Signs that you can get pregnant
7 Signs It May Be Easy For You To Get Pregnant
For most people, fertility is a bit of mystery until they begin seriously trying to get pregnant. But despite the many medical conditions and surprises that could make reproducing naturally difficult, there are also lots of little hints you can look out for that may be signs of fertility.
“It’s hard to say [if] someone can feel fertile,” Mache Seibel, M.D., Ob/Gyn, founder of dr.mache.com and member of Harvard Medical School Faculty, tells Bustle. Still, there are lots of ways your body may be communicating to you that it will be easy to get pregnant, if you do decide to try.
Even if you’re not ready to have kids yet, but may like to someday, it can be worthwhile to understand your fertility prospects so you can best take care of your gynecological health. A lot of issues that can cause infertility may also cause other health problems down the line. Plus, if you’re not ready to have kids, knowing that you’re potentially very fertile may help keep you motivated to have safe sex and use protection. So keeping an eye on the signs your body gives you is important at any stage in life.
Here are eight signs it may be easy for you to get pregnant, according to experts.
1. You Have A Very Regular Cycle
Having regular cycles, even when you’re off of hormonal birth control, is a good sign of being fertile. “Women with wonderfully regular 28 (plus or minus a day or two) cycles are likely to conceive,” Felice Gersh, M.D., author, founder, and director of the Integrative Medical Group of Irvine, tells Bustle. “Regular cycles are powerful
evidence of regular ovulation — a definite prerequisite to being fertile.” if you are curious to learn more, talk to your doctor, but having regular cycles is definitely a good sign.
2. You Feel Well In General
Having generally good health on a whole is a plus when it comes to fertility as well. “Feeling very well is a very good indicator that you indeed are well and healthy,” Dr. Gersh says.
Studies have indicated that struggling with mental
health could make getting pregnant more difficult. So if you’re coming from a place of emotional strength, and not dealing with many outside health problems, you may find it easier than some to get pregnant.
3. You’ve Never Had A Pelvic Infection
While there are some chronic conditions that can cause infertility, having a history of infection may make getting pregnant harder as well. Because of this, if you haven’t dealt with any pelvic infections, you may be more likely
to conceive. Of course, a history of pelvic infections is part of a larger equation. “If you have regular periods, never had a pelvic infection, and know when your fertile days are, your age is the only limiting factor towards normal
fertility,” Juergen Eisermann, M.D., a South Miami, Fla.-based fertility specialist at Florida’s IVFMD, tells Bustle. If you’re concerned about any of these factors, it’s worthwhile to bring any questions up to your OB/GYN.
4. You Have Other Signs Of Regular Ovulation
If you have regular periods, but are still looking for more signs that it might be easy for you to get pregnant, it might be worthwhile to pay attention to ovulation.
“Signs that you are regularly ovulating [include …] symptoms such as watery vaginal discharge (before ovulation) followed by thicker cervical mucus and breast tenderness (after ovulation),” Dr. Lucky Sekhon, fertility specialist
in Progyny’s Provider Network, tells Bustle. If you notice your body going through these changes, there may be a higher chance you’ll conceive quickly.
5. You Don’t Smoke Cigarettes
Studies have shown that cigarette smoking has a negative impact on fertility. So if you’ve never smoked, you are already giving yourself a leg up when it comes to getting pregnant.
“Cigarette smoking has been shown to accelerate the loss of eggs over time and is associated with shortening a women’s reproductive lifespan,” Dr.
Sekhon says. So just by keeping away from cigarettes, you’ve likely already
boosted your chances of getting pregnant.
6. Your Periods Aren’t Extremely Heavy
While everyone’s period is different, your chances of getting pregnant may be related — at least tangentially — to your flow.
“Women with very heavy periods may have fibroids, which are benign tumors that can alter the architecture of their uterus and interfere with embryo implantation and a growing pregnancy,” Dr. Sekhon says. So if you’ve never dealt with fibroids, or particularly heavy periods, you may be more likely to get pregnant easily.
7. Your Periods Aren’t Extremely Painful
For a lot of these signs of fertility, the hints that it may be easy for you to get pregnant is more about the absence of symptoms, rather than the presence of anything in particular. In this case, not having particularly painful periods
is another plus.
“Very painful periods can signify a condition called endometriosis, where the tissue that normally lines the uterus, is found outside of uterus (most often in the pelvic cavity or ovaries) where it can cause pain, scarring and inflammation,” Dr.
