If you have an underlying condition, you may have a lot of questions about getting pregnant. It is important to take care of your body. What can you do to increase your chances of having a baby?

The most important advice for a woman who wants to have a baby is to know her menstrual cycle, said Dr. Mary Ellen Pavone, a reproductive (opens in new tab) specialist.

It's important for her to know how far apart her cycles are so she can try to get pregnant.

There are a number of tips that may increase your chances of getting pregnant. It is always a good idea to speak to a medical professional about this type of information, as it is broad and you may need specialized attention. The video on how to get pregnant is useful.

The CDC strongly recommends that you get a COVID-19 because pregnant women are more likely to get a severe case of the disease. The benefits of vaccine for pregnant women and their babies outweigh any known or potential risks, according to the CDC.

This article has been medically reviewed by

Yasmine S. Ali, MD, MSCI, FACC, FACP

MD, MSCI, FACC, FACP

The first day of a woman's period should be monitored to see if it is the same number of days in a month as regular. Her cycle lengths vary from month to month. According to research published in The New England Journal of Medicine, a woman can better predict when she might be ovulating by keeping a calendar. Every month, her ovary will release an egg. The GlowOvulation period tracker is one app that can help with the tracking.

A man's sperm can live in a woman's body for up to five days after a woman's egg is released.

2. Monitor ovulation

Two weeks before the arrival of their periods, women with regular cyclesovulate. It's difficult to predict when a woman will start her next period in women with irregular cycles.

There is a wide variety in the length of cycles of people who menstruate. If you want to find out when the person is most likely to have a baby, you need to monitor ovulation.

Women can use a variety of methods to find their most fertile days.

The signs of labor are coming soon.

Predicting when a woman is ovulating can be done at home. The kits are sold at drug stores and can be used to determine if a person is pregnant. The best time for couples to have sex is three days after a positive test result.

Tracking the amount and appearance of mucus in a woman's vagina is one way to predict when she's going to get pregnant. When a woman is most fertile, the amount of mucus increases and it becomes thinner, clearer and more slippery. Sperm can get to the egg when the mucus becomes more slippery. The study found that women who checked their mucus consistently were 2.3 times more likely to have a baby.

calendar for tracking ovulation

Tracking ovulation can help women to get pregnant faster. (Image credit: Getty)

In most cases, abasal body temperature is a good way to monitor ovulation. Before you get out of bed, check your temperature at the same time and keep a record of it. The at-rest temperature should be measured. The University says that the average body temperature before a woman ovulates is between 97 and 97.5 degrees Fahrenheit. The University of Michigan Health System reported that a woman's body temperature is between 98.6 and 98.6 F after she has sex.

The university said the egg will remain fertile for about a day and a half.

It's important to use a digital thermometer or a special one because your temperature change will be small.

3. Have sex every other day during the fertile window

According to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, the fertile window is five days prior to ovulation and the day of it. Women are most fertile on these days.

Many women are turning to new technology tools, such as fertility- tracking apps and websites, to help them keep tabs on when they may be more likely to conceive, but a review in the journal BMJ 2020 Sexual & Reproductive Health suggests that these new technology tools may not be the best way to Scientists analyzed 50 popular fertility-tracking websites and apps with a hypothetical woman, and found that the results varied wildly, with many mistakenly tagging days outside of the fertility window.

It is important to note that a report by Colorado State University highlights concerns about digital privacy and period tracking apps in the wake of the US Supreme Court overturn of the contraceptives law. There is a fear that the data collected by these apps could be used to prosecute women in states that ban abortion. A survey found that close to a third of American women use a health app to track their menstrual cycles, so this is an issue of real concern to a large portion of the female population.

Should a woman have sex every day? There hasn't been a big difference in the rate of pregnancies between couples who had sex every day during the "fertile window" and couples who did it every other day, according to research. It might be easier for a couple to have sex on other days.

There are tips for men trying to conceive.

The quality of fertility and menstruation apps was evaluated by researchers. The app quality score was based on a number of factors, such as the app's ease of use, accuracy of information and tools provided, general features and specific fertility features. There were some apps that rose to the top of the pile. The apps with the highest AQS scores are listed.

  • Glow Ovulation, Period Tracker
  • Fertility Friend FF App
  • Clue: Health & Period Tracker

The Consumer Reports Digital Lab is recommended by Colorado State University to evaluate the different apps and their privacy terms. The report states that two key things to look for are whether the app's data stays on the phone or in the cloud and whether the app shares data with a third. Consumer Reports makes it easy to check this information without first installing the app. If you don't want to use an app at all, the Colorado State University report suggests using a personal spreadsheet or calendar.

