Trying to Get Pregnant? Here Are Our Top 10 Tips for You

10 Useful Tips If You’re Trying to Get Pregnant

1. Understand the Best Time for Trying to Get Pregnant

We realize that the menstrual cycle may vary from woman to woman, but it’s typically around 28 days. Ovulation usually occurs around 14 days before the start of your next period. We recommend using methods such as fertility apps or ovulation predictors to help determine your most fertile days. 

2. Maintain a Healthy Lifestyle

Even something as simple as managing stress and exercising regularly can help increase your chances of success when you’re trying to get pregnant. Avoid smoking or alcohol when you’re trying to conceive, and maintain a healthy weight. We also recommend eating foods that are high in iron, calcium, and omega-3 fatty acids. During this time, you should also be getting plenty of folic acid–we recommend taking 400 micrograms every day. 

In addition, studies have shown that excessive stress can make it more difficult to conceive. Women who regularly experience high levels of depression and anxiety are twice as likely to face fertility challenges. Therefore, if you’re prone to stress, we encourage you to try yoga, mindfulness meditation or even breathing exercises.

3. Understand Cervical Mucus and Your Basal Body Temperature

Your cervical mucus changes texture and appearance throughout your cycle. When you are ovulating, it is clear and “stretchy.” Your Basal Body Temperature (BBT) is your temperature when your body is fully at rest. Ovulation causes a slight rise in your BBT.

By recording your cervical mucus changes and your BBT, you can track your ovulation cycle, helping determine when it is most likely for you to get pregnant. 

4. Be Proactive in Your Healthcare

We always recommend a preconception checkup. By meeting with us, we’ll be able to identify any problems or issues that could have an impact on your fertility. It’s also a good time for us to review your current medications and conduct any health assessments. We may ask you about your family medical history, and in certain cases, may recommend genetic screening.

5. Optimize Your Sexual Activity

You should have intercourse every two to three days during the fertile window to have your best chances of getting pregnant. When you’re trying to get pregnant, you may have heard that certain sexual positions are better than others. While there’s not a lot of definitive research on that, we suggest selecting positions that allow for deeper penetration.

6. Communicate with Your Partner

You and your partner are a team. Trying to get pregnant can be challenging and exhausting. That’s why open and honest communication is vital as you go through this journey together. Support groups and even counseling can help you encourage each other during this time. 

7.  Take Certain Supplements

Supplements, especially those like folic acid, zinc, and vitamin D can be beneficial if you want to conceive. We’ll be happy to work with you to be sure you’re taking the supplements that will safely give you every possible advantage to conceive a healthy baby. 

8. Discuss Alternative Therapies with Your Provider

Some women have found therapies such as acupuncture useful for relieving and managing stress. In turn, this can aid their well-being and can have an indirect, yet positive impact on fertility. Again, we encourage you to discuss any additional therapies with us so we can help ensure your health and safety. 

9. Exercise Regularly

Exercise is wonderful not only for your overall wellness, but it’s also a great stress reliever. Moderate amounts of exercise can boost your fertility. However, we want to caution that more rigorous or extreme exercises, such as CrossFit, can harm fertility. 

We’ve explored this issue in more detail in our earlier article, “Does Exercise Affect Fertility?” 

10. Consult a Fertility Specialist If Needed

If you’ve been trying to get pregnant for a year, it’s time to see one of our fertility specialists. If you’re over 35 and you’ve been following the tips above, we recommend you schedule an appointment if you’ve been trying unsuccessfully for six months.