Whether you have just decided to start trying for a baby or have been trying for months, there are strategies you can use to increase your chances of success. You’re anxious to add to your family, so you naturally want to become pregnant as soon as possible. Try any of these methods, which are safe and recommended by OB-GYNs, to improve your likelihood of conception.

3 OB-GYN-Recommended Strategies for Boosting Fertility

1. Track Your Cycle

Trying at the right time of your cycle is the most effective way to increase your odds of conception. Women with regular cycles will ovulate two weeks before menstruating, and the most fertile window is in the week before ovulation. An ovulation predictor kit can help you test for the luteinizing hormone, which surges just before ovulation, so you know when to try. If you have an irregular cycle, your OB-GYN can give you advice on tracking it.

2. Maintain a Healthy Weight

Being overweight has been found to have a negative effect on fertility. The fat cells affect estrogen production, causing irregular periods and disrupting ovulation. If you need to lose some weight, then now is the best time to begin. Your efforts, which help you get pregnant, will also promote a healthy pregnancy once they do conceive.

3. Quit Smoking

Smoking can cause infertility in both men and women, especially if you smoke six or more per day. Smoking also can cause other complications, such as increasing the risk of miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy. You will need to quit smoking during pregnancy, so work on quitting now and you’ll improve your likelihood of getting pregnant. If your partner needs to quit, then they should too.

Dr. Joseph Hazan of Advanced OB-GYN Services is a board-certified OB-GYN who is committed to providing personalized, state-of-the-art care in Bridgeton and Saint Peters, MO. He offers both early morning and evening hours to accommodate your schedule, and is available around the clock for emergencies. He uses the latest cutting-edge services and procedures for safe and painless care. Learn more on their website and call to schedule an appointment. Reach the St. Peters office at (636) 928-1800 or the Bridgeton office at (314) 291-2140.