There are a lot of myths about being pregnant. There is no evidence that sex position affects a couple's chances of having a baby or that a woman lying on her back increases the odds of getting pregnant.

She said that there are some water-based vaginal lubrications that can decrease sperm movement, so she recommended using Pre-Seed instead of Astroglide or K-Y Jelly.

4. Strive for a healthy body weight

woman exercising outside

A healthy body weight increases the chances of pregnancy (Image credit: Getty)

Being overweight can affect the chances of conception. A woman who is overweight can take twice as long to get pregnant as a woman who is normal weight, according to research. She said that a woman who is thin could take four times as long to have a baby.

Excess estrogen can interfere with ovulation if you have too much body fat. In a study published in the journal Human Reproduction, it was found that couples who were very obese, with a body mass index of at least 35, took more time to become pregnant.

In a study published in 2020 in the journal PLOS One, researchers looked at data from more than 50,000 couples in China trying to conceive over the course of a year, and found that women's ability to conceive decreased as their body mass index increased

Scientists reported in 2020 in the journal Andrologia that being overweight can affect a couple's ability to become pregnant.

According to the University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority, women with a body mass index less than 18 are less likely to get regular periods or have babies.

5. Take a prenatal vitamin

Pregnant women who are trying to have a baby should take a prenatal vitamins even before they give birth. She said that a woman could find one that was more agreeable to her system and stay on it during her pregnancies.

If you want to prevent birth defects in a baby's brain and spine, you should take a daily multivitamin with at least 400mcg of folic acid.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention encourages women to take 400mcg of folic acid every day for at least a month before they get pregnant to help prevent birth defects.

Three to four weeks after conception, the neural tube develops into the brain and spine, so it's a good idea to get a head start on the supplement.

6. Eat healthy foods

pregnant woman choosing food

The body needs the right nutrients for a healthy pregnancy (Image credit: Getty)

Although there isn't a specific diet for pregnant women, eating a variety of healthy foods can help prepare the body for the baby by giving it adequate stores of important vitamins and minerals. Eating a variety of fruits and vegetables is one way to meet this requirement.

A woman can get the B vitamins from foods such as dark green leafy vegetables, broccoli, fortified breads and cereals, beans, and oranges.

High-mercury fish such as swordfish, shark, king mackerel and tilefish are good for pregnant women. Mercury can accumulate in a pregnant woman's bloodstream and affect a baby's development. The FDA recommends that albacore tuna be limited to 6 ounces per week to reduce exposure to this toxic metal. Men's and women's fertility could be impaired by mercury consumption.

Some science suggests that pregnant women shouldn't drink too much coffee. The United States, Europe and the United Kingdom all said that a woman with less than two cups of coffee won't affect her baby.

7. Cut back on strenuous workouts

Being physically active most days of the week can help a woman's body prepare for the demands of pregnancy and labor and has been associated with a reduced risk of fertility problems. Live Science reported that getting too much exercise or doing a lot of strenuous workouts could interfere with ovulation.

A lot of times women need to cut back on their workouts if they want to become pregnant because doctors see a lot of menstrual problems in women who exercise heavily.

Is it possible to run while pregnant?

Older women are less likely to have children. The decline in the quantity and quality of their eggs is caused by age related changes in the ovary. There's an increased risk for some health problems, such as uterus fibroids, which can contribute to a loss of fertility, as you get older.

There's a gradual fertility decline in women starting in their 30s, a sharper decline after 37 and a steep fertility decline after 40. It's possible that it will take longer to become pregnant.

9. Kick the smoking and drinking habits

If you want to get pregnant, you should quit smoking.

(Image credit: Science Photo Library/Getty Images)

Smoking can cause fertility problems in both genders. According to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, there are chemicals in cigarette smoke that speed up the loss of eggs.

Smoking depletes a woman's supply of eggs early in her life. Smoking is linked to decreased fertility in a study that was published in 2020 in the journal reproductive biology and endocrinology.

It's a good idea for women to stay away from secondhand smoke, which may affect their chances of becoming pregnant, according to a 2009 study.

Marijuana should not be taken while pregnant or trying to conceive.

It's best for a woman to avoid alcohol if she wants to become a mother. If a woman stops using birth control, she should stop drinking alcohol as well.

