Is it normal to take a while to get pregnant

Fess up. Step two? Find out how to fix things! You might just realize there's actually a valid reason you're not getting pregnant when everything is normal. You probably have at least one friend who, upon conceiving, said, "It happened right when I stopped worrying about it.

Stress can be a major party crasher in the baby-making process. When you have an elevated level of cortisol, a stress hormone, it can negatively affect ovulation and fertility. Curtis says. If you're gonna do it, do it right and the right amount of times! Curtis recommends having intercourse every day or every other day during your most fertile period.

If you, like so many other women, don't know when that is, stick to every other day throughout the time you think you're most fertile. That's because having sex too often could deplete your partner's sperm count, while not having enough sex might cause you to miss that critical fertility window!

Although douching might seem like a natural next step in your baby-making routine, it's absolutely not a good idea. Douches can act like a spermicide, altering the PH of your vagina. Ditto for personal lubricants —most of which have actually been shown to not only lower sperm count, but also lower its mobility. People tend to blame the woman for infertility. But in fact, Dr. Curtis says, cases of infertility are about 40 percent male-related, 40 percent female, and 20 percent a combination of both partners.

This is wrong, since it's really an even playing field in terms of diagnoses. So, for example, if you have a day cycle, ovulation is around day Another common mistake? A person can get pregnant at any point in their menstrual cycle, but it is much less likely during their period. In this article, we look at the…. Sperm count is a key factor in fertility. Medications, alcohol, stress, and other influences can reduce sperm count and reduce fertility at the same….

How long does it take to become pregnant? How long does it take? How to increase the chances Infertility treatments When to see a doctor Summary The time it takes to get pregnant varies greatly between couples. How to increase the chances of conception. Treatments for infertility.

When to see a doctor. Scientists identify new cause of vascular injury in type 2 diabetes. Adolescent depression: Could school screening help? Related Coverage. How long after ovulation can someone get pregnant? Medically reviewed by Carolyn Kay, MD. What are the chances of getting pregnant the first time trying? What days can you get pregnant? Some women become pregnant quickly, while others take longer.

This may be upsetting, but it's normal. Most couples about 84 out of every will get pregnant within a year if they have regular sex and don't use contraception. But women become less fertile as they get older. One study found that among couples having regular unprotected sex:. Some of these factors affect either women or men. Good to know: Birth control shots like Depo-Provera often have a longer timeline.

But other research found that going off the pill is tied to a slight delay when compared with barrier methods. Overall you'll very likely become pregnant within several months of enjoyable effort. It may happen faster if you know your cycle and learn to identify when you're ovulating. Eating well and staying healthy can also play a role, too.

That said, age does affect your chances of getting pregnant. Healthy couples in their 20s have around a 1 in 4 chance of conceiving during any monthly cycle, while the chances for those in their early 30s are around 1 in 5.

And while fertility does decline quickly starting in your mids, your odds of having a baby are still far from nil. But the odds drop to around 1 in 10 by age The best way to give your body a boost in the baby-making department is to focus on your health.

So make an effort to get in the best shape possible by doing things like:. What to Expect follows strict reporting guidelines and uses only credible sources, such as peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions and highly respected health organizations. Learn how we keep our content accurate and up-to-date by reading our medical review and editorial policy. The educational health content on What To Expect is reviewed by our medical review board and team of experts to be up-to-date and in line with the latest evidence-based medical information and accepted health guidelines, including the medically reviewed What to Expect books by Heidi Murkoff.

This educational content is not medical or diagnostic advice.