Overview
When trying to conceive, you make a plan to increase your chances of success. It is a difficult journey, but with the proper guidance and appropriate steps, you can achieve success. It is overwhelming because there is a lot of information available, and couples often get confused. If you are planning or have been trying for some time, understanding important factors that influence conception can help to prepare your body and mind for pregnancy. This blog gives complete information about everything you should know when trying to conceive.
Understanding Your Fertile Window
Women trying to conceive must understand their menstrual cycle. It is important to identify the fertile window, as this is the optimal time for fertilisation. If you have a 28-day menstrual cycle, ovulation can occur on the 14th day. The best time to conceive is five days before ovulation starts and on the day of ovulation. You can check ovulation using ovulation predictor kits. Women also notice changes in their bodies during ovulation. Appearance of cervical mucus changes, and basal body temperature rises that indicate ovulation. Fertility-tracking apps are also available and can help track ovulation or the fertility window.
Tips to Conceive Fast
A few tips are given here to conceive fast:
- Schedule a preconception counselling with a health care provider. A gynaecologist can evaluate your health and identify any risks that require treatment. You can book a fertility counselling session at least three months before you try to conceive.
- Always tell the doctor about any kind of chronic health problems, such as high blood pressure, allergies, diabetes, or anaemia. These health problems should be under control before trying to conceive.
- Also, inform your doctor about any medications you are taking for any health problems.
- Give your complete medical history to the doctor so that the doctor can assess the risk of any disease in the baby. Some genetic disorders are inherited. A doctor can identify the genetic disorders using blood tests before conception. You can choose genetic screening before trying to conceive.
- Your doctor can also recommend several tests as part of preconception counselling. The tests include blood tests, a physical examination, an ultrasound scan, a pelvic examination, and a Pap smear. This will help the doctor evaluate your reproductive health, as it is important to determine if your body is healthy enough to support the growing baby.
Tips to Prepare Your Body for Pregnancy
You also have to prepare your body for pregnancy to ensure that you are in the best health before conceiving:
- Avoid drinking alcohol as it can impact your fertility when trying to conceive. Excessive alcohol drinking imbalances the hormones and ovulation, thereby making it difficult to conceive. Alcohol drinking can also cause danger to the baby and increase the risk of premature delivery and developmental abnormalities.
- Avoid contact and exposure to harmful substances to reduce the risk of infection.
- Avoid eating raw eggs or undercooked meat. Wash your hands before eating food and avoid visiting or meeting sick people.
- Also, avoid exposure to radiation and chemical substances that can affect foetal growth.
- Eat a healthy and well-balanced diet when trying to conceive. A healthy and balanced diet is important for providing essential nutrients for fetal growth. Add whole grains, lean proteins, fruits, vegetables, and low-fat dairy products to your diet. Avoid fatty and highly processed foods.
- Regular exercise is important to maintain an ideal body weight when trying to conceive. Obesity can affect fertility due to hormonal imbalance, and being underweight can cause anaemia that can also affect fertility and the menstrual cycle.
- Start taking prenatal vitamins to support egg formation and improve fertility. Iron, zinc, folic acid, calcium, and vitamin D help to improve fertility and achieve pregnancy faster.
- Quit smoking if you are trying to conceive because studies say that smoking increases the risk of premature birth, low birth weight, and developmental abnormalities.
What is the role of male fertility when trying to conceive?
Male fertility is important when trying to conceive because both partners should be mentally and physically healthy to achieve conception. Sperm should be healthy and motile to reach the egg for fertilisation.
Men can improve fertility by taking supplements, reducing stress, avoiding heavy exercise, and quitting smoking and alcohol drinking. Men should avoid wearing tight undergarments and excess heat exposure, such as saunas and hot baths, to improve sperm health. They should also manage weight by doing moderate exercise because obesity can also impact sperm quality and number. Eating a healthy diet is also important to improve sperm health. Thus, by making changes in diet and lifestyle, men can also improve fertility and help to achieve conception faster.
When to see a health care provider?
When trying to conceive, it is necessary to see a doctor. A doctor can identify the issues affecting your fertility and suggest the best ways to manage the problems. You must see a health care provider when trying to conceive if you are 35 or above. If you have been trying to conceive for a year without success, you must see a doctor. Women suffering from medical problems such as thyroid disorders, hormonal imbalances, fibroids, cysts, and endometriosis must visit a doctor to get diagnosed and take proper treatment.
Conclusion
Pregnancy is a beautiful journey, but it also brings many challenges. Women trying to conceive must understand their fertile window, ovulation time, adopt a healthy lifestyle, and maintain good health to enhance the chances of conception. Both partners should be in good health, emotionally and physically, to conceive quickly. You can conceive in a year and consult with a doctor if needed. Every woman has a different journey; therefore, check what is best for you.
Common Questions Asked
How can I get pregnant fast?
Conception is influenced by many factors such as time of intercourse, fertile window, age, lifestyle, and eating habits. Understanding these factors and modifying them can help you get pregnant fast.
What are the myths about conception?
People have several myths in their minds, such as that they can achieve conception only if they try in some particular positions, pregnancy can be achieved on any day of the cycle, stress is the main cause of infertility, and only a woman’s age affects conception.
Can I conceive if I have irregular menstruation?
Yes, many women with irregular menstruation can conceive naturally. They need to identify the time of ovulation. But, if you have other medical problems such as PCOS, you must consult with a doctor to get guided treatment.
How does pregnancy occur?
The first step is that the ovary releases an egg at the time of ovulation, which a sperm must fertilise within 12-48 hours. If an egg is fertilised by a sperm, an embryo forms, which is then implanted in the uterine wall, indicating the beginning of pregnancy.
Why should I consult a health care provider when trying to conceive?
You must schedule an appointment with a healthcare provider before trying to conceive, as the doctor can recommend prenatal supplements to support pregnancy in the early stages. A prenatal appointment also helps to diagnose any underlying health problems in couples that can be treated before pregnancy occurs.