycle.
• Myth: You can only conceive from sex on the day that you ovulate
  Not true. The human egg is viable for fertilization for around one day after it is released from the ovaries. However given that sperm can survive for up to 5 days after intercourse and women may produce more than 1 egg in a 24 hour period, technically a woman can conceive from intercourse occurring from anything up to 5 days prior to or even up to 2 days after ovulation, i. e. for one week of each menstrual cycle.
• Myth: A normal menstrual cycle is 28 days
  Not true, this is a myth perpetuated by the pill which makes all menstrual cycles regular and 28 days in length. In fact menstrual cycles can vary from anything between 24-36 days, and not only vary between women but can vary considerably in any individual woman from month to month.
• Myth: Lying down with legs raised after sex will increase chances of getting pregnant
  While there is no scientific evidence to support this approach, some people claim it helps and as it is totally harmless it has to be worth a shot.
• Myth: Eating oysters will boost my fertility
  There is a grain of truth in this because oysters are a rich source of zinc, low levels of which can be a factor in hampering fertility. Take stock of your diet and ensure that you are eating plenty of fruit and vegetables, wholegrain cereals, which are rich in antioxidants, include oily types of fish twice each week (e. g. salmon, herring, sardine, etc) to boost essential fatty acid and cut down on caffeine and alcohol both of which can hinder conception if taken in excess. Don’t forget to keep active and if you are a smoker, quit.
• Myth: You can get everything you need from diet and don’t need to take supplements
  This is definitely not true, and in fact all women are advised to take a supplement containing 400mcg of folic acid daily while trying to conceive and for the first 3 months of pregnancy. Taking a folic acid supplement is important for neural tube development in the baby. As most of us don’t manage to eat a perfect diet all the time, taking a supplement specifically designed for conception or pregnancy can help to ensure that there are plenty of all the vitamins and minerals important for conception.

1.Fehring RJ, Schneider M, Raviele K (2006) Variability in phases of the menstrual cycle. J Obstet Gynecol Neonatal Nurs 35: 376-384

Age & fertility
According to research, women are leaving it later to start a family. The Office of National Statistics has reported that, since the 1980s the rates for women giving birth at age 30 or over have gone up, while the rates for women giving birth aged under 30 have fallen.

Fertility falls more sharply for women as they age than for men. As you can see from the chart below, women are most fertile between the ages of 20 and 24 years – as women grow older the likelihood of getting pregnant falls while the likelihood of infertility rises sharply. Men can remain fertile for much longer but male fertility still declines with age, although less dramatically.

Chart: Pregnancy rates over the course of one year both of the line graphs are for women with normal reproductive function

Source: Management of the Infertile Woman by Helen A. Carcio and The Fertility Sourcebook by M. Sara Rosenthal

Fertility factors

As women get older, there are a number of factors that can make it more difficult to conceive. Fertility factors that change include:

• Ovarian reserve – this is the number of functioning follicles left in the ovaries. As women get older they have fewer viable eggs left; in cases of early menopause, the eggs run out much sooner than usual.
• Menstrual cycle – as women approach the menopause their menstrual cycles can become irregular and shorter.
• Lining of the womb – the endometrium may become thinner and less hospitable to a fertilised egg.
• Mucus secretions – vaginal secretions can become less fluid and more hostile to sperm.
• Diseases affecting the reproductive system – some conditions can damage the reproductive organs as time passes, or worsen if not treated properly, including endometriosis, PCOS and Chlamydia.
• Chronic illnesses – some illnesses can have a negative impact on fertility.

Men can do a great deal to improve their chances of conception by paying attention to health and lifestyle. Below is a check list for men who are trying for a baby.

