Getting pregnant is a lifechanging experience, whether it was unplanned or something a couple has been trying to do for months.
If you've had trouble getting pregnant, you may have heard the old wives' tale that adopting a child is a perfect way to magically get pregnant. But that just isn't true and anyone with that hope is unlikely to pass a homestudy.
Getting pregnant is an exact science, although it can be affected by hormonal imbalances from one's surroundings. It's recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that women under the age of 35 try to get pregnant for a full year before seeking fertility tests. Women over 35 should try for six months before seeking the advice of a physician.
If a woman is coming off any form of birth control, such as a IUD or oral contraceptive, it's suggested she waits three months for her periods to become self-regulated.
Women can use one of the many online pregnancy calculators to track their ovulation and menstrual cycles and predict their ideal 10-day fertility window and best possible date for conception, which is usually estimated to be two weeks before a woman's menstrual cycle begins. According to Mayo Clinic staff, women should pay attention to an increased body temperature while inactive or slippery discharge as these can indicate ovulation.
Couples can increase their fertility by making a few lifestyle changes as well. The Mayo Clinic suggests couples have intercourse two or three times a week and daily during the ovulation period. Couples should try to stay healthy with activity and proper diets. However, too much exercise can decrease fertility. Alcohol, smoking, certain lubricants and medications can also decrease fertility.
