Trying to Conceive Community

When I talk about ways to enhance natural conception with my patients, I focus on two things: timing and implementing certain lifestyle changes. First, timing is everything when you are trying to conceive! Intercourse has to be timed to a woman's "fertile window" in order to get pregnant. This fertile window is usually three to six days prior to ovulation, but it can be difficult for some to predict. Some useful methods to predict one's fertile window is to chart intermenstrual intervals, do basal body temperature monitoring, note cervical mucus characteristics, and/or use ovulation predictor kits. A simpler option is just to have regular, timed intercourse starting on cycle day 10 if the female partner's menstrual cycle is regular.

When timing does not appear to be an issue, implementing certain lifestyle changes may help to enhance natural conception. Extremes of weight (i.e. too thin or too heavy) can negatively affect fertility. We need a certain amount of body fat to reproduce and anything above or below this threshold can affect fertility. Implementing a healthy diet and regular exercise, 30 minutes per day five times a week, can sometimes help couples achieve their goal of pregnancy.

In addition, couples who are trying to conceive should not smoke and should limit their caffeine and alcohol intake. Smoking can reduce one's chance of getting pregnant by 50%, and increased caffeine intake (more than 5 cups/day) has been linked to longer times for conception and increased miscarriage rates. The effect of alcohol on natural conception is less clear, but excess alcohol consumption during pregnancy is associated with fetal alcohol syndrome.

Sometimes, just by implementing these few things, couples are able to conceive on their own without any assistance.