• Avoid alcohol
  It lowers men’s sperm count even when men are only drinking small amounts.
• Sex
  Have it in the morning as research shows that a man’s sperm count is higher at this time so take advantage of it!
• Keep cool
  Men have a higher sperm count when their genitals are kept at a cooler temperature. So stay away from hot tubs, hot showers and tight fitting underwear.
• Smoking
  Cut it out. Smoking has been shown to reduce both the sperm count and the sperm motility.
• Diet and supplements
  If men are malnourished or not getting enough of the right foods and nutrients their sperm count can suffer. Take a supplement which contains specific nutrients such as zinc for male reproductive health.
• Workaholic
  Fatigue can have an effect on a man’s interest in sex so it is important to try and find a balance.
• Toxins
  Stay clear of environmental poisons and hazards. These include pesticides/insecticides, organic solvents, lead, ionizing radiation, heavy metals, and toxic chemicals.
• Drugs
  Even in moderate amounts, for example cannabis, can cause a low sperm count, poor sperm speed and increased sperm abnormalities.
• Exercise
  Swap the exercise bike for the treadmill. The repeated banging of the groin against the bicycle seat can damage critical arteries and nerves.
• Mobile phones
  According to research by scientists in Hungary, men who keep mobile phones switched-on in their trouser pocket or on belts have significantly lowered sperm counts and risk their fertility being cut by up to a third. Also, the sperm’s motility may be affected by long calls.

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How to get pregnant quickly: advice to future parents

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The normal period for the desired pregnancy with regular sex without contraception is 6 12 months. It is very rare to conceive a child the first time. To bring the moment of conception and the birth of a child closer, a couple should follow a number of recommendations.

For those who are looking for ways to get pregnant quickly if it doesn't work, doctors advise:

1. Check your health. Both a woman and a man should take a general blood test (it can show anemia or the presence of inflammatory processes in the body), be tested for infections (hepatitis, HIV, TORCH infections). Chronic diseases must be cured so that they do not interfere with conception and successful pregnancy.

2. Consult a doctor. A woman should be tested and examined by a gynecologist. A man may appear to a urologist or andrologist. Both spouses should get advice from a reproductive specialist to find out how to change their lifestyle, whether to undergo treatment, or which ART should be used to finally get pregnant.

3. Give up bad habits. If a couple plans to become parents and cares about the health of the unborn child, then both the woman and the man need to quit smoking, not using drugs, and giving up alcohol.

4. Normalize the weight. It is desirable that the BMI is not lower than 18.5 and not higher than 25. It is worth abandoning restrictive diets and eating well, choosing healthy foods.

5. Monitor your menstrual cycle. The chance of getting pregnant is highest during ovulation. With an average cycle length of 28 days, it occurs approximately on day 14. The measurement of basal temperature helps to more accurately calculate the "time X" (at the time of ovulation, it rises by 0.2-0.4 degrees). You can also use a special test to determine ovulation, which is sold in pharmacies.

6. Take care of the quality of sperm. A man should avoid overheating of the body (limit visits to saunas, baths), do not wear tight underwear, refuse to carry a mobile phone on a belt or in a trouser pocket. In addition, it is better for a couple not to use lubricants during intimacy, as they can cause the death of spermatozoa.

7. Don't overdo it. With too frequent ejaculations, the fertilizing ability of a man's sperm is reduced. Doctors recommend at least 3 unprotected sex per week. But even during the period of ovulation, you should not have sex more than once a day.

8. Make time for physical activities. As a rule, in order to get pregnant, couples are advised to maintain a healthy lifestyle and not skip workouts in the gym. Moderation is also important in this matter. No need to exhaust yourself with exercises for 45-60 minutes a day, half an hour of aerobics or walking is enough.

9. Eat right. For successful conception, it is important that all the necessary vitamins and minerals are present in the body of the expectant mother and the future couple. Nutritionists advise eating a varied diet, giving preference to healthy foods. You can consult with your treating fertility doctor about the need to take vitamin complexes and nutritional supplements.

10. Maintain a positive attitude. The psycho-emotional state of the couple affects how quickly a woman can become pregnant. Try to avoid stress, excessive emotional stress, learn meditation, find time for hobbies and activities that bring you joy.

Not everyone manages to conceive a child the first time. Don't get discouraged - stay optimistic and you will succeed! By following these tips, you will increase your chances of getting pregnant and having a baby.

