Although you may have friends or family members who seemed to get pregnant quickly, for most couples it is not that easy. Bryan D. Cowan, M.D., chairman of the department of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Mississippi Medical Center at Jackson, points out that even under the most ideal of circumstances, women only have about a 20 percent chance of becoming pregnant each month. However, you can take steps to help improve your chances of getting pregnant quicker.
Step 1
Schedule an appointment with your gynecologist or primary care physician if you are planning to become pregnant soon. She will give you a thorough physical examination and tell you whether it’s safe for you to try to get pregnant. If you have any unknown health conditions that could make it difficult to become pregnant, your doctor can begin treating you.
Step 2
Eat a nutritious diet even before you try to get pregnant. A well-balanced diet provides you with the nutrients you need for a healthy body that is ready to create a new life. Include lots of fresh fruits and vegetables along with whole grains, fish, poultry and lean meats in your daily diet.
Step 3
Say goodbye to unhealthy lifestyle choices, which can affect fertility. If you drink alcohol, smoke or abuse prescription or recreational drugs, you must stop months before you try to become pregnant. Cut out caffeine as that can also affect fertility. You may get pregnant faster and will have a healthier pregnancy if your body is free of the effects of these potentially damaging substances.
Step 4
Talk to your doctor about the possibility of a zinc deficiency if you are having trouble getting pregnant. When your body does not get enough zinc, you can have difficulty maintaining a healthy female cycle. This can cause problems with infertility. Your doctor will order tests and prescribe supplements if your zinc levels are low.
Step 5
Track your ovulation to help you know the best time to try to get pregnant. Although fertility awareness involves using a combination of different methods for predicting a woman’s most fertile time of the month, the American Pregnancy Association recommends including the use of an ovulation predictor kit when trying to get pregnant. Ovulation kits help to detect the presence of the luteinizing hormone (LH) in urine. Spikes in the LH trigger ovulation.
Step 6
Have intercourse with your partner several times during the week of expected ovulation. Since a woman cannot always accurately predict when she will ovulate, having sex three times a week can increase the chances for pregnancy, as you are more likely to hit a fertile time.
Warnings
- Avoid the temptation to have sexual intercourse with your partner too often throughout the month if you are trying to become pregnant. In fact, your doctor may recommend that your spouse or partner withhold from any form of ejaculation for 24 to 48 hours before trying to become pregnant, as withholding can increase sperm volume.
Photo Credit
- pregnancy image by sasha from Fotolia.com
