If you are trying to get pregnant, or even just thinking about trying, there is a lot of information out there about how to increase your chances of conceiving.
The Weekly Online spoke to Dr Joseph Sgroi, obstetrician and spokesperson for the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, to bring you some expert tips.
When trying to get pregnant the most obvious thing is to have sex. However, Dr Sgroi says that it’s crucial to have vaginal intercourse. “Don’t laugh,” he says. “Some people don’t know that.”
The next thing, according to Dr Sgroi is to have good sperm.
“We need to have adequate sperm numbers. We know that the semen parameters have decreased over time, so it’s important to maintain a good healthy lifestyle,” he explains.
Next on the list is to have what Dr Sgroi describes as a “good receptive uterus.”
“You need a uterus that is normal, looks normal, and doesn’t have any structural abnormalities. You need a uterus that wants to fall pregnant,” he explains. Dr Sgroi notes that conditions such as endometriosis can affect a couples chances of falling pregnant.
Quite crucially, in order to get pregnant a woman needs to be ovulating.
“A lot of women will use ovulation kits and monitor their cycle so that they know exactly when they are ovulating,” he explains.
Finally, Dr Sgroi says that you need “open tubes”.
“That’s where fertilisation occurs. The ovary releases an egg and the sperm travels through the vagina and the uterus and up the fallopian tubes towards the egg,” he explains.
This means that if the tube is damaged then the chances of falling pregnant decrease.
There are a few factors that can impact the fallopian tubes, for example STI’s and past surgery.
Dr Sgroi says that in his opinion the the most important factor in getting pregnant is patience.
“If you are a young couple trying to fall pregnant for the first time then there is no need to rush out and get everything checked. You just need a bit of time,” he says.
If you are actively trying to get pregnant, Dr Sgroi says it’s important to time sexual intercourse within the fertility window.
In a nutshell, if a woman has a regular 28 day cycle she will ovulate around day 14 of her cycle.
“I recommend that couples have sex every other day from day ten to day twenty. That will cover any fluctuation in ovulation.”
While women in TV shows and movies can often be seen lying down with a pillow under their bum after sex, Dr Sgroi says that this wont increase your chances of getting pregnant.
“Our bodies are quite wonderful in getting the sperm to where they need to be,” he says.
So when should you seek help? Dr Sgroi says that if you are a young healthy couple with no concerns about your fertility then you should give it at least 12 months before consulting a professional.
If you are over 35 then your chances of falling pregnant could be slightly lower, so it might be worth checking in with your GP when you decide to start trying.
At the end of the day though, Dr Sgroi says that couples should try and relax and enjoy the process.
“Don’t be ruled by your ovulation calendar,” he says. “Try and enjoy being with your partner.”
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