Have you been trying to conceive for a while now? Then, it is high time you knew the reasons for not getting pregnant and fixed the issue.
But first, let’s take a look at this question!
How Long Does It Take For A Woman To Get Pregnant?
If you are healthy and your reproductive parts are functioning at their best, you have a 25% probability of becoming pregnant during every menstrual cycle. According to the statistics presented in Before Your Pregnancy by Amy Ogle and Lisa Mazullo.
Of all couples (women younger than 30 years) trying to conceive:-
- 30 percent will conceive within the initial month (first cycle)
- 75 percent will conceive after six months
- 85 percent will conceive within one year (12 cycles)
- 90 percent will conceive after one year
- 95 percent will conceive after two years
- 91 percent will conceive within three years (36 cycles) (about three years).
- 93 to 95 percent will conceive within four years (48 cycles)
Several factors come into play and define when a couple may conceive.
What Are The Most Common Reasons For Not Getting Pregnant?
While your periods may be regular, a number of everyday activities can impact your chances of conception. Let us know about them:
1. Too much or too little sex:
Sex is probably the most basic human need for pleasure and reproduction. And, people are always in extremes.
Having too little sex: You may be cutting down on intercourse to save the sperm or you only have sex during ovulation. But staying without sex for many days may affect your conception. You could miss your fertile phase when sex is limited as you may not always be correct about your ovulation.
What next?
Try to have sex frequently and keep a close watch on your ovulation dates. If you have irregular periods or problems tracking your fertile window, use an ovulation kit. If the result shows that ovulation is due in one or two days, have sex during that time. Keep in mind not to have sex just for having a baby, because then you can’t enjoy the process.
2. Over-stress
Stress will take a toll on your health both physically and mentally, and affect your ability to get pregnant. Other emotional disturbances such as depression and anxiety can lower your fertility levels. You should be calm and in a balanced state when trying to conceive. Stress hampers the hypothalamus functions, which control the pituitary gland. The gland regulates adrenal, thyroid, and ovaries, and affects the period cycle, even leading to irregular periods.
What next?
You should give yourself some time to come out of the stress phase to improve your chances of conceiving. To beat stress, you could join a support group, see a psychologist, join yoga for fertility, meditate and exercise.
3. The man-problem:
One of the primary and top causes of infertility is low sperm count and poor sperm motility (due to structural abnormalities). This factor accounts for 30 to 40% of infertility problems in couples.
What next?
The foremost step is to see a doctor or a fertility specialist for immediate treatment. For low sperm count or motility, in-vitro fertilization (IVF) or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) is the best solution. IVF involves mating the egg and sperms outside the human body, and transferring the fertilized egg to the vagina. In ICSI, a single sperm is picked and directly injected into the egg.
4. Running to the bathroom after sex:
Many women rush to the bathroom after sex to clean up, wash. It is essential to stay in bed for some time after sex to ensure that the sperm gets a chance to reach the egg and fertilize it. If you get up and rush, as soon as you are done with the act, you are letting gravity drag the sperm down and the rest of it is washed away when you clean up. And, this is one of the natural reasons for not getting pregnant.
What next?
Focus on relaxing and lying in bed for a while after sex so that you can improve your chances of conception and pregnancy.
5. Undergarments too tight:
Women wear tight undergarments for proper shape, and also to accentuate their body and figure. But, you may be hampering the functions of your reproductive organs. In men, the sperm production goes down, and in women, the air-circulation reduces and leads to discomfort.
What next?
Wear well-fitted, but cotton undergarments to avoid infections. This will reduce sweat and moisture-related problems, and allow your privates to breathe and relax.
6. Sleeping less:
Sleep deprivation can strain and exhaust the body and affect the functions of the immune system. This increases your chances of getting infections, and in turn, affects the reproductive cycle. The same applies to men. Infections could develop into fever, and excess body heat can damage the sperm. Women may feel anxious due to lack of sleep that could affect their menstrual cycle.
What next?
Get enough sleep to stay healthy. In case you suffer from insomnia, then consult a doctor.
7. Under or overweight:
Being too thin or too fat will also affect your chances of conceiving. If you are undernourished, you will not ovulate well. If you’re on the heavier side, then it will hamper your fertility. Therefore, ideal body weight is what helps, and if you are over your ideal BMI, there are fewer chances of conception even if your ovulation is regular.
What next?
Maintain a healthy diet and lifestyle. Indulge in moderate fitness routine. You may check with your healthcare provider for nutrition and supplementation.
8. Over-use of lubricants:
Studies state that vaginal lubricants negatively affect the motility of the sperm and interfere with fertilization. This is true for both over-the-counter and homemade lubricants.
The reason – the pH of cervical mucus produced before ovulation is ideal for the survival of sperm and its motility. But lubricants have an acidic pH, which is enough to kill sperms. Also, the sperm’s motility is affected by the thickness of the lubricants and their water content.
What next?
Foreplay is the best lubricant for conception. Take your time to get into the mood. If that doesn’t work, use warm water for lubrication as it is non-toxic and will not interfere with the sperm’s motility. If you still require lubricant while trying to get pregnant, you can choose “fertility friendly” lubricants such as Conceive Plus and Pre-Seed.
9. Poor lifestyle choices:
Common lifestyle factors such as smoking, drinking, drug abuse, and caffeine affect your fertility. In men, these factors decrease the sperm count and motility and in females, they cause irregular ovulation.
What next?
Quit these habits, especially a few months before you plan to conceive. Switch to healthier life choices. Also, avoid the use of artificial sweeteners and exposure to chemicals.
