Planning on getting pregnant? Keep in mind; it can take longer than you think. Yes, there are couples who are very fertile and will conceive on the first try, or get pregnant after having sex only once, but the chances of this scenario are slimmer than you may think.

We are taught to never have unprotected sex, in order to avoid an unwanted pregnancy. Although, it is a good way to avoid an unwanted pregnancy as well as sexually transmitted diseases, it leads to misconceptions of the actual chances of conception. Here are some facts you may want to take into consideration while planning to conceive. Don’t be discouraged, but have patience.

After getting off birth control pills it can (but doesn’t have to) take a little while before you become pregnant. Some healthcare providers say that your body needs to ‘clean itself out off the hormones’, while others say there is no truth to this statement. Regardless of which of the two you choose to believe, be aware that you may not conceive the month following termination of your birth control pills. This is not an indication for a problem. Take your time and continue trying.

Stress is a major factor in delayed conception. When trying to get pregnant, try to avoid stress in your life. If you exercise, continue to do so, or find another way to relax. Stressing over the coveted pregnancy that does not happen can delay it as well. Plan a romantic getaway for two and try to ‘let it happen’ rather than force it on.

To get pregnant faster, you certainly need to have frequent sex, preferably before you ovulate (after which it is too late for this month. But no worries, there is always next month). Sperm can live for three to five days in your body, which means you can have sex even several days before you ovulate and still conceive.

To increase your chances of conception, start having sex every day (or every other day) on the 10^th day of your cycle (start counting on the first day of your period). Try to keep stress levels in your life low, especially does related to whether or not you become pregnant, but also at work, home, etc. Eat healthy and exercise and do not get discouraged if it takes longer than desired. Most couples will achieve a pregnancy within the first 12-18 months. After 12 months, you can speak to your ob/gyn about other options for you and your partner.

Best of luck! And stay positive. Attitude does make a difference!

There is no shame in trying to conceive with no immediate results. It could happen that you will get pregnant on your first try, but let’s face it, the chances are slim. Most people who have an unwanted pregnancy can vouch that they were not careful on more than one occasion before they actually became pregnant.

Planed or not, a pregnancy needs “just the right conditions”. Even if one variable is out of line, there will be no pregnancy.

Before you seek medical help, make sure you have been trying for a minimum of 12 months unsuccessfully. It can take up to 18 months or more for a fertile couple to conceive. ‘What’s the delay?’ Well, it can be any one or a combination of reasons. First you need to ask yourself how often and when you have intercourse. Be true to yourself. If you have sex once a month, your chances of hitting just the right day and time are slim. A woman is ovulating usually between the 10^th and 21^st day of her menstrual cycle, which means you want to make sure you are sexually active during these days.

If all else hasn’t proven successful (and you are not yet pregnant), you can now make a consultation appointment with your OB/GYN. This appointment is for the both of you, so take your partner in crime (aka hubby) with you.

Infertility may be caused by one or more reasons, it can occur with you, your partner, or the combination of the two of you. Fortunately, there are ways to diagnose the cause and depending on the result, there may very well be a solution at hand. But before you concern yourself with alternate possibilities to overcoming infertility, speak to your doctor and see if you should consider having a consult.

No matter what, keep having sex! That’s your safest bet for conceiving..

The menstrual cycle is counted from the first day of a woman’s period to the first day of her next period. On average, a woman’s cycle is between 28-32 days. Some women have a regular cycle, while others may have a more random one. How regular or random your cycle is, has nothing to do with fertility, but it can make it harder to calculate when you are ovulating.

Ovulation can occur anywhere between day 10 to day 21 of the cycle. Since there is no accurate way to predict the day of ovulation, it is suggested to have sex every day starting day 10 of your cycle when you are trying to conceive. Some experts say that semen can live in your body up to 3-5 days from ejaculation, so even if you miss the actual day of ovulation, you may still have a chance to conceive.

There are tools to help you determine when you are ovulating. Tracking the date of ovulation can be helpful in allowing you and your partner to plan ahead when trying to conceive. One of the tools available in the market today is the basal thermometer, which checks your temperature upon awakening in the morning to help you predict ovulation. Another tool to tracking ovulation is the ovulation kits and fertility monitors, which checks luteinizing hormone levels in the urine to help predict ovulation.

Remember that the key to conception is intercourse. If you only have sex once a month, your chances to hit the right day and time are slimmer than if you are actively trying more frequently. So before you run to the store to buy a handful of product to track your ovulation, maybe you want to make sure you are really giving it a good try on your own.

Good luck!

Well, contrary to what you may think, conceiving could take longer or shorter then expected. This depends on different variables, including your health, fertility, weather or not you are/were taking birth control pills, etc.

If you are on the pill and are planning to get pregnant, this is the time to stop taking them. It may be a few months before you conceive, for your body needs some time to cleanse itself from the hormones before it is ready for a pregnancy. So take that into consideration, but remember there is no guarantee either way.

It will be a year of actively trying unsuccessfully to conceive before a doctor will see you for an infertility consultation. One thing you will be asked (obviously) is how often you… have sex, and when in relations to your menstrual period (timing is everything!). You are not ovulating every day. Learn about your cycle to have a better understanding of when is the best time to conceive.

It goes without saying that you need to have sex in order to conceive. Once or twice a month can work for the extremely fertile (or lucky), but will not do the trick for most woman. Yes, it does take one successful and well timed try, but since we often don’t know when the exact time of ovulation is, it may take many tries (men usually don’t mind having to try more oftenJ).

Most fertility specialists will recommend to actively start trying 10 days after the first day or your period. Some say everyday, others recommend every other day (to allow for a higher sperm count). Whichever recommendation you receive, try not to put too much pressure on yourself. Remember that stress alone can affect your body and mind.

Most couples will get pregnant within 12-18 months of actively trying. Be true to yourselves about how long you really have been trying and do not panic if it has been a while. Speak to your OB/GYN and ask for a referral to a fertility specialist. Sometimes you just need a little help to get there.

Most of us took the sex education class in high school, right? What did they teach us there? What did we learn in biology about human anatomy and the reproduction system? Did we even listen, or were we too embarrassed to pay attention?

I think the later is most likely the closest answer to the truth, or it could be that we just forgot. Here’s a shocking (?) reminder – there is a whole lot more to getting pregnant other than having sex.  We should care to know the details for two reasons: One, so we know how NOT to get pregnant and two, so when we are ready we know what/when we need to do in order to increase our chances for conception.

If you are trying to conceive, you want to know when you are ovulating, so your efforts are more targeted. Something else to keep in mind is that sperm can live in the female reproductive system for up to three days. This will affect when you want to have intercourse.

Your physical health is a factor when it comes to your fertility. Pregnancy history, miscarriages and planned abortions can all affect your chances to conceive. The “ticking clock” is not a myth – your body will tell you when it is ready. Your fertility is at its peak in your mid 20’s. Not to say that the window is closed before or after, but it may become more challenging after age 35.  Something else to keep in mind is that weight issues can cause infertility. Malnourishment as well as overweight, can both affect your chances of conceiving.

If you are sexually active, but are not planning a baby, there are a few facts you should NOT overlook. The first is an all time myth that curtain sex positions will keep you from getting pregnant – this is NOT true. Also, proven methods to prevent a pregnancy include birth control pills and the use of condoms. Counting on safe days is a dangerous way to go. Specific foods or diets do not have a large impact on fertility, contrary to some beliefs. All in all, if you are NOT trying to conceive, research the birth control options available today. Talk to your doctor to see which one is best for you and your needs.