Sekhon says. Making sure you regularly see your OB/GYN, and keeping track of your period symptoms, can keep you more informed about whether or not you’re dealing with this or other chronic
gynecological conditions — many of which may impact fertility.
While being unable to get pregnant is not at all a personal failing, and modern medicine is making it easier than ever to have biological children even if you struggle with fertility, it still can be good to know where you stand when it comes to one day trying to conceive. You can have kids any way that’s right for you, but no matter what, it’s still a good idea to be in tune with your body. Paying attention and going to the doctor regularly may have some really important ripple effects.
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8 Signs of Fertility to Look For Each Month
You’ve decided to try for a baby—congrats! But do you know how to go about trying to maximize your shot at conceiving? The truth is, women may experience certain symptoms that can signal when she’s ovulating and at peak fertility, which is helpful to know, so you can time sex with your partner appropriately.
So what should you be on the lookout for? The following signs of fertility in women may help boost your chances of getting pregnant each month.
Sign #1: A Positive Result from Your Ovulation Predictor
This is one sign of fertility you don’t have to work too hard to detect. Ovulation predictor kits are test strips that you pee on with the goal of detecting when your body experiences a surge of luteinizing hormone (LH), which triggers the release of the egg from the ovary (aka ovulation). A positive sign on your ovulation predictor kit signals that you should expect to ovulate within the next 36 hours. The best times to have sex are the day of the LH surge and the following two days.
Watch, Ovulation Signs and Symptoms:
Sign #2: A Change in Your Cervical Mucus
When you’re not ovulating, your cervical discharge may appear sticky, cloudy or be so minimal you can’t tell you have any. But as you get closer to ovulation, your body starts to produce more estrogen as the egg that’s going to ovulate matures in the ovary.
This causes your cervical mucus to become clear and stretchy, similar to egg whites. The change in discharge creates a more susceptible environment for sperm to reach the egg—so keep an eye on any fluctuations in your discharge as a potential sign of fertility.
Sign #3: Increased Sex Drive
Mother Nature is pretty smart: When you enter your fertile window (meaning the days when you’re most likely to conceive), right before ovulation, your sexual desire rises due to a jump in hormones such as estrogen and testosterone. (A pretty fun sign of fertility, no?) Not only will your sex drive shift into high gear during this time, but your body will also undergo subtle changes that make you feel sexier—and make your partner more drawn to you too. Those changes may include slightly fuller lips, a higher pitched voice and a change in your face structure, your walk and the way your hips move.
Sign #4: Increased Sense of Smell
Does your partner’s post-workout body odor strike you as oddly sexy at certain times of the month? This could actually be a sign of peak fertility! One study found that women’s sense of smell sharpens as they near ovulation, and they become particularly sensitive to musky scents and male pheromones, such as androsterone.
While the exact reason is unknown, that heightened sense of smell may be nature’s way of helping women pick out a suitable mate.
Sign #5: Lower Abdominal Pain
Have you ever noticed lower pelvic pain during the middle of your cycle? This could actually be a sign of fertility known as mittelschmerz pain. Some women describe feeling a sharp, lower pelvic cramping that can last from a few minutes to several hours in the middle of her cycle and can be a signal that ovulation is occurring. Of course, not all women are the same; some will feel this pain every single month and others may never experience this cramping, and that’s okay!
Sign #6: Change in Your Cervical Position
The cervix is at the top portion of the vagina and is what dilates during labor and childbirth. The cervix tends to change throughout your menstrual cycle, and when you’re close to ovulation your cervix will become higher, softer and more open. While you may think only your ob-gyn can check your cervix, it’s actually possible for you to do it on your own, although it may take some practice to know how to check for it and understand what you’re feeling.
Sign #7: Breast Tenderness
You may have experienced that time of the month where your breasts are extremely sore, achy and have an overall heavy feeling. This is due to an increase in the hormone progesterone, which your body produces right after ovulation. So while sore breasts can’t predict when you’ll ovulate, they may clue you in to the fact ovulation occurred that month, which can be a reassuring sign of fertility.
