Are you trying to conceive? It can be an exciting, yet stressful time. But remember, getting pregnant can take some time. Even a healthy 30-year-old woman only has a 20% chance of getting pregnant each month. However, there are steps you can take to improve your chances of conceiving.

Firstly, it’s important to understand your menstrual cycle. There are a series of hormonal changes in your body each month that cause an egg to grow and mature in the ovary. This process takes about two weeks on average, beginning with your menstrual period. Once the egg is mature, it’s released from the ovary in a process known as ovulation. The egg then travels down the fallopian tube toward the uterus. The egg is only viable for about 24 hours once it’s been released. The key is to have sex in the days before and during ovulation.

If you have regular cycles, you will ovulate around two weeks before your period. This means your fertile window will be the seven days before your expected ovulation. If you have irregular cycles, it can be more challenging to predict your fertile window. However, there are a few methods to help pinpoint ovulation.

Ovulation predictor kits are similar to pregnancy tests. You will urinate on the test strips every morning, starting a few days before you think you will ovulate. The test strips detect luteinizing hormone (LH), which surges right before ovulation. Once you get a positive result, you should have sex that day and for the next few days.

By measuring your basal body temperature every morning before getting out of bed, you might be able to detect a very slight decrease then a slight rise in temperature for three mornings in a row. The temperature rise may be as little as half of a degree, indicating ovulation.

Cervical mucus changes also help detect ovulation. As the ovarian follicle develops, your estrogen level rises, causing your cervical mucus to become thin and slippery. You may also notice an increase in cervical mucus. Once you see these changes, have sex every day or every other day until ovulation.

If you’re having difficulty tracking your ovulation using the above methods, talk to your doctor about follicular monitoring, which includes regular blood hormone tests and ultrasounds of your ovaries.

When it comes to sex, different positions or keeping the hips elevated after sex for a period of time have not been scientifically proven to increase chances of pregnancy. However, certain lubricants can decrease sperm motility and viability, so it’s important to avoid these products when trying to get pregnant. Products like Pre-Seed, mineral oil, or canola oil won’t interfere with sperm.

Before trying to get pregnant, you should make an appointment with your obstetrician to talk about existing health problems, get screened for genetic diseases, and address other health concerns you might have. Making lifestyle changes, such as getting to a healthy weight, improving diet and exercise habits, and eliminating alcohol and smoking can also help improve your chances of a healthy pregnancy.

If you drink alcohol, you should also stop or cut back, as there is no safe amount of alcohol during pregnancy.

You should also start taking a prenatal vitamin with folic acid at least one month before trying to conceive. Folic acid has been shown to reduce the risk of certain birth defects, such as spina bifida.

In addition to taking care of your physical health, it’s also important to take care of your mental health. Stress can interfere with ovulation and make it harder to get pregnant. Take steps to manage your stress, such as practicing relaxation techniques like yoga, meditation, or deep breathing.

Finally, it’s important to be patient. It can take several months or even longer to conceive. If you’ve been trying for a year or more without success, it may be time to talk to your doctor about fertility testing and other options.

In conclusion, getting pregnant can take time, but there are steps you can take to increase your chances. By tracking your cycle and having sex during your fertile window, taking care of your physical and mental health, and being patient, you can improve your odds of conceiving and having a healthy pregnancy. Remember to talk to your doctor if you have any concerns or if you’ve been trying to conceive for a year or more without success.