Half of all pregnant women in the US drink alcohol before they know they're pregnant, according to a study published in the journal. Alcohol consumption can cause birth defects.

It can be hard for a woman to get pregnant if she drinks more than two drinks per day.

There is no safe amount of alcohol for pregnant women.

10. Know when to seek help

A couple visits a fertility doctor to help them figure out how to get pregnant.

(Image credit: Shutterstock)

The woman and the man should have an infertility evaluation if the woman is 35 or older and has not become pregnant after six months of having sex.

If a woman doesn't become pregnant after a year of having sex on a regular basis, she should consult a fertility expert.

What if you have polycystic ovarian syndrome?

One of the most common reasons for infertility is polycystic ovarian syndrome. It affects between six and twelve percent of American women.

There is no single test to determine if a woman has polycystic ovarian syndrome, but a doctor can use three criteria to determine if a woman has the disease.

  • Irregular periods or no periods, caused from lack of ovulation 
  • Higher than normal levels of male hormones that may result in excess hair on the face and body, acne or thinning scalp hair 
  • Multiple small cysts on the ovaries

It's not clear why some women develop this syndrome, but it's often diagnosed when they have a hard time getting pregnant.

There is a correlation between infertility and weight. About 40% to 60% of women with PCOS are overweight or obese, and healthy eating and exercise have been shown to improve reproductive problems in women with the condition.

Letrozole (opens in new tab) and Metformin are two of the medications that may induce ovulation. The medications work because high levels ofinsulin push the pituitary glands to release large amounts of hormones that disrupt the menstrual cycle. Clomiphene is a medication used for treatment of infertility when the cause is polycystic ovarian syndrome.

Laparoscopic ovarian drilling is a surgical method used to reduce the amount of male hormones in a woman's body. If there is too much damage to the ovaries, this procedure can have a negative effect on fertility.

If other interventions have not worked, or if cost and accessibility are not an issue, doctors recommend in-vitro fertilization.

How to get pregnant if you have endometriosis

uterus anatomy

Endometriosis presents itself differently in different women (Image credit: Getty)

More than one in 10 women in the US are affected by endometriosis. The uterus tissue can grow in other parts of the body.

According to a 2015 study in The Journal ofObstetric and Gynaecology of India, even mild endometriosis can reduce fertility, while severe endometriosis can distort a woman's vaginal canal and block her fallopian tubes.

It is possible for a woman with endometriosis to get pregnant and have a baby, just like a woman without the disease. Endometriosis UK says that drugs used to treat endometriosis don't improve fertility. The medications involve regulating a person's hormones and can slow the growth of endometrial tissue. Birth control therapies and drugs that reduce the amount of estrogen are some of the drugs that stop women from getting pregnant.

What to expect when you're three weeks pregnant.

The treatment of endometriosis depends on the individual, according to the American Society for reproductive medicine.

In a study published in The Journal of OB/Gyn of India, it was reported that surgery to excise the endometrial and scar tissue may improve fertility rates and reduce pain associated with endometriosis.

The option depends on the severity of the endometriosis and the woman's age. According to Endometriosis UK, fertility treatments can lead to high-order multiple pregnancies as multiple eggs are fertilized, if they are overstimulated.

Other questions about getting pregnant

Is it possible to get pregnant while breastfeeding.

A woman can have a baby while breastfeeding. According to the U.K.'s National Health Service, it is possible for a woman to become pregnant as soon as three weeks after giving birth.

Is it possible to get pregnant on your period.

The Cleveland Clinic says that it is possible for a woman to get pregnant if she has sex during her period. It's possible for a woman to get pregnant during menstruation. Predicting when a woman is fertile is not an exact science, and this is especially true for women who have irregular periods.

How to have a baby quickly.

People want to know how to have a baby. The above tips can help you find the best times to have sex and get pregnant if you follow the science.

Is the test accurate for pregnant women?

The Mayo Clinic claims that pregnancy tests can be up to 99% effective. False negatives are more common than if your test reads positive.

Some pregnancy tests can be used as early as 8 days after conception, while the majority can be used 21 days after sex. It is important to read the instructions before taking a test for pregnant women.

The human chorionic gonadotropin hormone is an indicator of a pregnant woman's health. The body makes this hormone around 6 days after fertilising.

Additional resources

Additional information was added by Ailsa Harvey. This article isn't meant to offer medical advice.