Unfortunately, there's no one-size-fits-all answer to this question. Every woman is unique, and fertility varies a lot. That's why some women get pregnant the minute they start trying to get pregnant (sometimes without even trying), while for others it may take longer. How well you can get pregnant depends on a lot of different things, some of which we've listed below.
Age
Age is probably one of the most important factors affecting female fertility. Every woman is born with the number of eggs she will have for her entire life. As we age, there is a decline in both the quality and quantity of eggs. This impacts our fertility and ability to get pregnant.
Overall Health
Overall health also plays a big part in fertility. Infections, chronic illnesses, and even mild hormonal imbalances have been proven by science to affect our ability to get pregnant. Good ovulation is a sign that your hormones are in balance. If your hormones are balanced, you're more likely to get pregnant and stay healthy.
Reproductive Health
Reproductive health isn’t necessarily connected to overall health. Reproductive health issues include endometriosis, polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), sexually transmitted diseases, fibroids, and infections in the reproductive and urinary tract. These can make getting pregnant or implantation difficult. Even if you're healthy and your endocrine system is working well, if your tubes are blocked or you have other structural issues, it can be really tough to get pregnant, or even impossible.
Frequency of Intercourse
How often you have sex—just like when you time it right during your fertile window, the frequency of intercourse can also affect your chances of getting pregnant. It's important for women trying to conceive to track their cycles to identify their fertile window. Studies show that the frequency of intercourse also affects the probability of conception.
Can I Improve My Chances of Getting Pregnant?
Absolutely! We’re all about helping you get pregnant faster. Here are some of our favourite tips for getting pregnant.
Timing Intercourse
Timing intercourse is an important part of trying to conceive. This is because an egg is fertilisable only for 12 to 24 hours after ovulation, meaning you have a very small window when you can actually conceive. The good news is that healthy sperm may live up to 5 days in your reproductive tract, so your chances are higher if you have intercourse a few days before ovulation. The few days leading up to ovulation are called your “fertile window”—this is when you should be timing intercourse to improve your chances.
If you're looking for help identifying your fertile window, OvuPro can help you pinpoint your two most fertile days each cycle!
It's Important to Check His Sperm
As they say, it takes two to tango! Studies show that men are responsible for 20-30% of cases of infertility and contribute to 50% of cases overall. We suggest getting your partner checked as soon as possible so you know where you stand. There are also home tests he can use to check both the quantity and quality of his sperm from the comfort of home.
Confirm Successful Ovulation
Healthy ovulation is two-fold: you need an egg to be released and enough progesterone to support implantation. If you don't have enough progesterone, it can be harder to get pregnant. You can confirm ovulation through a progesterone blood test or by tracking your basal body temperature (BBT).
OvuPro can help you confirm successful ovulation through accurate BBT tracking. We recommend using OvuPro for 8-10 days after your last period at night for at least 7 hours to pinpoint your fertility window.
No matter how long it takes, we want to make sure you have the tools and information to empower you on your fertility journey!