Getting pregnant might seem like the easiest, most natural thing in the world. However, conceiving a baby can be challenging and requires impeccable timing. Here are some ways you can improve your chances of conception before you visit an infertility doctor.

3 Ways to Boost Your Chances of Getting Pregnant

1. Get Healthy

A healthy pregnancy begins with a healthy mother, so focus on preparing your body to carry a baby. Maintaining a healthy weight, getting plenty of exercise, eating healthy foods, and quitting smoking can all help you be as healthy as possible. If you’re overweight, losing just 5%-10% of your body weight can improve your fertility.

Before you start trying to get pregnant, make an appointment with your gynecologist to talk about your plans and get screened for any health issues that could affect your chances of getting pregnant. Your doctor will likely recommend that you start taking a prenatal vitamin to boost your intake of folic acid to help prevent birth defects.

2. Know Your Cycle

To get pregnant, a mature egg must be fertilized by a sperm and implant in your uterus. There’s only a short window for this to occur. Most women are at their most fertile for about five days before ovulation, and then the day of ovulation. Once you ovulate, the egg is only viable for 24 hours, so if it’s not fertilized during that window, you won't get pregnant.

To improve your chances of getting pregnant, pay close attention to your cycle, and try to have sex during that window. If you want to be sure of the timeframe, use a fertility tracking app or an ovulation prediction kit. You can also track your basal body temperature, which increases slightly when you ovulate. Have sex every day, or every other day, during your fertility window, and avoid using lubricants that can affect sperm motility.

3. Get Help

Generally speaking, it can take up to a year for a healthy woman under age 35 to get pregnant naturally. For women 35 and older, see an infertility doctor after six months of unsuccessful attempts to conceive. They can help identify any medical issues that could affect your ability to get pregnant. They can also help you get a better grasp of your cycle and the optimal times to try getting pregnant, as well as recommend interventions to improve the likelihood of success.

If you’re having trouble getting pregnant and want to speak with an infertility doctor, contact Dr. William M. Jamieson. Serving families from locations in Cincinnati and Mason, OH, this board-certified gynecologist and obstetrician provides a wide range of women’s health care services for all ages. Visit the practice’s website to learn more, and call (513) 241-7744 to schedule an appointment.