Some get pregnant on the first try, while others try for years, but everything turns out to be unsuccessful. What is the reason?
If you want to improve your chances of having a baby, don't make the common mistakes that we will tell you about.
1. Worry too often
Stress is one of the main factors that reduce the likelihood of conception. If the level of cortisol, the stress hormone, rises in a woman's body, this can negatively affect her fertility. American scientists observed 400 couples who were trying to become parents and came to the following conclusions: if a woman has a high level of alpha-amylase (a stress indicator), her chances of getting pregnant are reduced by 29% compared to those who have this indicator within the normal range. Experts believe that under the influence of chronic stress, the production of hormones that ensure a stable cycle decreases.
If you're having trouble getting pregnant, try to relax and let go of the situation for a while. Try meditation, yoga - it has asanas that improve blood flow to the pelvis and thus stimulate the synthesis of necessary hormones. This has a positive effect on the ability to conceive. Stop constantly planning a pregnancy. Instead, just remind yourself daily that this is a miracle that happens very often.
2. Don't do too much or too little
A large number of couples are convinced that the chances of conceiving a baby will greatly increase if they do not have sex for a week, “saving” sperm. It's a delusion. After a week of abstinence, spermatozoa become much less mobile. Therefore, doctors advise having sex daily or every other day during the week before ovulation and the day it occurs. More frequent intimacy can negatively affect the ability of sperm to fertilize, and more rare creates a risk of missing the conception window.
It has been scientifically proven that regular sex life helps to stabilize the cycle: the male body releases hormones that affect the female reproductive system. Therefore, with regular sex, more estrogen is produced.
3. Use dubious methods
Although we live in the 21st century, many women continue to douche, believing in the miracle of this method. It seems that there is logic in this: from infections, malnutrition, bad habits, the environment in the vagina becomes acidic, and the sperm in it dies and cannot fertilize the egg. Therefore, many begin to introduce a weak soda solution so that the environment becomes alkaline and favorable for conception.
Doctors do not support douching: along with harmful microorganisms, baking soda destroys beneficial ones, violating the natural pH of the vagina. There is still a risk of exacerbation of inflammatory processes, due to which damage and erosion of the cervix can develop, which can often be identified only on examination by a gynecologist.
4. Make mistakes in calculations
The most common mistake is the incorrect determination of the day of ovulation. In most women, it occurs in the middle of the cycle, but this applies to women with a 28-32 day cycle. Ovulation usually occurs 14 days before your period starts. Therefore, if you have a 24-day cycle, then ovulation will occur on day 10. If your cycle is noticeably longer, say 42 days, then it can be assumed that you are ovulating less often, not in every cycle. In this case, and also if you have an irregular cycle (in this case, ovulation can be either on day 6 or on day 21), or you do not remember when your last period was, forget these rules. Here you can not do without an ovulation test, with which you can easily find out when you have a conception window.
Often women make another mistake - they count the beginning of the cycle not from the first day of menstruation. The day of the onset of menstruation is the one on which the blood begins to flow, not the day before and not the day after. It is very important to know the exact day of the beginning of the cycle, because for a successful conception, the count goes literally to the clock.
5. Blame yourself
With unsuccessful attempts to get pregnant, infertility on the part of the woman is usually assumed. Only in reality both partners have the same degree of responsibility. According to statistics, men are infertile in 40% of cases, women in another 40%, and in the remaining 20%, unsuccessful attempts to get pregnant are due to partner compatibility problems. Therefore, do not panic ahead of time: on average, a healthy couple needs from 6 months to 1 year to conceive.
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6. Try to fit everything on schedule
Pregnancy cannot be accurately planned. Although healthy couples usually need from 6 months to a year to conceive, sometimes the first six months take a woman only to normalize the cycle, which has gone astray due to birth control. Until the cycle becomes regular, there will be no ovulation. So, if after 6 months the menstrual cycle has not returned to normal or you are not sure that you are ovulating, be sure to go to the gynecologist.
7. Hurry
For many, the assertion that after sex a woman needs to lie on her back for 20 minutes with raised buttocks is sarcastic. But, according to doctors, it increases the chances of getting pregnant by 80%. So do not neglect this method.
