There’s a certain irony to the question “Can I get pregnant?” Many people spend many years trying not to conceive. When the time comes for family planning, the worry sets in that somehow it won’t be possible. Rest assured, this is a normal feeling.
Let’s look at the odds of conceiving. Healthy couples in their 20s to early 30s have a 25% chance of conceiving in any single menstrual cycle, reports the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. And by age 40, that chance drops to 10% in a single menstrual cycle.
For sure, age is one of the most critical factors in your likelihood to conceive. This is because your eggs decrease in quality and quantity as you get older. A woman’s fertility peaks by her late 20s and, by age 30, is on the downslope. That doesn’t mean you can’t get pregnant; it just may take a little longer.
Beyond age, what else can impact fertility? It’s always important to talk to your doctor about specific factors regarding your health and lifestyle. But these nine signs suggest you’re on the path to conception.
1. You have regular periods
Does your monthly cycle punch the timeclock at the same time every month? If yes, that’s strong evidence of regular ovulation, which is necessary for becoming pregnant.
A clockwork period also makes it easier to know when you can get pregnant. You are most fertile around the time an egg is released (and is when you should plan to have sex). Ovulation typically happens about 14 days before your period starts.
2. You see evidence of ovulation
Your underwear holds clues. Before you ovulate, you may notice a stretchy, translucent vaginal discharge that resembles egg whites. This is typically followed by a thicker, cloudy mucus. That’s cervical mucus, which appears just after ovulation.
3. You are at a healthy weight
A healthy weight sets the stage for a healthier pregnancy. If you’re over or under when trying to conceive, it can be more difficult.
Being overweight can inhibit ovulation. As you gain weight, fat cells grow and release estrogen. This can trick your body into thinking you are pregnant.
When you are underweight, it can cause your body to stop making estrogen. This can disrupt ovulation and prevent you from having your period.
4. You have a clean bill of health
Adding insult to injury, underlying medical issues can contribute to fertility challenges. These include a history of:
- Thyroid issues or other hormonal disorders
- Fibroids
- Pelvic adhesions or disorders
- Endometriosis
- Autoimmune diseases
- Unmanaged diabetes
This doesn’t mean you won’t be able to get pregnant. But these issues can throw obstacles along the path. Your physician can guide you on how best to manage any health conditions that could get in the way of conceiving.
5. You eat a lot of whole foods
Are you—and your baby—what you eat? That old saying veers toward the dramatic, but consuming a diet of healthy, whole foods does help improve egg quality and fertility.
Balanced nutrition also supports a healthy pregnancy. We like the Mediterranean-style diet, which is more of an eating plan that a capital-D “diet.” It emphasizes vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and lean proteins, including legumes, seafood, poultry, low-fat dairy, and healthy fats.
And don’t wait to start taking a prenatal vitamin till you’re pregnant. It’s ideal to pop this supplement while trying to conceive. Prenatals help ensure you get nutrients that are essential in the earliest stages of pregnancy.
The critical nutrient right now is folic acid, a key ingredient in prenatal vitamins. It can help reduce the baby’s risk of spina bifida and other neural tube defects.
6. You stay active
Movement does a body (and a baby!) good. Moderate exercise has been shown to improve egg quality. You’ll want to aim for 150 minutes of moderate exercise per week (or five 30-minute sessions).
This doesn’t mean you have to hit the gym or pump weights. Walking at a brisk clip counts. So do activities like swimming, dancing, and hiking, and household tasks such as gardening, raking the yard, and vacuuming.
But be sure not to overdo it. Intense workouts of more than 5 hours a week may disrupt ovulation. Talk to your doctor if you have any questions about what’s appropriate during pregnancy.
7. You don’t smoke
Nicotine has been shown to decrease fertility in both women and men. Studies show that smoking negatively impacts a woman’s reproductive system, including shortening menstrual cycles and speeding up egg loss.
If you do smoke and are having trouble quitting, your physician can guide you to helpful resources.
8. You don’t drink
You’ve certainly heard that drinking while pregnant is a big no. But it’s also not a great idea in the months when you’re trying to conceive. Consuming alcohol has been linked to ovulation disorders, which could impact your ability to get pregnant.
Of course, that doesn’t mean you have to say no to a glass of wine, or a beer, here or there if you are trying to conceive. Many women may worry about those few glasses of wine last week after finding out they are pregnant. Excessive and continued alcohol consumption is the concern, but caution or abstaining is a solid plan.
9. You don’t use recreational drugs
To make a long story short, as the old adage goes, “Just say NO to drugs”.
Although the use of recreational marijuana is now legal in 24 states (as of November 2023), that doesn’t it's on the list of increasing your chances of getting pregnant. Chronic use of marijuana in women can cause ovarian dysfunction, irregularities in your period as well as your reproductive hormones (FSH, LH, Estrogen, Progesterone). In men, long-term use of marijuana can affect the count and quality of their sperm and other reproductive hormones as well as a bunch of other not fun things like, low libido, testicular atrophy, and sexual dysfunction (erectile dysfunction, premature ejaculation, or delayed or inability to achieve ejaculation) those things certainly can put a damper on the “let’s make a baby” plans.
The other more illicit drugs that are off limits are: cocaine, heroin, PCP and LSD, and methamphetamines. Since there is no way to safely test this, the limited information available indicates that reproductive hormones can be thrown off balance, which can lead to ovulatory dysfunction or other troubles conceiving.
10. Your partner has a healthy lifestyle
A woman’s health is definitely important. But so is your partner’s. As with women, lifestyle habits impact men’s fertility. Studies have shown that a number of things affect sperm quality. These include factors such as weight, diet, exercise, alcohol consumption, and nicotine.
Got concerns about your ability to conceive? Consider booking a visit with your physician to discuss your conception plans. They will guide you on any changes that may help improve your chances of conceiving and having a healthy pregnancy.
SOURCES:
Having a Baby after Age 35, How Aging Affects Fertility and Pregnancy: American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. February 2023.
Weight, Fertility, and Pregnancy: Office on Women’s Health. February 2021.
How Smoking Affects Reproductive Health: U.S. Food & Drug Administration. November 2021.
Does Smoking Cause Infertility in Females: Medical News Today. March 2023.
How To Get Pregnant: Mayo Clinic. December 2021.
Female Fertility, Why Lifestyle Choices Count: Mayo Clinic. December 2022.
The impact of selected modifiable lifestyle factors on male fertility in the modern world: National Library of Medicine. October 2020.
“Can I Get Pregnant?”
It’s the question on your mind when you’re ready for a family. These 9 factors are signs that the answer may be “yes.”
- Regular periods
- Signs of ovulation
- Healthy weight
- General good health
- A balanced diet
- No smoking
- No alcohol
- No recreational drug use
Chronic Health Conditions & Fertility
Some medical issues can make it harder to get pregnant. Talk to your doctor if you have a history of any of these.
- Thyroid issues or other hormonal disorders
- Fibroids
- Pelvic adhesions or disorders
- Endometriosis
- Autoimmune diseases
- Unmanaged diabetes
Comments