This is a question which is asked frequently by couples who are trying to conceive and this article is aimed to dispel certain myths regarding this topic and also to provide guidance based on scientific evidence.

Have you given yourself sufficient time?

In a minority of couples, pregnancy occurs very quickly in the first months of trying. And in movies of course, pregnancies occur very quickly. So people generally believe that there will be pregnancy in the first month or two of trying. But this is not usually the case.

Humans, in fact, are the least fertile of all species and they take time to conceive. 

Evidence has shown that about 80% of the couples, provided the woman is less than 35 years of age and no contraception has been used they do conceive at the end of 1 year.  And another 10% of couples do manage a pregnancy at the end of 2 years.

Hence, 90% of the couples provided they are young do conceive within 2 years of trying. 

Therefore, if you haven’t given yourself sufficient time, it’s important to wait and keep trying.

Have you been trying properly?

Let’s look at the way the egg and the sperm function. 

In a 28 day cycle, the egg is released around about day 13 or 14, that is, in the middle of the cycle. The egg is capable of being fertilised for just 24 hours. But the sperm is hardy and is capable of fertilising the egg for at least 48-72 hours after its release. 

Therefore it is adviced to start trying and to start having intercourse ( on alternate days ) about 2-3 days from the end of your period right up until one week before your next 

anticipated period. 

Theoretically, there are always sperm present whenever the egg is released to address and fertilise the egg. 

Now, if you’re using an ovulation detection kit and then you have a positive ovulation sign or test, it means that the hormone LH has begun to rise and that means ovulation will occur about a couple of days later.  Hence, you need to start having intercourse for the next two to three days once you have a positive ovulation test. 

Are you fit and healthy for a pregnancy?

Lifestyle is key when it comes to pregnancy. There are various factors in our lifestyle that determines it.

-       The first important factor is weight. Because we know that when women have a high BMI of above 30, they take a longer time to get pregnant. And the men who have a high BMI, higher than 30, have reduced fertility. It’s important for these couples to lose weight and any planning on losing weight, should involve exercise. And also increasing your protein and fibre intake, reducing your carbs and cutting sweets altogether helps a great deal.

-       Now what happens if a woman has low BMI? - BMI of less than 19. If she has irregular periods, it means she isn’t ovulating. And she needs to increase her weight and that will help. 

-       The next lifestyle change is regarding smoking. Both active and passive smoking are an absolute no-no. And the only solution is to stop smoking altogether.

-       Regarding alcohol, 1-2 units of alcohol per week or once or twice a week is okay for females and for males 3 units per day and not more than that. This is the recommendation. But intoxication, once again, is to be avoided. 

-       Caffeine, there is good news about caffeine. There is no clear association between the intake of coffee and reproduction, so caffeine in moderation is definitely okay. 

-       The usual advice which is given to IT personnel is not to place your laptop on your lap because of heat generation which can affect sperm production as well as avoid wearing synthetic tight undergarments. 

-       If you have any thyroid problems or hypertension or diabetes, these need to be dealt with, they need to be checked and they need to be under good control.

-       And all women who are trying for pregnancy need to take folic acid. Now, folic acid is a B-group vitamin. It doesn’t increase your chance of getting pregnant but it helps the baby’s brain to grow normally and reduces the incidence or the risk of particular defect in the baby’s brain called neural tube defect. And this needs to be started one month before planning a pregnancy and needs to be continued for at least 3 months after you’re pregnant. 

-       Sleep is very important and sleeping at night is very important. You need to have at least a minimum 7 hours sleep.  And if you’re not sleeping enough, it can cause hormone dysregulation and affect your reproductive health. 

The Age Factor

Now there is an important take home message, especially for women. We must understand that eggs don’t last forever. A baby girl is born with about 1-2 million eggs in her ovaries. And by puberty, that number reduces to 300-500 thousand. This decline is very significant after 32 years and decreases very steeply after 35 years. 

And by 40 years, the woman has very little eggs and therefore have a problem conceiving naturally as well as with treatment. It is not only the egg numbers that reduces after 35 years, it is also egg quality. Hence, there will be an increased risk of miscarriage and having children with birth defects like Down’s Syndrome, the older the woman is. 

We had so many men who father children at 60 years and we’ve always believed in the past  that age never mattered as far as men are concerned. But now we know that men above 40 years can take a longer time to impregnate their wives, and it can result in miscarriages or there is an increased risk of miscarriages with ageing men as well as a small increase in birth defects. 

Consult Fertility Specialist

If you are less than 35 years and if you have been trying properly for 1 year, then, you need to visit a fertility specialist. 

You need to check things out and make sure everything is normal. And if everything is normal, most likely you’d be advised to continue trying for next 6 months to 1 year. If you’re 35 years or older, it’s best to try for just 6 months naturally. 

And if you’ve already conceived, it’s very important to meet a fertility specialist. 

Now...if you’re 40 years, it is very important to meet a fertility specialist right away, because you need to check and make sure everything is fine, and you need to be assessing your fertility at that time. 

Conclusion

-       Consider whether you’ve given yourself sufficient time

-       Make sure you’re trying properly

-       Make sure you’re fit and healthy for a pregnancy and remember,

-       Be mindful of age

-       Seek help early

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