8. Ignore unrest for which there is a reason
Consulting a doctor is not paranoia. There are situations when you should not ignore what is bothering you, because it is not only about you, but also about the unborn baby. It is possible that your cycle has always been irregular, and this is the reason why you cannot get pregnant. Or maybe you have some kind of illness, and you want to make sure that this does not threaten the health of the unborn baby.
If you are worried or unsure about something, see a specialist. He will explain to you what surprises and difficulties you may encounter. If you then have difficulty trying to conceive, you will know what to do.
9. Can't give up bad habits
At least a year before the planned pregnancy, you should quit bad habits. Doctors around the world warn: the first trimester is the most important stage in the formation of the body of the unborn baby. Even a meager dose of alcohol can cause him irreparable harm.
Some women drink alcohol in the early stages of pregnancy, not realizing their interesting position. So, if you are not using protection, either give up alcohol and cigarettes, or reduce their use to a minimum.
10. Don't take care of your partner's health
What harms your fertility can also negatively affect a man's ability to conceive. Tobacco, alcohol, unhealthy diet degrade the quality and reduce the amount of sperm. According to research, smoking and alcohol damage spermatozoa at the chromosome level. Considering that a complete renewal of sperm takes 3 months, at least for this period your partner should give up bad habits. Make sure that his diet is balanced, including selenium, vitamins C and E - they are very useful for men's health.
The effect of temperature on a man's ability to conceive has not been proven. American experts believe that it is not essential for the work of the male genital organs. However, some doctors advise against frequent hot baths, even if the man has no problems with sperm quality.
A number of studies indicate that scrotum temperature rises when a person holds a laptop on their lap for a long time. Other experts have found that mobile phone radiation can reduce a man's ability to conceive, especially if the gadget is in a trouser pocket. Yet a clear relationship between warmth and male fertility has not been established.
Most couples who have tied the knot dream of having a child. Someone manages to conceive very quickly, and someone suffers for years, but pregnancy does not occur. A woman's ability to conceive is influenced by various factors. In our article, we will deal with the reasons why a couple cannot get pregnant for a long time.
Often the most ordinary stress can cause constant failures, and in order to solve the problem, it is enough to go on vacation and forget about everything. Often the reasons are much more serious, but the woman simply does not know about them. A variety of infections, inflammation, hormonal failure, and so on, can answer the question of why it is difficult to get pregnant.
Why it takes so long to get pregnant
If pregnancy does not occur for a long time, the woman is usually blamed. But you should know that in 30% the problem lies in the body of a man. What is the reason? What is the factor that prevents conceiving a child? Let's consider in more detail.
There are various reasons:
Any of these reasons can be the answer to the question: “Why can’t I get pregnant for a long time?” These factors may also indicate the reasons why it is not possible to get pregnant the first time. In this case, it is important to panic less. Therefore, infertility is not a sentence. But it is also impossible to let the solution of problems take its course. It is important to treat all diseases on time so that in the future there will simply be no problems with conception.
I can't get pregnant for six months. What to do?
If you can’t conceive after six months of constant close relationships, you should not immediately worry. A dangerous period is a year. And then you should run to the doctor.
It is very important to have sexual intercourse regularly, a period every other day is considered a good rhythm for conception. You can start tracking your ovulation and try to conceive on the right days. You need to take care of yourself, eat right, play sports, forget about bad habits and try to avoid stressful situations as much as possible. And, of course, every woman should definitely and regularly be examined by a gynecologist. It is sometimes useful for a man to go for a consultation with a urologist, as problems can be caused by him too.
Modern medicine has made huge strides, so most health problems can be cured, including infertility.
Why you can get pregnant during your period
There are several reasons why you can get pregnant on any day of the cycle:
- Long menstruation with a short cycle. If a woman's cycle is less than 21 days, and her period lasts more than a week, then she will begin to ovulate even before the end of her period.
- Double ovulation in one cycle. Some women have two eggs in one cycle. This phenomenon is rare, but can lead to conception during menstruation. One egg dies and is released along with menstruation, while the second remains fertile during menstruation.
- irregular cycle. This is not necessarily an indicator of pathology, but without special examinations for such a lady it is almost impossible to determine the date of possible ovulation, as well as the date of the expected menstruation, which means dangerous and safe days.
