6 Things You May Not Know About Conception

Starting the journey to parenthood is an important moment, filled with anticipation and hope.

While you may understand the basics of conception, some lesser-known tips can boost your chances of successfully conceiving.

Here are six lesser-known, yet crucial tips for enhancing your chances of conceiving.

Focus on your and your partner's overall health and to lay a foundation for a healthy pregnancy.

1. Medication Matters: Do you need to stop certain medications?

Certain medications may impact fertility or pose risks during pregnancy.

Discuss all medications—prescription, over-the-counter, and supplements—with your doctor to understand potential risks before trying to conceive.

Some medications that experts recommend avoiding are prescription medications for ADHD, hypertension, and blood clotting.

Your doctor helps you make informed decisions about whether to continue, adjust, or discontinue medications, minimizing potential risks and maximizing your chances of a healthy pregnancy.

2. Visit an OB-GYN Before Trying to Conceive

Many couples are aware of the many doctor visits required throughout pregnancy.

However, it’s strongly recommended to schedule a visit with an OB-GYN well before you start trying to get pregnant.

Your doctor can help you address any existing health concerns, make necessary lifestyle changes, and help you gain a comprehensive understanding of your health status, laying the groundwork for a healthy pregnancy.

Your OB-GYN can also provide valuable guidance on nutrition, prenatal supplements, and other factors that are crucial for a healthy pregnancy.

3. Evaluate Your Intake of Caffeine, Alcohol and Smoking

While it’s common knowledge to avoid alcohol and other substances during pregnancy, cutting them out before conception is equally important.

Before you start your pregnancy journey, you should avoid all alcohol and stop smoking. Male fertility can also be affected by these substances, so your partner should also limit his intake until a confirmed pregnancy.

Limiting caffeine is a lesser known, but crucial factor to understand before trying to get pregnant.

You should start cutting back on your morning coffee, as experts recommend less than 200 mg per day while pregnant. This is about two, six-ounce cups per day.

These lifestyle adjustments support your body’s readiness for a healthy pregnancy.

4. Track Ovulation

Understanding your menstrual cycle and tracking ovulation is a powerful tool for increasing your chances of conceiving. This involves identifying the fertile window of when you are most likely to get pregnant.

Although it may seem simple, it may take several cycles to get an accurate picture of your full cycle.

Use period-tracking apps, ovulation prediction kits, or record your basal body temperature every day to pinpoint your ovulation.

Once you know when you're most likely to ovulate, plan to have unprotected sex every 2-3 days for the five days before ovulation and the day after.

This maximizes the likelihood of conception.

5. Maintain a Healthy Weight

Being either underweight or overweight can affect fertility. Achieving and maintaining a healthy weight is important for hormonal balance and reproductive health for both men and women.

Talk to your doctor to determine if any weight changes are needed before trying to get pregnant.

Maintaining a healthy weight enhances your and your partner’s fertility and optimizes the chances of successful conception.

6. It’s Rare to Conceive on the First Try

When you and your partner have decided to grow your family, it’s normal to be excited and anticipate a confirmed pregnancy after the first try. However, it’s important to understand that many couples don’t get pregnant in the first few months of trying.

More than half of healthy couples get pregnant within the first six months of trying. If you’ve been trying to get pregnant for a few months and are unsuccessful, this does not automatically mean you or your partner is infertile.

Depending on your age and other factors that affect fertility, you may not need to seek further medical guidance just yet.

If you’re under 35, experts recommend trying to conceive for one year before seeking medical advice. If you’re 35 or older, talk to your OB-GYN about your risk factors and when you should seek fertility expertise.

As you start on your journey to pregnancy and parenthood, it’s important to meet with your OB-GYN to get personalized medical advice before you start trying to conceive. This proactive step allows you to receive expert guidance, address any concerns, and set the foundation to support a successful pregnancy.