Sign #8: Mid-Cycle Spotting
Does spotting mid-cycle have you concerned? This could actually be a sign of recent ovulation. After the egg is released, your estrogen levels drop significantly before rising again in the luteal phase (the second half of your menstrual cycle after ovulation). The short-lived drop in estrogen may actually trigger some mid-cycle spotting that usually resolves in a day or two. However, all women’s bodies are different and many women may never notice mid-cycle spotting and still have regular ovulation.
Temeka Zore, MD, is a reproductive endocrinologist and infertility specialist as well as a board-certified ob-gyn currently practicing at Spring Fertility in San Francisco.
She enjoys taking care of a wide range of reproductive and fertility issues but has a special passion for fertility preservation and educating and empowering women regarding their reproductive health. Follow Zore on Instagram @temekazoremd.
Please note: The Bump and the materials and information it contains are not intended to, and do not constitute, medical or other health advice or diagnosis and should not be used as such. You should always consult with a qualified physician or health professional about your specific circumstances.
Plus, more from The Bump:
Fertility 101: What Affects Fertility and How to Boost It
Signs of Ovulation
6 Ways to Naturally Bost Your Fertility
The first signs of pregnancy | Kotex®
Although pregnancy tests and ultrasound are the only ways to accurately determine pregnancy, there are a number of signs and symptoms to watch out for. The first signs of pregnancy include not only the absence of a period, but may also include fatigue, sensitivity to smells, and morning sickness.
It is worth remembering that these are POSSIBLE signs of pregnancy, they can appear in both pregnant and non-pregnant women and are associated with ovulation and menstruation.
When do symptoms appear?
Oddly enough, the first week of pregnancy is determined by the date of the last menstruation.
Your last period counts as the first week of pregnancy, even if you haven't actually been pregnant yet. The estimated due date is calculated from the first day of your last period.
Taking a home pregnancy test is the cheapest and easiest way to find out if you are pregnant. Remember that home pregnancy tests measure the level of a hormone called human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in the urine, and there is usually less of it in the urine than in the blood.
The test gives the most accurate results from the moment of missed menstruation.
The menstrual cycle is considered delayed if the menstruation did not begin within 5 or more days after the day of their expected start.
However, it is worth remembering that even the day after the expected delay, more than a third of women will give a negative result from such home tests, and if you test too early, the result can be negative, even if you are already pregnant. You can do another test at home after a couple of days to get a more accurate result.
Signs and symptoms of pregnancy
If you are pregnant for the first time, then you may not notice these first signs of pregnancy or confuse them with symptoms of impending menstruation.
It is not worth spending long hours looking for answers on the forums in experiences, in any case, your research will not change what has already happened or has not happened, but mood and sleep can thoroughly spoil.
Slight lower abdominal pain and spotting
Absence of menstruation
Fatigue
Nausea
Breast swelling
Frequent urination
Constipation
Vertigo on motion
Mood swings
Temperature changes
High blood pressure
Pain and slight bleeding
From weeks 1 to 4, changes in a woman's body are still happening at the cellular level.
A fertilized egg creates a group of cells filled with fluid, which is called a blastocyst, which, after pregnancy, will have to turn into organs and body parts of the fetus.
Approximately 10-14 days after conception (4 weeks), the blastocyst attaches itself to the endometrium lining the uterine wall. This process can cause some bleeding, which can be confused with light menstruation.
Here are some signs of such bleeding:
-
color can be red, pink or brown
-
bleeding: usually comparable to normal menstruation, usually lighter
-
painful sensations
-
usually lasts about three days
No period
After the blastocyst attaches to the walls of the uterus, the body begins to produce a hormone called human chorionic gonadotropin, which tells the body that it is time to stop releasing eggs from the ovaries every month.
Most often, after conception, menstruation disappears at 4 weeks of pregnancy.
If you're late, it's worth taking a home pregnancy test, especially if you have irregular periods.
Fatigue
Fatigue may appear at any time during pregnancy. During pregnancy, progesterone levels rise, and this hormone can make you feel sleepy. If you feel tired, then make sure you get enough sleep.
Morning sickness and vomiting
Nausea and morning vomiting usually develop between 4 and 6 weeks of gestation. In fact, such symptoms can occur not only in the morning, but in general at any time of the day. This symptom is typical for the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. If you often feel sick, then you need to make sure that you drink enough water to avoid dehydration.
Breast swelling and tenderness
Breast changes may begin at 4-6 weeks of gestation.
They are also associated with changes in hormone levels. Most often, the breast swells somewhat and becomes more sensitive than usual. Usually these symptoms disappear in the future, when the body gets used to the changed hormonal background.
