Tips to increase your fertility and help you conceive faster.
 Got baby on the brain? The basic mechanics behind baby-making may seem like a no-brainer - particularly when you keeping hearing about young unwed girls getting knocked up, making it seem so effortless - but the truth is, some women find getting pregnant to be nearly impossible.
The good news is, if you’re relatively healthy and of child-bearing age, the odds are stacked in your favor that you will conceive as long as you keep trying. However, the waiting game can still be hard - and frustrating - to play.
The better news is that there are things you can try to improve your odds of getting pregnant faster.
First, get your body ready for pregnancy. Visit your doctor and get a physical to make sure you’re healthy and that you’re not at risk for developing anything that could harm a developing fetus. You may need vaccinations (particularly for German measles). Stop taking your birth control pills at least a few months prior to when you want to officially start “trying.” Start taking a prenatal vitamin that contains enough folic acid (a minimum of 400 mcg daily) in order to prevent birth defects. Eat healthier: this will not only help prepare you for carrying and growing a child in your uterus, but it can help boost your fertility, too. If you drink or smoke, stop or cut down considerably; alcohol and nicotine can negatively affect the fertility of both men and women and are also dangerous for unborn babies. Consider also taking up some regular but gentle, low-impact exercise, which has been shown to reduce stress and stimulate hormones necessary for conception.
Second, learn your menstruation cycle. Many women know surprisingly little about their menstrual cycles. However, figuring out when you are likely ovulating—when your body releases the egg for possible fertilization by a sperm—each month plays a huge role in becoming pregnant. You are most fertile for the few days before and during ovulation. You can boost your chances of conception by having sex during your most fertile times. Talk to your doctor if you’re unsure about your ovulation, or consider an at-home ovulation predictor kit.
You don’t need to have sex every day or multiple times a day to get pregnant, but couples who have regular, frequent, and well-timed sex will have a higher chance of conceiving sooner than couples who have sporadic or less frequent sex.
Finally, enjoy the process and relax. Trying to get pregnant can all too quickly feel like a race, a competition, or a challenge to overcome. It’s easy for couples trying to conceive to become frustrated and stressed out when they are initially unsuccessful in the baby-making department. You’ve probably heard it before many times that “when you stop trying, that’s when you’ll get pregnant”—but this is often true. Stress plays a huge role in your fertility and ability to conceive. Try to relax, enjoy spending time with your partner, enjoy making love with your partner, and deal with any other stressors in your life. Couples who relax a bit and stop “trying so hard” often find themselves suddenly and even unexpectedly pregnant.
When to see a doctor: It is typically recommended to visit your doctor again if you still have not conceived after 12 months of regular, active “trying.” There is likely nothing physically wrong with you or your partner, but it is worthwhile to get checked out, just in case.
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