It might seem like getting pregnant is the easiest thing in the world to do, but many women struggle to conceive, often trying for several years before getting pregnant. Assuming that you have already ruled out some of the common causes of infertility with your healthcare provider, there are some ways you can increase the chances of getting pregnant naturally.

How to Get Pregnant Without Interventions

1. Get Healthy 

While you want to be as healthy as possible during pregnancy, getting healthy before you start trying to get pregnant can help improve the chances of conception and avoiding infertility. If you are a smoker, quit, and reduce your alcohol and caffeine consumption. Your doctor may also recommend losing some extra weight if necessary. Be sure to maintain a healthy diet rich in folic acid and exercise several times a week. 

2. Monitor Your Ovulation

When you ovulate, or release an egg, it’s only viable for about 24 hours. Therefore, it’s critical to know exactly when you will ovulate and have sex during that time. For most women, ovulation happens about two weeks before their period, so you’ll need to monitor your cycle for a few months to determine the days when you will be most fertile.

Taking your temperature each morning can help, as your basal temperature will rise slightly (only about half a degree) around the time you ovulate. You can also use an ovulation predictor. These tests measure the amount of luteinizing hormone (LH) in your urine, and when there is a significant spike, you’re ovulating and you should have sex within a day or two. 

3. Take Your Vitamins

Taking certain vitamins can help increase your ability to conceive as well. For instance, taking 15mg of zinc daily can improve fertility in both men and women. Vitamin C helps trigger ovulation, and vitamin B6 can help regulate the female sex hormones. Vitamin E also helps both men and women, by supporting female sex hormones and sperm quality in men. Talk with your naturopathic doctor about your specific vitamin needs and how much you should take each day to help you get pregnant. 

4. Use the Right Lubrication

Although there are some claims that factors like sexual position or whether a woman orgasms contribute to infertility and the ability to get pregnant, there aren’t any reliable studies to support these claims, However, the lubrication that you use can make a difference.

Some common lubes, as well as natural lubes like olive oil, can interfere with sperm, either killing them or preventing them from reaching the egg. Again, your naturopathic doctor can help you find the right lubrication product that won’t interfere with conception. 

If you are struggling to get pregnant or dealing with infertility, the naturopathic experts at A Path to Natural Health can help. Helping families in Issaquah, WA, for over 25 years, their holistic doctor offers extensive care for those wanting to start a family. Dr. Maura Scanlan, ND, Lac and her team will help increase your chance of getting pregnant using safe and effective methods. Learn about their fertility services online, or call (425) 270-3047 to schedule a consultation.