
Dr. Aruna Ashok MBBS, MS OG, DNB OG
- Clinical Director
When it comes to planning for the pregnancy, being aware of the time when a woman is most fertile plays a crucial role. Furthermore, being aware of things that help to increase your chances of getting pregnant more effectively is also significant.
In this blog, we are here with a comprehensive guide on how to get pregnant fast with the best strategies.
Timing is everything when trying to conceive.
Understanding your menstrual cycle can indeed increase your chances of successful pregnancy. Knowing your cycle is directly associated with tracking your ovulation period. There are several ovulation trackers available and natural signs to observe that help to track your ovulation day.
The ovulation period is generally considered the most fertile time for women to get pregnant. During this period, if you have unprotected intercourse with your partner, there are significant possibilities that you can achieve your pregnancy. This happens as the sperm will wait for a ruptured egg in the woman’s reproductive tract to get fertilized.
If you have a keen eye on tracking your ovulation each month and have unprotected intercourse with your partner in the days leading up to, during, and the day after ovulation, the chances of achieving a successful pregnancy are much higher.
Note: Using a sperm-friendly lubricant during intercourse can mimic the precum or cervical mucus. This allows the sperm to swim freely towards the egg without affecting its motility. This potentially enhances the chance of conception.
Once you know when you are most fertile, try to have sexual activity every day or every other day during this time.
This makes sure that sperm is always there when the egg gets released from the ovary, which increases your chances of getting pregnant.
Ovulation is the period when your ovaries release a matured egg. The released egg indeed travels through the fallopian tubes and then to the uterus. When released from the ovaries, the egg is viable for the fertilization. The egg typically has a limited survival duration of 12-24 hours to get fertilized. The fertilization happens only when the sperm waits and meets the egg in the fallopian tubes.
If the sperm and egg meet in the fallopian tubes, the fertilization takes place. On the other hand, if the sperm misses its chance to meet the egg in the fallopian tube, the chances of fertilization are significantly diminished. Later on, the egg will pass out along with the shredding of the uterine lining or endometrium through your regular menstruation bleeding.
Generally, ovulation happens anywhere between the day 10 and 16 of your menstrual cycle. However, the day may typically vary from woman to woman.
You can accurately track the day you are ovulating through the calendar method and ovulation predictor kit.
To track the ovulation day through the calendar method, note the starting date of your menstrual cycle. Let’s say your cycle is 28 days, the ovulation might happen around day 14. Generally, ovulation may happen earlier or later, depending on the length of your cycle.
To track the ovulation day through the ovulation predictor kit, you need to dip the predictor strip in your urine a few days before the expected day of your ovulation. The kit detects the presence of luteinizing hormone (LH) in your hormone. If the concentration of LH is high enough, it indicates that ovulation is approaching in the next 12-36 hours.
Note: The level of luteinizing hormone (LH) increases at least 24-48 before your ovulation.
Apart from the calendar method and ovulation predictor kit, you can also predict your ovulation through certain physical observations. They are:
Choosing the best sexual position plays a significant role in getting pregnant. The position is directly associated with assisting the sperm to penetrate deep inside the woman’s uterus. This allows the sperm to swim more efficiently towards the egg.
In general, the doggy and elevated missionary positions are considered the best sexual positions when trying to get pregnant. However, this has no scientific evidence, many believed that these positions worked better than other positions.
Furthermore, the way from the vagina to the fallopian tubes is not straight. So, you need not worry if some of the ejaculated sperm are expelled. There are significant possibilities that the majority of the sperm has started to swim towards the egg through the cervix as soon as they are ejaculated.
Following are some of the expert advice to improve your chances of getting pregnant. They are:
If you are preventing your pregnancy through a condom, diaphragm, cap, or natural method and are planning for the pregnancy, you can start trying to get conceived immediately through regular intercourse without the protection. However, if you are using hormonal methods like contraceptive injections or pills to prevent your pregnancy, it is suggested to allow your body to regulate its natural cycle after stopping its usage. Once the cycle is regulated, you can begin to try getting pregnant. However, it is recommended to consult your physician if you are trying to get pregnant after using hormonal contraceptives.
