Get Pregnant Quickly

You are eager to start a family, but you can't seem to get pregnant. Fortunately, there are a few things you can do to help speed things along. This article will offer some advice on how to get pregnant quickly.

10 Second Summary

1. Prepare a few months in advance.
2. Stop taking birth control and take vitamins instead.
3. Plan to have sex two days before you ovulate.
4. Have sex effectively. Do it laying down, skip the lubricant, and relax.

Steps

Preparing in the Months Before

1. Get off your birth control. Surely you've heard it somewhere before -- even after you stop taking it, birth control can affect your cycle. So whatever you're taking (be it a pill, ring, or patch), cease using it well before you start trying to conceive. And how else will you know when you're ovulating?
   • If you're almost there (but need another month or two), still use a condom. Just because birth control affects your fertility doesn't mean you won't get pregnant.
2. Stop smoking. Stop smoking the moment you decide you want to have a baby. Smoking does not only affect your fertility, it also could damage your unborn baby if you do get pregnant. Not to mention, it can bring on menopause years earlier (in addition to the plethora of other negative side effects).
   • Your partner should stop, too. Smoking could lower his sperm numbers and keep those guys from swimming well. Same goes for secondhand smoking!
3. Take vitamins. Vitamins have a beneficial effect on both male and female fertility. Oh, and they're just plain good for you, too. Talk to your doctor about your options before you proceed, however. Just to stay safe.
   • Vitamin C can protect the sperm's DNA from getting damaged and helps enhancing the sperm's quality. Overall, vitamin C may lead to increased motility.
   • Vitamin E increases both male and female fertility. It also increases the fertilization rates of men. It is argued to be an antioxidant, increasing sperm's strength.
   • Folic acid (and all the B vitamins, really) can lead to a healthier baby. B6 can increase fertility in women and B12 can increase sperm count.
4. Achieve a healthy body weight. Being overweight has an overall negative effect on your health, not to mention your potential of getting pregnant. Studies have shown that women who are obese have lower conception rates. Fertility doctors often advise losing some weight before undergoing fertility treatments, for those who qualify. But being underweight can cause infertility, too.
   • If you are a healthy body weight, keep your diet consistent and healthy. Adding plenty of fish that are low in mercury (shrimp, tuna, salmon) is good place to start.
5. Visit the doctor. If you tell him/her you're thinking about conceiving, they can fill you in on the bigger picture. They'll probably do a full exam, go over your medical history, and address any issues at hand. They'll also be able to get you on the right track to being a mom from day 1.
   • They may recommend a vitamin or a specific regimen to fit your needs. They may advise discontinuing the use of a specific medication and/or daily habits. All in all, they're just a wealth of information.
6. Go for decaf. Alright, so caffeine won't keep you from getting pregnant, no. But too much has been linked to decreased levels of fertility. So play it safe and stick to the one morning espresso or the one Red Bull & vodka at night.
   • 500 mg of caffeine should be your ceiling. It sounds like a lot, but one grande brewed coffee from Starbucks totes a remarkable 330 mg.

Timing Your Ovulation Cycle

1. Know when you're about to ovulate. Timing your sex with your ovulation cycle is prime to getting pregnant. Sperm can survive up to 5 days in your body, so it's best to start having sex two days before you ovulate to increase your chances of getting pregnant.
   • Start outlining the ins and outs of your menstruation cycle now. That way, you'll know when you should have your period, when your last period was, and when you should probably be ovulating. And when you miss once you've become pregnant!
2. Count the days. If your cycle is regular, you may be able to determine your egg's next vacation through your fallopian tubes with simple math. If your cycle is 28 days long, you'll probably ovulate on day 14. A good rule of thumb is to count back 16 days from the first day of your next period. You'll probably ovulate 0-5 days after that day.
   • If you know you're about to ovulate and sex is on the table, make sure your male counterpart has ejaculated recently. If not, he may have a build up of dead sperm waiting to not impregnate you.
   • There are also plenty of calculators available online from reputable sources like WebMD.
3. Buy an ovulation kit. Ovulation prediction kits can predict a released egg a day in advance (so make baby-making plans now!). It uses the same methodology as a pregnancy test. However, they can cost anywhere from $20 to $50, so stocking up can thin out your wallet.
   • Ovulation kits test levels of luteinizing hormone (LH) in your urine. Meaning you'll be peeing on a stick (yay!). It's not super accurate though, so don't depend only on this method. Use math and physical symptoms, too.
4. Chart your basal body temperature. Your basal temperature (lowest body temperature in any given 24-hour period) will raise {{safesubst:#invoke:convert|convert}} a few days after you ovulate. Your body temperature in general is lower at the first part of your cycle and higher at ovulation and at the end.
   • Don't rely on a normal thermometer for this. You're looking for fluctuations that are smaller than a degree -- so a basal thermometer is necessary. They can easily be found at drug stores and super stores (like Target or Walmart).
5. Check your cervical mucus. As you near ovulation, your cervical mucus increases. You'll notice more of the slippery white stuff when you get closer and closer. Be diligent though, as slight changes can be hard to detect.
   • Monitor smell, color, and texture. It'll be the most wet and slippery around the time of your ovulation. If it looks like egg whites, you're at your peak. If you're willing to get...mucus-y, see if you can stretch it between your fingers. If you can, it's baby-making time.

Doing the Deed Effectively

1. Lie down. The good news is that no position is really better than any other. But what you can do is absolutely nothing. Just lie still on your back after ejaculation. It almost makes too much sense, doesn't it?
   • A Dutch study on women who were getting artificially inseminated found that those who laid flat for 15 minutes afterward were 50% more likely to conceive. Convincing enough for you?
2. Skip the lubricants. A sperm's best friend is not an artificial lubricant. Though some say they don't have an effect on fertility, it's best just to avoid them all together. If you can, do.
   • For those that need a lubricant, go for something more natural. Mineral oil or canola oil can be substituted.
3. Relax. You know how when you're stressed, it can mess with your cycle? You don't have to make much of a leap to understand that it messes with your baby-making skills, too. So step off the baby-making anxiety train and have fun. Sex! Fantastic.
   • If your life is full of undue stress (then is it really the best time for a baby?), try picking up yoga or another meditation practice. Taking even 15 minutes out of your day to calm yourself can help exponentially.
   • If you're curious, it's the hypothalamus you have to blame (apart from yourself, really). It controls your hormones and when you're stressed, it doesn't function as well.

Tips

• If you're under 36, give it a year. Sometimes these things take time -- 12 months is perfectly normal.
• Do not have a baby when you are only a teenager! Having a baby is advised for couples who think they are ready for a child (usually married, but you don't have to be).

Warnings

• If you've been trying for over a year if you're under 36 or 6 months if you're over, see a doctor. There may be a larger issue at hand.

Sources and Citations

See also

• Know if You are Pregnant
• Know the Earliest Pregnancy Signs
• Have a Girl
• Recognize Implantation Bleeding
• Get Pregnant With PCOS
• Prepare Yourself for a Healthy Pregnancy at 35 Years Old
• Tell Implantation Symptoms from PMS Symptoms
• Raise the Chances of Having a Boy
• Increase Fertility in Men
• Determine if You Are Pregnant

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