- High sperm viability can cause pregnancy during menstruation. For example: in a cycle of 28 days, it means that ovulation occurs on the 14th day. If unprotected sex happened on the last day of menstruation, which lasts 7 days, then a sperm cell with a lifespan of 7 days may well wait for a meeting with an egg!
We have tried to answer a series of questions:
- Why can't a healthy girl get pregnant for a long time?
- Why not get pregnant?
- Why can't you get pregnant without protection?
- Why can't I get pregnant after a spiral?
- Why can't I get pregnant with my third child? Causes?
- Why do so many people fail to get pregnant?
- Why can't you get pregnant during your period?
- Why can't I get pregnant after giving birth?
- Why is it easy to get pregnant after giving birth?
- Why can you get pregnant during menstruation?
If some questions, in your opinion, are not fully covered, write to us, we will consider them in more detail.
Often, young people are looking on the Internet for ways to quickly get pregnant, and begin to experiment based on the information received.
When is the best time to get pregnant?
It is possible to conceive a child on the days of ovulation when in contact with a sexual partner, but not always the right time and high-quality sperm are a reliable way to get pregnant. There are some features.
It is very important to plan a pregnancy, and take this seriously for both partners. The process of carrying and giving birth to a baby is not easy, so it is recommended to consult a specialist and undergo the prescribed diagnostics.
Best time to get pregnant
The desire to have a child is good, but desire alone is not enough. The female body has its own biological rhythms, which are worth listening to.
Fertilization of the egg occurs during the fertile period, namely on days 9–15 of the menstrual cycle.(counted from the first day of menstruation). The most effective - two days before ovulation and the day when it came. In order for a woman to become pregnant faster, you need to accurately calculate the day of ovulation and refrain from sex before fertile days.
The day of ovulation can be determined by measuring basal body temperature rectally (in the rectum).
During ovulation, the temperature rises by 0.3-0.4 degrees. For the most accurate results, it is recommended to take measurements over several cycles.
There are also tests to determine ovulation, or you can use a special calendar. By indicating the beginning of menstruation, the duration of the cycle and the duration of menstruation, you can calculate the most suitable time for conception. This method is suitable for women with normal cycles who keep monthly records.
What to do to get pregnant
In order for a woman to become pregnant faster, it is necessary, if possible, to exclude factors that negatively affect the health of both partners.
- Stress is a significant factor preventing pregnancy. It is important to learn how to relax using appropriate methods (for example, auto-training, massage, aromatherapy, soothing herbs, contacting a psychologist).
- Bad habits- Smoking, alcohol, caffeine abuse. Women who smoke are much less likely to get pregnant. In men who are addicted to smoking for a long time, the number and activity of spermatozoa decreases.
- Poor nutrition - leads to a decrease in vitamins and minerals needed by the body. It is recommended to include greens, vegetables, fruits, cereals, bread, olive oil in the diet. It has been proven that vitamin E in sufficient quantities has a beneficial effect on male and female sexual function. In the absence of ovulation, it is useful for women to include legumes and nuts in their daily diet. Indispensable products are also cottage cheese, full-fat milk, yogurt. Do not lean on sweets, starchy foods, foods with preservatives and other harmful additives.
- Weight problems- both excess weight and its lack can prevent conception. But this does not only apply to women. Overweight men produce fewer sperm.
- Drug Abuse- antibiotics, analgesics and antihistamines contain substances that prevent the maturation of the egg.
An unhealthy lifestyle leads to a decrease in reproductive function and prevents you from quickly becoming pregnant.
How many intercourses should be
The frequency of having sex also has its own nuances. Couples who have sex every other day during the ovulatory period have the same high conception rates (22%) as couples who have sex every day (25%). If sexual intercourse occurs once a week, the chances are reduced to 10%, since the moment when a woman can become pregnant faster is missed.
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Does posture matter?
In order for a woman to become pregnant as quickly as possible, the position in sex is not important.
An exception is women who have been diagnosed with a uterine bend, posterior deviation, and other shape features. In this case, a properly chosen position will contribute to better sperm penetration (pose with legs pressed to the stomach, or a position when the partner is behind).