Frequent urination
During pregnancy, blood flow increases and this causes the kidneys to process more fluid than usual, which can cause frequent urination even in the early stages of pregnancy.
Constipation and bloating
This symptom is similar to the typical menstrual symptom and is also caused by hormonal changes, which can slow down the digestive processes, which causes bloating and constipation.
High blood pressure and dizziness during pregnancy
Most often in the early stages of pregnancy in women, blood pressure drops, which can cause a feeling of dizziness due to vasodilation of the brain.
High blood pressure in the first 20 weeks of pregnancy usually means that there are some health problems that occur along with pregnancy. Such a symptom may have been present unnoticed prior to pregnancy, or it may have developed during the process. In such cases, it is especially important to monitor your blood pressure and consult your doctor.
Mood swings
Since estrogen and progesterone levels are elevated during pregnancy, this can cause changes in your emotional background and you may become more sensitive than usual. They can cause such strong feelings as depression, irritability, euphoria and anxiety.
Increase in basal body temperature
Basal body temperature is the lowest body temperature it reaches during rest or sleep. It is determined by measuring the temperature in the early morning by inserting a thermometer into the rectum. Normal body temperature may also rise, especially during heat or physical activity.
It is important to consume enough liquid in such cases. Make sure you don't get too hot to sleep.
How to determine pregnancy without a test
How to determine pregnancy without a test and what signs indirectly indicate that your beloved baby will be born soon? Of course, only a blood test can give a 100% guarantee, but the presence of certain signs may indicate its possible onset.
Classic signs of pregnancy
Most common early signs and symptoms may include
- Delayed menses. Problems with the regularity of the menstrual cycle may be associated with hormonal imbalance in the body. But if the delay arose for the first time, and before that the cycle was as accurate as a clock, then it is likely that you are pregnant.
- Early toxicosis with severe nausea and vomiting - the most common sign of an interesting situation, but not every woman has.
- Pain in both breasts or enlargement. Nipples may become very sensitive and change color. Sometimes in the early stages, colostrum is released from them with slight pressure.
- Pain in the pelvic region, similar to menstruation. But this sign can also indicate such a serious pathology as an ectopic pregnancy.
- Increased amount of discharge from the genitals. This can usually be observed during ovulation. Normal discharge is clear and odorless. When a whitish tint or a curdled structure appears, thrush can also be assumed, which is a common problem for expectant mothers. But in this case, you can not do without treatment. During the period of bearing a child, it is necessary to protect your body as much as possible from any, even such a safe disease.
- Increased or vice versa reduced libido. Every woman experiences jumps in sexual desire in one direction or the other due to hormonal changes occurring in the body.
Therefore, men should treat this with understanding, knowing that they have not become less loved, but these are just signs of pregnancy. - Frequent urination, despite the fact that you do not drink more often and there are no inflammatory diseases of the genitourinary system. A similar phenomenon is associated with a slight relaxation of the sphincter of the bladder due to hormonal processes. And with the growth of the uterus and, accordingly, with the increase in pressure on the bladder, going to the toilet will become even more frequent.
Additional symptoms of pregnancy
There are less obvious signs that may occur during the first trimester. These include:
- Strange Desires . For example, at night I sharply wanted chocolate, and during the day - salted fish. Such desires may not be mere whims. If you want sour, then perhaps there is not enough vitamin C in the body. You want to gnaw on the wall with calcium deficiency, and sniff gasoline - with a lack of iron, anemia.
- Constant irritability, tearfulness. The flow of hormones in a woman's body in the early stages can make her unusually emotional. So-called mood swings can be a clear sign of pregnancy.
- Bloating . Hormonal changes can cause feelings of fullness in the abdomen, as at the beginning of the menstrual cycle.
- Bloody discharge pale pink. This symptom is called implantation bleeding. This happens when a fertilized egg attaches to the lining of the uterus, about 10 to 14 days after conception. Usually occurs during the normal periods of the menstrual period. But not all women have such bleeding is a sign of a normal pregnancy. Therefore, in case of detection of deviations from the normal cycle, consult a gynecologist.
- Chair problems . Hormonal changes cause the digestive system to slow down, which can lead to constipation.
- Food aversions . When you are pregnant, you may become more sensitive to certain smells and your sense of taste may change.