You can undergo an examination and get a consultation from obstetrician-gynecologists, urologists, reproductologists of the Ivimed clinic. Specialists will help you prepare for pregnancy and give advice on how to bring the moment of your family happiness closer.

How to get pregnant quickly the first time

Is it possible to get pregnant the first time?

The process of fertilization is very complicated, so the chances of successful conception in one menstrual cycle are only 25%. And this despite the fact that both spouses are young and do not have any health problems.

Thus, if you did not succeed in getting pregnant the first time, there is no reason for concern.

What should be done to get pregnant sooner?

You need to prepare for a future pregnancy in advance. This approach will help increase the likelihood of conception and prevent dangerous complications during the period of bearing a child.

First of all, future parents should visit a doctor and undergo an examination, which the doctor will prescribe after asking the necessary questions and conducting an examination. In particular, both spouses must be tested for STIs and other dangerous infections. A man will need to do a spermogram - a study that will help assess his reproductive health. If any violations are detected, the doctor will prescribe a course of treatment.

Best time to get pregnant

To get pregnant faster, try to have an active sex life during the period that is most favorable for conception, that is, a few days before, on the day of ovulation and a few days after. It must be borne in mind that the viability of the egg after leaving the ovary is about 1.5-2 days, and the viability of spermatozoa in the female genital tract is about 2-3 days.

Calculate ovulation date for conception

Ovulation Calculator

Length of your cycle

Start date of your period

Planning tips

On various resources on the Internet you can see a lot of advice for those who want to get pregnant quickly. Unfortunately, most of them have no practical value. So, the possibility of pregnancy does not affect whether a woman has reached orgasm during intercourse and whether she then stood in the “birch” position.

To increase your chances, a few months before the expected date of conception, start to lead a healthy lifestyle, giving up bad habits.

Eat right, including in the menu foods high in various vitamins, trace elements, and polyunsaturated fatty acids. Excess weight, as well as sharp fluctuations in body weight, negatively affect reproductive function.

Moderate exercise will be beneficial. Both a sedentary lifestyle and too intense training can prevent you from getting pregnant quickly.

Both parents-to-be need to take folic acid, which will not only reduce the risk of neural tube defects in the baby, but also increase sperm fertility. Keep in mind that any drugs, including vitamins, are prescribed only by the attending physician after the examination.

Folk remedies for conceiving a child

To increase reproductive function, decoctions from various herbs can be used: upland uterus, sage, St. John's wort. However, it is important to remember that any means (including folk remedies) should be used only after consulting with your doctor.

Is posture important

There is no scientific evidence that certain positions fundamentally affect the onset of pregnancy, so it makes no sense to waste time choosing the ideal positions for conception.

When to See a Doctor

If pregnancy has not occurred after a year of active sexual activity without using any contraception (or 6 months if you are over 35), you should seek help from a specialized institution that diagnoses and treats infertility.

If a woman has a menstrual cycle, the doctor may recommend a lifestyle and nutrition correction, as well as taking hormonal drugs.

With excess or, conversely, insufficient body weight, it is necessary to normalize the weight. If you can’t cope with the problem on your own, you should seek help from a nutritionist.

If you're worried about not getting pregnant, try switching things up: spend more time on hobbies, learn something new, take a trip with your spouse. Are you still nervous? Contact a perinatal psychologist and tell him about all the anxieties and doubts. Sometimes only a few sessions of therapy can achieve the onset of a long-awaited pregnancy.

What to do if pregnancy still does not occur?

If pregnancy has not occurred after a year of active sexual life without the use of any contraception (or 6 months if you are over 35 years old), you need to seek help from a specialized clinic that deals with the diagnosis and treatment of infertility.

A gynecologist-reproductologist will ask the necessary questions, conduct an examination and prescribe an examination that will identify all the reasons that prevent successful conception.

The possibilities of modern medicine make it possible to achieve the birth of a child in the most seemingly hopeless situations.

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