After sexual intercourse, you can raise your hips by placing a small pillow, and lie down like this for about 10 minutes. You can stand more flexible in the “birch” position. In this case, the main part of the sperm will hit the target, and will not leak out. After having sex, it is not recommended to wash yourself immediately so that the number of viable spermatozoa does not decrease.
When to See a Doctor
The ideal option is when a woman wants to have a baby, and after intercourse, pregnancy occurs. But if there is infertility, it will not be possible to quickly solve the health problem and get pregnant.
With infertility, there is no difference how often, for how long, and in what position the couple has sex. You can even read on the Internet about ways supposedly guaranteeing pregnancy, but neither a special diet, nor horoscopes, nor other pseudoscientific rituals can bring the desired result. A woman can easily and quickly become pregnant only when both partners are young and healthy.
Therefore, if a couple leads a healthy lifestyle, monitors ovulation, and pregnancy has not occurred within 6 months, then it's time to contact a specialist and undergo a series of diagnostic tests. Experienced doctors will help determine the cause of fertility decline, and eliminate it.
The first is a gynecologist.
Examination and tests will help to exclude infertility in a woman. The diagnosis includes a blood test for herpes, ureaplasmosis, syphilis and other bacteria and viruses. They also do an ultrasound of the pelvic organs and mammary glands, take a smear to determine the microflora of the vagina, examine the urine, determine the ratio of hormones and, if necessary, do a scraping from the cervix.
Lack of pregnancy is not only a female problem. In order not to waste precious time, a man also needs to undergo a series of laboratory and instrumental studies.
Mandatory is a spermogram - a study of the ejaculate, which allows to assess the ability of spermatozoa to fertilize an egg. The cause of male infertility can be a genetic anomaly of the genital organs, the presence of inflammation in the genitourinary system, benign formations, impaired libido, trauma to the genital organs.
The sooner the cause is found and eliminated for both partners, the sooner a woman can become pregnant.
If you have tried everything, but there is no pregnancy
In this case, assisted reproductive technologies make it possible to become happy parents. The most effective method is IVF (in vitro fertilization). It shows good results even in the presence of serious reproductive pathologies.
The standard IVF program includes a set of procedures from ovarian stimulation to the transfer of high-quality embryos into the uterine cavity.
With the help of a laparoscope, an egg ready for fertilization is removed from the follicle and placed in a nutrient medium, where sperm is subsequently injected. The process of fertilization is observed with a microscope, and with a positive result, the fertilized egg is placed in a special incubator - a thermostat. When the egg reaches the desired maturity, the embryo is transferred to the uterine cavity, where it will grow and develop.
The ICSI method is offered to couples with low quality male sperm. This method differs from the standard IVF procedure in that only one viable spermatozoon is selected for fertilization, which is injected with a special needle directly into the egg. That is, conception does not occur with any sperm, but with a certain one, under the control of a reproductologist. The IMSI method involves screening the sperm before entering the egg. In this case, a microscope with 6000x magnification is used in order to take into account the morphology of the spermatozoon and its correct structure. For comparison, the ICSI method uses a microscope with 400x magnification.
The PICSI method differs from the IMSI method in that the embryologist selects only “mature” spermatozoa for fertilization. For selection, their binding index with hyaluronic acid is determined. Those spermatozoa that begin to interact with acid are less susceptible to DNA damage. These are the most mature, correct, in terms of morphology and structure of spermatozoa. They are used for fertilization.
Contraindications for all these methods are the conditions of a woman in which full-fledged gestation and childbirth are impossible, namely:
- pathology of the uterus;
- mental illness;
- oncological diseases;
- benign tumors in the ovaries and uterus.
If it was possible to cure the above diseases, the IVF procedure is allowed.
Which method is better
When referring to a good reproductologist, such a question will not haunt you. Our specialists will conduct a comprehensive examination of the couple using state-of-the-art equipment. Diagnosis will identify the cause of infertility and develop an effective treatment regimen. If necessary, the doctor himself will advise the most suitable method of in vitro fertilization for you. The sooner you turn to specialists, the faster a woman can become pregnant.
The recipe for fulfilling a dream is simple: trust in a doctor, qualifications of a specialist, a little luck and an obligatory faith in success.
With the help of our experts - obstetrician-gynecologist Anna Pastukhova and psychotherapist Kira Natarova, we have compiled a list of the most common causes that can interfere with healthy people. Knowledge is power!
