There are entire books on the subject of getting pregnant. What to expect, how to overcome hurdles and when to seek help. All of it boils down to one simple concept: how to make one sperm connect with one egg. OB-GYNs and other experts weigh in on the basics of fertility and getting pregnant, such as how to know your fertility window and what lifestyle changes to make. Here are 10 things you can start doing today — and it’s a whole lot faster than reading an entire book on the subject.
Window for conception
Tracking your ovulation
Planning for intercourse during ovulation can be tricky, but there are ways to find out when you’re ovulating, including taking your temperature, checking your cervical mucus and using an over-the-counter ovulation kit.
“Knowing when ovulation occurs is so empowering because it enables women to time their intimacy or sperm exposure during their peak fertile day,” Dr. Wendy Chang,board-certified reproductive endocrinologist, previously told Mom.com.
Know your mucus
As indicated above, checking your cervical mucus can be helpful when predicting ovulation. Look for sticky and a heavier-than-usual consistency. “Cervical mucus varies throughout a natural menstrual cycle, based on a woman’s hormonal activity,” Chang said. “Mucus is usually scant right after menstruation, and then increases in amount. The rise in estrogen that precedes ovulation stimulates the production of profuse, clear, and stretchy mucus that facilitates sperm passage. So, detection of that mucus can be a helpful indicator of good estrogen secretion and impending ovulation.”
Things that can cause infertility: It’s not you, it’s me…or is it?
Women often assume that they are having a problem conceiving because of something going on within their body, but don’t forget to consider your partner’s fertility health, too. Dr. Bickman explained that infertility is 1/3 a female factor, 1/3 a male factor and 1/3 unexplained. Your doctor is there to help you and figure out any causes that might be preventing you from getting pregnant, so make sure you both get a checkup!
What helps fertility: Watch your alcohol
While moderate drinking (three to six drinks a week) is not believed to harm your chances of conceiving, recent studies show that anything more than that can impact your fertility.
“We found that heavy drinking during any phase of the menstrual cycle was significantly associated with a reduced probability of conception compared to non-drinkers,” Dr Kira Taylor, professor of epidemiology and population health at the University of Louisville School of Public Health, wrote for Science Daily.
Also note: Your partner’s drinking could affect his sperm count.
What vitamins help with fertility
Talk to your doctor early about getting you started on a prenatal vitamin, and test for any deficiencies that can maybe be helped with supplements.
But it’s important to note that prenatal vitamins have nothing to do with conceiving. You should ideally be taking prenatal vitamins six months prior to conception, but their purpose is to help prevent against neural tube defects. The folic acid that prenatal vitamins contain do not actually help you get pregnant.
“In addition to diet changes, I’ve focused on finding supplements that are free of toxins and create a healthier environment for pregnancy,” mom of one Arden Cartrette previously told Mom.com.
Things that help with fertility: Healthy eating
Be mindful of what is going into your body in preparation for your upcoming pregnancy. “Eating a diet that ‘supports’ fertility includes whole foods, a healthy balance of lean protein, healthy fats, and fiber that can help boost your gut microbe, regulate hormones, and lower stress levels — all three are important to prep your body for pregnancy,” Jayne Williams, a certified integrative health and nutrition expert, told Glamour.
