When you’re ready to take the plunge into parenthood, there’s no way to predict exactly how soon you’ll see a positive pregnancy test.
If you’re in pretty good health, and having regular sex without birth control, you should expect to conceive in your first year of trying, says Dr. Garavelas Attanasio.
“In general, about half of couples will get pregnant within 6 months, and about 70%-80% will get pregnant within 1 year”.
But you and your partner can boost your odds of being parents-to-be by knowing the dos and don’ts of fertility. Set yourself up for success with these guidelines.
Him: Keep Tabs on Your Health
Maybe it’s been a while since you’ve gone in for a checkup. Many men, especially younger ones, “still feel kind of invincible, and don’t routinely go to the doctor” .
But there’s a big connection between your overall health and your reproductive health, he says, so making time for a quick health check can go a long way for your fertility.
“Good diet, regular exercise, a healthy body weight, better sleep patterns, less stress — all those things have been correlated with semen quality”. Your doctor can help you make any changes you might need to be your healthiest self, as well as address any issues that might be a barrier to baby-making.
Her: Learn how to read the signs
All pregnancies start when egg meets sperm. So they need to be in the same place at the same time. To help that happen, you can keep track of when your ovaries release an egg, called ovulation, and have sex during that time frame.
If your cycle is regular (with periods coming 26 to 32 days apart), that may just mean having sex on days 8-19 after your period. If you have irregular periods, you may not be able to rely on the calendar alone to know when you’re ovulating. However, there are other ways your body tells you it’s go-time.