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When people start trying to have a child, the first question that comes to their mind is how long it takes to get pregnant. They often expect and hope for a speedy pregnancy.
More than fifty percent of women anticipate being pregnant within the next six months; younger women, in particular, often expect to become pregnant sooner.
However, a study of more than 1,400 women found that 30-44 percent of those who had planned their most recent pregnancy realized that it took longer than anticipated.
The issue of sexual activity occurring at the wrong time is common and easy to rectify. Up to half of all couples may be trying to conceive at the wrong time because they may not know when they are most fertile and, as a result, may be doing it at the wrong time.
1. How Long Does It Take to Get Pregnant?
Generally speaking, healthy couples who frequently engage in sexual activity without contraception have a 25% to 30% probability of becoming pregnant throughout each monthly cycle. Regularly is understood to be two to three times every week.
85 percent of couples who are actively trying to conceive will do so over the course of a year.
Although not every couple’s timing is the same, that estimate applies to all of them. The length of time it takes to get pregnant depends on several factors, including your age, general health, reproductive health1, and frequency of intercourse.
Age and health are important considerations if your spouse is a male and other things.
2. What Can I Do To Conceive More Quickly?
If you schedule your sexual activity for the day of ovulation2 (when your body produces an egg) or the days before, you may enhance your chances of becoming pregnant. A hormone termed LH (luteinizing hormone)3, which peaks 24 to 36 hours before ovulation, is detected by ovulation tests.
As soon as you start trying, an ovulation test can help you comprehend your menstrual cycle and promptly spot any anomalies in cycle duration.
Though an anovulation test won’t ease your tension entirely, it may assure you that you are doing all you can to increase your chances of becoming pregnant.
Your LH surge can be detected with at least 99 percent accuracy by Clearblue Ovulation Tests. We would suggest you consult your doctor if, after three monthly cycles, you have not seen an LH spike (peak fertility).
3. Getting Pregnant After Going Off Birth Control
Are you unsure of how long it will take for your body to get used to not taking the pill before you can conceive? Although there is no simple solution, hormonal birth control shouldn’t interfere too much with your pregnancy planning.
The pill, patch, ring, and hormonal IUD4 all function by blocking hormone signals, primarily by preventing ovulation – the release of a fertilized egg from one of the ovaries.
When you quit taking this kind of birth control, those hormones come back into play and your resume ovulating.
Within a few weeks of discontinuing birth control, the majority of women begin having regular periods once again, an indication that they are likely ovulating frequently. Others, though, may take up to three months, and that is quite normal.
Depo-Provera and other contraceptive injections sometimes have longer timelines. The average woman won’t get pregnant for at least 12 to 14 weeks after her final injection, but it may take up to two years.
Some people take a little bit longer than others to get pregnant, just as there is some variety in when your period will return after discontinuing birth control.
According to some studies, using oral contraceptives5 has no immediate or long-term effects on a woman’s potential to get pregnant. However, in contrast to barrier approaches, additional studies have shown that stopping the tablet is associated with a minor delay.
4. Age Affects On The Ability To Conceive
Consider giving it a try for only six months if you are over 35 before seeking assistance. Additionally, it is advised that you see your doctor as soon as you decide to try for a baby if you are 40 years of age or older.
The age-specific advice above reflects the reality that your age significantly affects your probability of becoming pregnant.
Due to her having fewer eggs and their quality likely being worse than when she was younger, a woman’s natural fertility will already start to diminish in her late 20s.
Beyond age 35, egg depletion reaches a crucial point, and after age 40, pregnancy chances are significantly reduced. This is true for both naturally occurring and artificially induced conception.
The Human Fertilization and Embryology Authority estimates that after three years of trying, roughly 95% of women aged 35 who regularly engage in unprotected sexual activity will get pregnant, whereas only 75% of women aged 38 will.
5. Impact Of Stress On Fertility
Stress most likely has very little effect on a woman’s capacity to conceive. Elite athletes and women with low levels of female hormone production (eating problems, low weight concerns) have been proven in studies to activate their stress hormones, which may affect their capacity to release an egg.
Normal daily stress, on the other hand, may not have as big of an effect on your capacity to conceive.
Stressful conditions often only last a short time and don’t permanently affect your fertility. There is a mystery behind the fertility problems experienced by one-quarter of all couples.
Ovulation tests6 may be used to plan sexual activity on the most fertile days, but using them isn’t any more stressful than attempting to conceive without them, according to research by Professor William Ledger and Clearblue.