It is suggested to take folic acid and vitamin D supplements every day if you are planning to get pregnant. The consumption of these pills helps to prevent birth defects and complications in the growing fetus. The complications may include spina bifida, spine, and brain conditions. The supplements can also help prevent miscarriage. Even though the pills are easily available in the pharmacy, having a consultation with your healthcare physician before consuming them is highly suggested.
Quitting to smoke, alcohol and recreational drugs can indeed enhance the chances of getting pregnant. The consumption of such harmful substances can cause chronic medical conditions in the unborn baby. These substances can also have a negative impact on the quality of the sperm and egg, which significantly affects your chances of conception.
Being overweight or underweight, both have a negative impact when it comes to pregnancy. Maintaining your body mass index (BMI) can potentially lead to a successful and healthy pregnancy. This happens as the reproductive hormones function properly if you maintain your BMI. On the other hand, exercising regularly can enhance your energy levels and mood. Exercise can also reduce your stress levels, which arise during fertility treatments. Controlling stress levels can provide better outcomes in fertility treatments.
If you are under medication for pre-existing medical conditions and are planning to get pregnant, it is highly suggested to have a consultation with your healthcare professional regarding this. This will significantly reduce any medical interactions. The physician will identify and suggest the appropriate method to reduce such potential risks.
Note: It is highly not suggested to stop taking the medications without your physician’s consultation.
Researchers found that the consumption of more than two cups of coffee a day can have a negative impact on the pregnancy. This can significantly lead to low birth weight, miscarriage, and other pregnancy complications. Reducing the intake of coffee can potentially enhance the chances of getting pregnant.
There are certain foods that can help you improve the chances of healthy conception. They are:
The consumption of omega-3-rich foods can significantly enhance the chances of conception and overall health. The foods that are rich in omega-3 fatty acids are:
You can also consider including peanuts in your diet, which is another excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids.
The consumption of antioxidant-rich foods can enhance the quality of sperm and eggs. You can consider including:
You can also consider including dried fruits, which are an excellent source of antioxidants.
Studies found that the consumption of fibre-rich foods can improve female fertility. Some of the foods that are rich in fibre are:
Experts found that the consumption of protein can enhance both male and female fertility. Protein intake can improve the quality of eggs and sperm, regulate hormone production, and the health of the reproductive system in both men and women. Some of the foods that are rich in protein are:
If you are planning to get pregnant, it is suggested to try for at least one year without any contraceptives. If you have a medical condition such as PCOS, or endometriosis, or are aged over 35 years, seeking your healthcare professional for medical help is a wise decision.
1. How long should I try before getting medical help?
If you are under 35 years old, you can try conceiving for at least one year without any contraceptives. On the other hand, if you are over 35 years old, trying for six months without any contraceptives is suggested. If you did not get pregnant, consulting a fertility specialist after six months is a wise decision.
2. What to avoid when trying to get pregnant?
If you are trying to get pregnant, avoiding raw and preserved foods is highly suggested. In addition, you should also avoid consuming alcohol, smoking, caffeine, and foods like high-mercury fish, and soy products. Furthermore, avoiding heavy workouts is also highly suggested.
3. How do I ensure that the ejaculated sperm goes inside my body?
You can ensure that the ejaculated sperm is gone inside by slightly elevating your hips after intercourse. However, it is certain that the entire ejaculated sperm cannot go inside your vagina. And it’s natural for some of the sperm to be expelled. Still, the chances of conception are much higher since the majority of the sperm might have already started to swim towards the egg as soon as they are ejaculated.
4. Does the ovulation predictor kit work well?
The answer to the question is yes. Studies have found that the ovulation predictor kits (OPKs) have displayed the most accurate results of around 99%.
5. Which position is best for conception besides the doggy and missionary position?
While there are no definite positions as best for conception, the doggy and missionary positions are considered best as they enhance the possibility of sperm swimming towards the egg due to gravity.