Age over 35
There is an opinion that the older a woman is, the more difficult it is for her to conceive, bear and give birth to a child. Doctors call the age from 25 to 35 years optimal for childbearing. This is due to the fact that at an earlier age, women are often not yet psychologically ready for motherhood, and after 35, a gradual decline in reproductive function begins. However, there are more and more examples that refute this assertion. What determines the possibility of successful conception and bearing a healthy child in the “late reproductive age”?
Expert opinion
Anna Pastukhova, obstetrician-gynecologist at Zdravitsa Family Medicine Centers
As you know, a certain number of eggs are genetically laid in the body of every woman. At what age a woman "uses" them depends only on her. But it should be noted that all diseases suffered by a woman during her life, her bad habits, as well as some medications, have a negative effect on the state of the egg. With age, the supply of eggs decreases, and the remaining ones carry information, roughly speaking, about the woman’s lifestyle, about how much she took care of her health or, conversely, lived for her own pleasure. The first factor is responsible for the fact that women of late reproductive age are less likely to conceive. But the quality of the eggs affects the increased risk of fetal malformations, chromosomal abnormalities. This does not mean that a woman will not be able to give birth to healthy offspring, just the likelihood of this is somewhat lower.
Overweight or underweight
Yes, unfortunately, normal weight is not only a matter of beauty. Excessive thinness, like being overweight, can be a real obstacle to pregnancy. Checking yourself is easy: you need to calculate body mass index (BMI) according to the formula "weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared." For example, your weight is 61 kg and your height is 172 cm. Therefore, the body mass index (BMI) in this case is:
BMI= 61: (1.72 × 1.72) = 21
If as a result of calculations you get a number in the range from 19 to 24 - everything is in order, but smaller or larger values indicate possible problems.
Expert opinion
Anna Pastukhova
Normal weight is a very important condition for conception. Women who are underweight or overweight often suffer from hormonal imbalances, which can lead to menstrual irregularities and lack of ovulation. And without this, conception is impossible. Excess body weight can affect not only the process of conception, but also lead to a complicated course of pregnancy - an increase in blood pressure, the development of diabetes in pregnant women, which negatively affects the condition of the fetus.
Taking birth control
“I have been on birth control for so many years. And then there are the hormones!- many women, when planning a pregnancy, begin to worry if they have harmed the unborn baby by taking pills for a long time. And if the first attempts are unsuccessful, then they are often the culprits - oral contraceptives. Most doctors are sure that contraceptive pills cannot harm women's reproductive health; on the contrary, in some cases they are prescribed as a treatment that helps prepare the body for pregnancy. However, if you have been taking contraceptives for a long time, and now you want a baby, be sure to tell your doctor about your plans.
Expert opinion
Anna Pastukhova
How hormonal contraception affects conception in the long term has not yet been studied. Contraceptives suppress ovulation, respectively, stopping them causes the so-called withdrawal effect, that is, ovulation occurs in subsequent (especially the first three) cycles, which increases the risk of conception. This technique is used for some types of infertility. And, on the contrary, long-term use of contraceptives can cause suppression of the hormonal system, the ovaries, as it were, "get used" to rest and it is difficult to start them into a working rhythm. Thus, in different situations, gynecologists act differently: either they ask the woman to try to get pregnant immediately after the cancellation, or to rest for 2-3 months to allow the body to recover.
Lifestyle
In a business like planning, there are no trifles! Literally everything matters: where you work, how you relax, what you eat, how much you sleep. So switch to a diet rich in folic acid (fresh greens, spinach, kale, peas, whole grain bread, nuts) with balanced proteins, fats and carbohydrates, sleep well, walk more. If you work in a hazardous industry, seriously consider changing jobs. And, of course, look at the beautiful, think about the good and smile more often!
Many people believe that babies choose their parents themselves. What if this is true? Then a good mood will definitely be your trump card.
Expert opinion
Anna Pastukhova
A balanced diet, physical activity, hygiene, the fight against chronic foci of infection (carious teeth, chronic tonsillitis, and others), the correct mode of work and rest are the main components of a healthy lifestyle. Exercise moderately and make sure that your diet is rational and energetically complete. If possible, limit yourself from negative factors at work (computer, chemicals, weight lifting).
