If you’re thinking about becoming parents, you’ve undoubtedly questioned when and how often to have sex, as well as how long it will take to become pregnant. Here are the answers to the queries you have.
The Probability of Being Conceived
I’m often asked, “What are my chances of getting pregnant this month?” In most cases, the chances of getting pregnant in any given month are between 15% and 25% for those who are trying.
However, a few factors may influence your odds:
Age: Your odds of becoming pregnant in any given month decrease after the age of thirty. And when you reach your 40s, they start to decline sharply.
Irregular Periods: Knowing when you’re ovulating and when to have intercourse can be challenging as a result.
How frequently do you have sex? You’re less likely to become pregnant the less regularly you do it.
How long have you been trying to get pregnant? Your chances of getting pregnant could be decreased if you haven’t become pregnant after a year of trying. See your doctor about getting both of you and your spouse tested for fertility.
Diseases or Health Issues: Pregnancy can be affected by some of these.
Conceiving a Child
Learning more about your menstrual cycle could be beneficial.
It’s the phase of preparation your body goes through in case you become pregnant. Your uterine lining thickens as your ovaries prepare to release an egg. This facilitates the process by which a fertilised egg adheres to the uterine wall. Your vagina sheds the excess lining when it degrades and fails to fertilise the egg.
Your cycle ends the day before the following one starts, and starts on the first day you observe bright red blood, not just spots. A cycle may take up to 35 days to complete.
It is deemed irregular if your cycle varies by a few days from one month to the next. It’s not always a sign of trouble; it’s just common.
Timeline for becoming pregnant
On day 14, of a normal 28-day cycle, your ovary releases an egg. It only lasts for a day or less. It takes an additional five to six days, if fertilisation occurs, for the embryo to pass through your fallopian tube and deposit itself in your uterus. By day 21, you’re officially pregnant.
Predicting ovulation
It’s crucial to know when the egg will be released because there’s just one day left to fertilise it. However, since each person’s cycle is unique, how can you determine when you’re ovulating?
Calendar tracking: For a few months, you can mark the beginning of your menstruation. It is normal to ovulate 14 days prior to your period, irrespective of the length of your cycle. You can track and receive alerts from applications that let you know when you’re most fertile. But if your cycle isn’t regular, calendar tracking won’t do you any good.
Cervical secretions: A shift in the discharge that emerges from your cervix, the entrance to your uterus, is one indication that you are ovulating. The mucus in your ovaries may be sticky, white, yellow, or hazy as they are about to produce an egg. Mucus becomes transparent and slippery, resembling egg whites, just before ovulation. Generally speaking, the mucous stops when the egg is gone.
Basal Body Temperature: A small increase in body temperature first thing in the morning is another indication that you are ovulating. It rises the day an egg is released and continues to rise until your menstrual cycle. To detect the difference, you need a specialised thermometer, which you can purchase at a pharmacy or food store.
Test kits for ovulation: These function similarly to pregnancy tests, but they look for hormones in your urine that rise just before ovulation. They function best if you take a test five to ten days into your cycle, every day. They are available over the counter.
Fertility tracker: Additionally, a plethora of electronic devices that monitor your hormone levels or temperature are available for purchase.
Is it possible to fall pregnant just before your period?
Though it’s not ideal to try now, it is still doable. When an egg is discharged throughout your cycle, it usually happens far in advance of the onset of your subsequent menstruation. However, if you ovulate later than you anticipate, there’s a chance that an egg will still be there when you should be getting your period.
Having Sex
This is another frequently asked question by couples who are attempting to conceive: How frequently should we have sex? The brief response is frequently.
There is not much of a window of time during which a sperm can fertilise an egg. Sperm have a five-day lifespan once inside the uterus. After release, an egg has a day or so to live. If sperm are ready in your fallopian tube for the egg to hatch, your chances of becoming pregnant are higher.
The issue is that accuracy isn’t always guaranteed, even with the latest equipment and meticulous tracking. You might not have much luck if you’re off by a small amount and are just having sex on the few days of the month when you think you’re fertile.
When have to sex?
What then do medical professionals advise? One tactic is to start having sex every other day as soon as your menstruation ends or a week or so before you anticipate ovulation. You can just make sure you’re having sex at least twice or three times a week if that seems too planned.
Is it harmful to have sex every day when attempting to conceive?
You may have heard that having too many sexual relations decreases sperm count and decreases the likelihood of becoming pregnant. But according to study, having intercourse every day as opposed to every other day somewhat increases your chance of becoming pregnant. That may backfire, though, if having sex turns into a chore and causes you worry and tension.
Going Off the Pill to Get Pregnant
How long do birth control pills take to start having an effect?
