Pregnancy happens when sperm enters a vagina, travels through the cervix and womb to the fallopian tube and fertilizes an egg.
You’re more likely to get pregnant around the time you are ovulating. This is when an egg becomes ready and you are at your most fertile. Your fertile days depend on your cycle length. Women with regular 28-30 day cycles will have fertile days from Day 8 to Day 18 with Day 1 being the start of your period
If you are under 40 and have regular sex without using contraception(birth control), there is an 8 in 10 chance you will get pregnant within 1 year.
How to increase your chances of getting pregnant
There are things you and your partner can do to increase the chances of getting pregnant.
- have sex every 2 to 3 days without using contraception(birth control) – make sure sperm enters the vagina
- try to have sex around the time you are ovulating – this is usually 12 to 16 days before your period starts
- try to maintain a healthy weight, cut down or stop drinking alcohol and do not smoke – it can help if your partner does this too
- it’s important to take folic acid tablets every day for at least 3 months before you conceive.
- Eat a healthy diet, exercise and drink no more than 1 to 2 units of alcohol once or twice a week. This will help your baby develop healthily.
See a gynaecologist if :
- you have been trying to get pregnant for over 1 year and dint succeed
- you are aged 36 and over and want to get pregnant
- you have a long term conditions such as thyroid dysfunction, diabetes, heart disease etc
- there is a risk of passing on a genetic condition to your baby
- you regularly take medicines and want to get pregnant – some medicines can affect a pregnancy