Bad habits
Of course, we will not advise anyone to drink and smoke. But, if you are planning to conceive, then these bad habits can really interfere with the onset of pregnancy. Moreover, nicotine and alcohol reduce the reproductive function of both men and women, so spouses need to give them up together, holding hands together.
Expert opinion
Anna Pastukhova
Alcohol can interfere with conception and lead to fetal malformations. How much alcohol can negatively affect the egg - no doctor will answer. As for smoking, it is not tobacco itself that has a damaging effect on the egg, but the products of nicotine metabolism. The egg, accumulating toxic substances, loses the ability to be fertilized. In men, alcohol and nicotine do not affect the quantity, but the quality of sperm, that is, they contribute to a decrease in the number of motile spermatozoa, reducing the chances of conception. If conception occurs, then the pregnancy may end in a miscarriage.
severe stress
In an ideal world, women would probably spend their pregnancy planning phase in sun-drenched meadows picking flowers and watching the sunrise. But life is a striped thing, and not a single woman who dreams of a baby is immune from difficult situations. Unfortunately, serious stressful situations can not only seriously worsen your well-being and mood, but also interfere with conception - the reproductive system can malfunction due to stress. Or maybe nature conceived this on purpose, so that before pregnancy you had time to bounce back and meet your future baby with joy?
Expert opinion
Anna Pastukhova
Prolonged stress can prevent conception, since during this period the stress hormone prolactin is released into the blood, which in turn “overlaps” the sex hormones (LH, luteinizing hormone and FSH, follicle-stimulating hormone), which leads to a lack of ovulation. Also, against the background of stress, a decrease in the level of the hormone estriol is possible and, as a result, a decrease in the thickness of the endometrium, as a result of which the fetal egg will not have the opportunity to attach. In men, constant stress also contributes to a change in the ratio of the hormones LH and FSH, which negatively affects the quality of sperm and reduces the chances of successful conception.
Psychological infertility
What to do if the doctors unanimously say “healthy”, your husband is also fine, you haven’t had any serious shocks lately, and pregnancy still doesn’t occur? Perhaps it's all about the psychological block. In this case, at the subconscious level, at the word “pregnancy”, the signal “danger” turns on in the head, and the body itself blocks the possibility of conception. This “pregnancy ban” can be overcome with the help of a psychotherapist.
Expert opinion
Kira Natarova, Candidate of Medical Sciences, psychotherapist, lecturer at the Department of Psychology, Novosibirsk State University
There is a so-called "psychological infertility" - when, in the absence of a pathology of the reproductive system, pregnancy does not occur in both partners. There can be several reasons for this kind of infertility: unsuccessful pregnancies in the past and the attitude that has formed against their background that the next time will be the same, too strong, hysterical expectation of pregnancy, unsupported by any facts, confidence in one's own inability to conceive.
Psychological traumas suffered by a woman - rape, rough treatment, violence in childhood can play a huge role. A concomitant factor may be a complicated financial situation - lack of funds, separate housing.
Of course, general well-being and emotional state affect the ability to conceive, but in different women this manifests itself in different ways - it depends on the psychological characteristics of the individual. For example, severe depression, stressful situations can lead to cycle failure or to the complete cessation of menstruation. Fear of infertility, fear of being unable to be a good mother can also be the cause of infertility.
It is extremely difficult to recognize a psychological block without the help of a specialist; you can get even more confused, delve into painful experiences, confuse causes and effects, and, on the contrary, increase psychological infertility. The causes of psychological infertility are extremely diverse, complex and individual, so I definitely do not recommend doing such things on your own, only a highly qualified psychotherapist can help here.
Express test from our expert
Check yourself, answer the questions:
- Can I be called anxious, suspicious, prone to winding up the situation?
- Have I previously had depression, a severe reaction to stress, or other psychological problems?
- Have there been psychological traumas in my life?
- Are there financial problems in the family?
- Do we have difficulties in our relationship with our spouse?
- Do I have unmotivated fears - infertility, not being a good mother?
If you answered “yes” to at least one of these questions, then it is quite possible that you can solve your problem with the help of a psychotherapist. Good luck!
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