Becoming a parent is something many people take for granted all over the world. However, in the US, 1 in 5 couples experience difficulties in getting pregnant within the first year of trying for a baby.
While part of the fun of getting pregnant is in the trying, if extending your family is on the cards for you, tips can help you maximize fertility to boost your chances of getting pregnant.
Know Your Cycle
It can be an excellent idea to take some time to get to know your menstrual cycle so you know when your period is due, when you’re ovulating, and the best times to try during maximum fertility. Ideally, you want to be having sex around 5 days on either side of ovulation, and the better you know your cycle, the easier it will be to pin down these dates. This article has more information on how long is peak ovulation, amongst other questions, to assist you in finding the right time to improve your chances of falling pregnant.
Have Sex Regularly
Ideally, you want to have as regular as possible. Experts suggest that having sex every day or every other day is your best route to falling pregnant faster. However, as mentioned above, you can time your intercourse course around ovulation and increase bedroom time on these days, too.
If having sex every day isn’t enjoyable for you or possible for any reason, then focusing your efforts on having more sex around a week after your period can yield the best results.
Improve Health
Maintaining a healthy weight, eating a balanced nutritious diet, and exercising regularly can help you to boost your fertility. The reason is that overweight or underweight people tend to experience more fertility issues than those who maintain a healthy body weight. While this isn’t the case for everyone, if you want to be in the best shape for conceiving and carrying your baby, then focusing on your health and well-being can be an excellent place to start.
Talk To Your Doctor
It doesn’t matter where you are on your pregnancy journey; talking to your doctor about your desire to become pregnant can help you understand your body and get any applicable tests that might uncover any issues you need to be aware of or ascertain your fertility levels so you know what to expect. At the very least, they can identify any lifestyle changes it might be best to make during this time and how to best care for your body, such as starting to take folic acid and boosting your levels to be ready for pregnancy.
Avoid Smoking and Drinking Alcohol
This goes for both you and your partner. Smoking and drinking large quantities of alcohol can impact your ability to get pregnant and cause further issues should you conceive. If you’re looking to get in the best health possible and ready for your pregnancy or parenthood, then you want to stop smoking anyway and reduce your alcohol consumption as well as cut back on other vices such as caffeine consumption, taking illicit drugs and eating too many ultra-processed foods. Smoking and alcohol in large quantities are both harmful to your physical and mental health, and addressing these early on in your journey will be highly beneficial.
