Tips on How to Get Pregnant

Preparing Your Body for Pregnancy

Your body needs to be in optimal condition for conception. Here is a checklist you can use for the same:

• Make an appointment with your gynaecologist for a preconception visit.
• Get screened for STDs and any other underlying conditions.
• Maintain a healthy weight.
• Quit smoking and limit alcohol intake.
• Review the medications with your doctor to ensure that they are safe to take during conception.
• Take prescribed prenatal supplements only.
• Stay hydrated; drink 9-10 glasses of water daily.

Healthy Lifestyle Habits

Your lifestyle has an impact on your fertility. By making small adjustments, you can significantly improve your chances of conception.

• Avoid Alcohol

  Alcohol has an impact on men's as well as women’s infertility. It affects sperm production in men and hormone balance in women. While you are trying to conceive, it is recommended that you avoid alcohol.

• Limit Caffeine

  Caffeine can interfere with implantation. This is because it can constrict the blood flow to the uterus. If you do have to drink coffee, limit it to less than 3 cups a day.

• Stop Smoking

  Women who smoke have a lower chance of getting pregnant. Men who smoke have reduced sperm motility and count. If you are having a hard time quitting, consider seeking professional help.

• Exercise Regularly but in Moderation

  Exercising regularly offers numerous benefits, including improved hormonal balance and enhanced blood circulation. However, if you are overexercising, it can cause irregular or missed periods. Ideally, opt for 30-45 minutes of moderate exercise daily.

• Manage Stress

  Excessive stress can impact your hormone production and delay ovulation. If you have been dealing with stress, we recommend meditation, breathing exercises, getting adequate sleep, journaling, therapy, and enjoying your hobbies. Once you and your partner release tension, you can also enjoy the natural process of conceiving.

Fertility Tips for Men

Male fertility is just as important as a female’s. Here is how men can improve it:

• Avoid smoking and alcohol, as they can impact sperm count and quality.
• Being obese can also affect testosterone and sperm, so it is essential to maintain a healthy weight.
• Avoid tight underwear, hot tubs, and saunas.
• Add zinc, selenium, and antioxidants to your diet.
• Don’t keep your phone in your trouser pockets.
• Manage your stress, as it can lower your libido and even affect your sperm count.

How to Track Ovulation

The key to getting pregnant is knowing your ovulation so that you can have intercourse at the right time.

Signs You’re Ovulating

• Cervical mucus that looks like raw egg white (clear, stretchy)
• Slight increase in your basal body temperature
• Increased libido
• Mild cramping in the pelvic or abdominal region

Tools to Help Predict Ovulation

• Check your Menstrual calendar
• See if the Basal body temperature rises by 2-3 degrees.
• Ovulation Predictor Kits (detect hormone surges triggered by egg release)

Timing Sex for Conception

• Have intercourse every 1-2 days during your fertility window.
• Focus on the 4-5 days leading up to ovulation and the day of ovulation.
• Lay flat after intercourse for 10 to 15 minutes, as it helps with sperm movement.

When to Seek Medical Help

Many couples can conceive naturally within a year of trying to conceive. However, if that is not the case with you, you should see a fertility specialist. Here is when you should seek medical help:

• If you are under the age of 35 and haven’t conceived even after having regular, unprotected sex for a year.
• If you are over the age of 35 and haven’t conceived after 6 months.
• If you have reproductive issues like endometriosis, PCOS, low sperm count, etc.
• If you have absent or irregular periods.

Depending on your case, you might have to undergo fertility treatments like ovulation induction, IVF, or IUI.

Conclusion

Getting pregnant is a journey; short for some and long for others. Conception depends on several factors, including timing, biology, overall health, nutrition, and emotional well-being. You can create optimal conditions for pregnancy through a balanced diet, moderate exercise, and effective stress management. For couples, it is essential to be patient and work as a team. Remember that even if you do everything right, it can still take months. Until that happens, stay positive and seek medical guidance when needed.