In fact, 77 percent more women became pregnant in the group utilizing the tests in this research.
6. Chances of Becoming Pregnant Each Month
Concentrating on your health and care excellence is the greatest method to help your body produce more babies. Achieving an appropriate weight. Both being overweight and being underweight may impact the hormones responsible for conception.
Quit smoking if you do. If you manage to become pregnant, it will increase your chances of predicting conception and offer your child the greatest possible start in life.
Research suggests several dietary habits may lower the incidence of male infertility or low sperm count. Choose whole grains and other fiber types, low-fat dairy for full-fat, and healthy fat sources like avocado and nuts.
Consume a prenatal vitamin. Not only will it safeguard the health of your unborn child when you become pregnant, but it may also improve your chances of conception in the first place.
Make time for relaxation. Unrestrained stress and anxiety may harm fertility. Try yoga, meditation, or any other relaxation technique. Consider trying couples acupuncture. According to peer-reviewed studies, it could help both male and female infertility.
Sex often. If you can, try to be active every one to two days. When you’re fertile, having more sex increases your chances of becoming pregnant.
7. Discontinuing Birth Control And Becoming Pregnant
After you stop using certain forms of contraception, your fertility may be delayed for some time. For instance, a progestogen-only injection for contraception may postpone normal fertility for up to a year following the last treatment. Learn more about quitting the use of birth control.
Many medical professionals suggest delaying attempting to conceive if you use the contraceptive pill until you have had one regular period. They can more precisely date a pregnancy, thanks to this.
8. How Long To Try For A Baby Before Seeing A Doctor
See your doctor if you’re over 35 and haven’t conceived in six months or if you’re under 35 and having difficulty conceiving while actively trying for a year.
After receiving therapy from a fertility specialist, at least half of couples assessed for possible fertility treatment will get pregnant.
Finding out if the issue is with the potential mother, the potential father, a reproductive endocrinologist, or another expert may assist both.
9. Conclusion
Every couple experiences pregnancy differently and at a different pace. Nevertheless, most couples who attempt to conceive do so within a year. Getting pregnant during the first month or within six months is feasible but less often.
A couple trying to become pregnant should monitor their ovulation and engage in frequent vaginal activity the days before ovulation.
If a couple has trouble becoming pregnant or wants to check their fertility levels, they should speak with their doctor. In many situations, a doctor may assist the couple in increasing their chances of becoming pregnant.
FAQ
1. Are there any factors that can affect the time it takes to conceive?
A: Yes, several factors can affect the time it takes to conceive. These include age (fertility declines with age, particularly for women over 35), underlying health conditions or medical issues, irregular menstrual cycles, hormonal imbalances, certain medications, obesity, and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) that can impact fertility.
2. When should I see a doctor if I’m having difficulty getting pregnant?
A: It’s generally recommended to see a doctor or fertility specialist if you have been actively trying to conceive for over a year without success and you are under the age of 35. However, if you have a known underlying condition that could affect fertility or have irregular menstrual cycles, it’s a good idea to consult with a healthcare professional earlier for personalized guidance.
3. Can stress affect fertility and the time it takes to get pregnant?
A: Yes, excessive stress can potentially affect fertility and the time it takes to get pregnant. High levels of stress can disrupt hormonal balance, leading to irregular menstrual cycles and even ovulatory dysfunction. Additionally, stress can impact sexual desire and frequency of intercourse, which can affect the chances of conception.
Read more
- Caserta, Donatella, et al. “Environment and women’s reproductive health.” Human reproduction update 17.3 (2011): 418-433. ↩︎
- Holesh, Julie E., Autumn N. Bass, and Megan Lord. “Physiology, ovulation.” (2017). ↩︎
- Casarini, Livio, et al. “LH (Luteinizing Hormone).” Reference Module in Biomedical Sciences. Encyclopedia of Endocrine Diseases, 2nd Edition. Vol. 2. Elsevier, 2018. 142-148. ↩︎
- Rybo, Göran, Kerstin Andersson, and Viveca Odlind. “Hormonal intrauterine devices.” Annals of medicine 25.2 (1993): 143-147. ↩︎
- Jensen, Jeffrey T., and Leon Speroff. “Health benefits of oral contraceptives.” Obstetrics and gynecology clinics of North America 27.4 (2000): 705-721. ↩︎
- Wiegratz, Inka, and Herbert Kuhl. “Long-cycle treatment with oral contraceptives.” Drugs 64 (2004): 2447-2462. ↩︎
Last Updated on by Sathi Chakraborty, MSc Biology
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