After stopping the pill, you can genuinely become pregnant as soon as the synthetic hormones leave your body, though it can take a few months for you to ovulate regularly.
Is it okay to get pregnant immediately away?
Indeed. If you wait a few months, your chances of having a healthy baby are the same as yours. Simply put, if you haven’t had a period, it’s more difficult to determine when you were conception and due.
What Is the Average Time to Conceive?
By day 21 of your cycle, if all goes according to plan, the fertilised egg will be implanted and you will become formally pregnant. However, it can take some time to find out.
What time of day do you feel pregnant?
When the egg implants in your uterus, it’s likely that you will have some spotting or experience some discomfort. However, it’s also possible that you won’t notice any changes until several weeks following a positive pregnancy test. Early warning indicators of pregnancy include:
Missing your period
Feeling tired
Sore or swollen breasts
Needing to pee more often
Nausea
Cramping or spotting
Moodiness
When will I receive a positive pregnancy test results after becoming pregnant?
The organ called placenta, which develops within your uterus to provide oxygen and nourishment to your unborn child, produces a hormone known as human chorionic gonadotropin. Your system will accumulate enough of this hormone to cause a positive pregnancy test. The duration of an at-home urine test is approximately 11–14 days following conception. It could be detected a little earlier by a doctor’s blood test.
Being pregnant When One Is Nonbinary or Transgender
Being a patient of gender-affirming therapy does not preclude you from becoming pregnant as long as your ovaries and uterus are functional. Testosterone prevents ovulation. However, studies have shown that your body can return to producing a regular quantity of healthy eggs if you stop taking it.
That being said, you should cease taking testosterone before attempting to conceive because it poses a risk to the developing foetus. It could take several months to get your period, or it might come on suddenly.
If you identify as transgender or nonbinary, there are additional factors to take into account when planning a pregnancy.
Medical care
Finding a medical staff that you feel at ease with is crucial. The health of both you and your unborn child depends on receiving quality prenatal care, so bad prenatal experiences shouldn’t prevent you from getting what you need. Locating a paediatrician, OB/GYN, or reproductive expert who can help you may need more work on your behalf. Referral sources to consider are as follows:
Your regular doctor
Friends or social media acquaintances
Websites of advocacy groups like Family Equality and the World Professional Association for Transgender Health
Your insurance company
Once you have a lead on a potential provider, here are some things you can do to figure out if they’re right for you.
Here are some steps you may take to determine whether a possible provider is a good fit for you after you get a lead on them.
a. See if they have any information on inclusive family-building on their website.
b. Make it plain to them the name and pronouns they should use to refer to you, and then observe if they follow through on that.
c. Find out whether they have any particular training or experience with transgender or nonbinary patients.
d. Talk about the measures they would take to ensure your comfort throughout the labour and delivery process as well as examinations.Mental well-being
Your emotions may suffer greatly from the pregnancy’s surge in hormones. If you were taking testosterone and stopped, things can get worse.
It’s possible that your perception of your body and yourself will shift. While you’re pregnant, you might feel differently about yourself to other people, and you might find it difficult to interact with people.
It’s common to feel moody during pregnancy. You can better handle things if you are aware of this and ready for it. Beyond that, though, it’s not uncommon to experience anxiety and despair.
Breast/chest feeding
Depending on the technique you underwent, you might or might not be able to nurse your child after having chest reconstruction surgery. It is something you should talk to your physician about.
If you wish to resume testosterone medication after giving birth, you should discuss the advantages and potential dangers with your doctor. It can prevent you from producing milk. Very little research has been done to determine whether breast milk is a safe way to pass it on to your child.
Tips for Becoming Pregnant
The timing is crucial in this. However, you can take additional steps to increase your chances of becoming pregnant.
a. Make sure there are no health issues preventing you from moving forward by getting checked out.
b. Verify if your medications have an impact on your ability to conceive.
c. Achieve and maintain a healthy weight.
d. Watch the intensity when exercising. Exercise that is extremely vigorous can prevent ovulation.
e. Give up smoking.
f. Steer clear of booze.
g. Don't take more than two cups of coffee with caffeine each day. Folic acid
As soon as you’re prepared to begin trying to conceive, it’s a good idea to begin taking this supplement. In some cases, folic acid can help avoid very significant birth abnormalities.
When to Consult a Physician
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists states that most consistently sexually active couples without any health issues become pregnant within six months of trying. If a year has passed and you’re still not successful, consult your physician. Don’t wait more than six months if you’re older than 35.
Additionally, you should consult your physician if you or your spouse have a family history of a genetic disorder that could be passed on to your unborn child, or if you have a medical condition like diabetes that could impair your pregnancy.