A woman's weight can also impact the chances of conceiving: Being overweight or underweight may reduce those odds. Research has shown that a woman who is overweight can take twice as long to become pregnant as a woman whose body-mass index BMI is considered normal weight, Pavone said. A woman who is underweight might take four times as long to conceive, she said. Having too much body fat produces excess estrogen , which can interfere with ovulation, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
In a study published in in the journal PLOS One , researchers looked at data from more than 50, couples in China trying to conceive over the course of a year; they found that women's ability to conceive within a given timeframe decreased as their BMI increased. Male obesity, which can disrupt the male endocrine system as well as sperm viability and concentration, can also affect a couple's ability to become pregnant, scientists reported in in the journal Andrologia.
Women who are underweight, with a BMI less than 18, might not be getting regular periods or could stop ovulating, which also hinders their ability to become pregnant, according to the University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority. Pavone recommends that women who are attempting to conceive start taking a prenatal vitamin even before becoming pregnant.
This way, a woman can find one that's more agreeable to her system and stay on it during pregnancy, she said. Another possibility is to take a daily multivitamin, as long as it contains at least micrograms mcg per day of folic acid , a B vitamin that's important for preventing birth defects in a baby's brain and spine, Pavone said. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention urges women to take mcg of folic acid every day for at least one month before getting pregnant, to help prevent birth defects.
Getting a head start on folic acid supplementation is a good idea because the neural tube develops into the brain and spine three to four weeks after conception occurs, before many women may realize they're expecting. Although there may not be a specific pregnancy diet , eating a variety of healthy foods can help prepare a woman's body for pregnancy by giving her adequate stores of critical nutrients, such as calcium, protein and iron, research has shown.
This means eating a variety of fruits and vegetables, lean protein, whole grains, dairy and healthy sources of fat. Besides taking a supplement containing folic acid, a woman can also obtain this vitamin from foods such as dark green leafy vegetables, broccoli, fortified breads and cereals, beans, citrus fruits and orange juice. When trying to get pregnant, eat lower amounts of high-mercury fish , such as swordfish, shark, king mackerel and tilefish.
This is because mercury can accumulate in a pregnant woman's bloodstream, which affects a baby's development, according to the Mayo Clinic. Also, limit albacore white tuna to 6 ounces grams per week to reduce exposure to this toxic metal, the Food and Drug Administration recommends. A review found that mercury consumption could also impair men's and women's fertility.
Also, some science suggests that pregnant women should avoid caffeine: Health authorities in the United States, Europe and the United Kingdom said that a woman having about mg of caffeine less than two cups of coffee will not affect her baby, but a review study, published in BMJ Evidence Based Medicine , found that there was no safe level of caffeine consumption for pregnant women or for those trying to get pregnant. Being physically active most days of the week can help a woman's body prepare for the demands of pregnancy and labor, and has been associated with a reduced risk of fertility problems, scientists reported in the March issue of the journal Human Reproduction.
But getting too much exercise or doing frequent strenuous workouts could interfere with ovulation, Live Science reported. Doctors see a lot of menstrual disturbances in women who exercise heavily, and a lot of times these women need to cut back on their workouts if they want to become pregnant, Pavone told Live Science.
As women get older, their fertility decreases. This is because of age-related changes in the ovaries that cause a decline in the quantity and quality of her eggs. With advancing age, there's also an increased risk for some health problems, such as uterine fibroids , endometriosis and blockage of the fallopian tubes, which can contribute to a loss of fertility.
There's a gradual fertility decline in women beginning in their 30s, a sharper decline after age 37 and a steep fertility decline after age 40 , Pavone said. These declines mean that it may take longer to become pregnant. Smoking can lead to fertility problems in both women and men.
Chemicals found in cigarette smoke, such as nicotine and carbon monoxide, speed up the loss rate of a woman's eggs, according to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine. Smoking ages a woman's ovaries and depletes her supply of eggs prematurely, according to the Mayo Clinic. In a study published in in the journal Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology , researchers looked at scientific findings around smoking, alcohol, addiction and fertility; they found that smoking is linked to decreased fertility.
It's also a good idea for women to stay away from secondhand smoke, which may affect their chances of becoming pregnant. Marijuana and other recreational drug use should also be avoided while trying to conceive. It's safest for a woman to avoid alcohol when she is hoping to become pregnant. A woman should also stop consuming alcohol if she stops using birth control because she wants to get pregnant. Home Pregnancy Trying for a baby Back to Trying for a baby.
Trying to get pregnant. How to increase your chances of getting pregnant There are things you and your partner can do to increase the chances of getting pregnant. While sperm can survive for days in your reproductive tract, they cannot live in your digestive tract.
You cannot get pregnant from swallowing semen. Oral sex is not entirely without risk, though—any mouth to genital contact can transmit sexually transmitted infections. Not technically, but The distance between the rectum and vagina is very small. So if you are having anal sex without a condom, then it's possible that some sperm can also get into your vagina and cause a pregnancy.
There isn't good data around how often this happens, but it's generally accepted that it's possible but unlikely. Sperm inside the anus also the digestive tract can't lead to pregnancy directly. STIs, however, including HIV, can be passed to or from an anal sex partner, so using condoms with a suitable lubricant is always a good idea.
No—you can still get pregnant without an orgasm. You could have orgasm-less sex and still get pregnant. But there is a failsafe way for you to have an orgasm without getting pregnant: solo masturbation. When used correctly, condoms provide excellent protection against pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections STIs , but if you put two condoms on at once, they will rub together and there's a higher chance of condom breakage.
Best to stick to one condom, and use some condom-safe lubricant. Carefully tracking your basal body temperature BBT with a basal body thermometer will help you know when ovulation has occurred, but won't predict when it will happen in the future. By following careful rules that combine the changes in BBT with carefully-tracked changes in cervical mucus , you can estimate the days in your cycle when you have the highest likelihood of becoming pregnant 9.
If you're interested in using a FAM for contraception, talk to your healthcare provider to find out more. You can track your BBT and cervical mucus in Clue. Get informed, decide what level of risk is okay for you, and choose what kind of contraception or protection to use. Remember that only condoms can protect you against both pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections STIs.
The safest option is to use condoms and another form of birth control. If you're taking the pill, you can track in Clue and get personalized advice on what to do if you miss a pill. If after reading this you're worried you might be pregnant, check out our guide to emergency contraception , advice about what to do if your period is late , and information on the symptoms of early pregnancy.
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