Pregnancy: How to increase your chances of getting pregnant for Nurses, Future Parents and Midwives.
This article is written by a Lecturer in Health Sciences at a major university. It is to provide informaiton to nurses, midwives, and future parents on how to increase the statistical probability of getting pregnant. An article on IVF will follow.
This article is a resource for everything you need to know about getting pregnant and staying pregnant for the full nine months. This article is written by a Lecturer in Health Sciences and it will help you learn all about sex, charting, ovulation, timing of conception, infertility, pregnancy, stressors which hinder pregnancy and lots more. If you are already pregnant and are interested in making sure that you do not eat or do the wrong things then read here: Safety of your unbon Child If you are interested in finding out about your babie’s health, strength and reflexes pleases read here: Strength of Babies
Diagram 1. Getting pregnant: The Female role.
This article is written for the benefit of future parents, nursing students and nurses who practice in IVF clinics and/or Emergency Departments. Key words are: getting pregnant, staying pregnant, infertility, pregnancy, conception, ovulation, sex, age, infertility in men, infertility in women
Infertility is defined as inablity to conceieve after a period of period of trying of at least one year. Women who are able to conceive but are unable to retain pregnancy due to miscarriages are also said to be infertile.
Getting pregnant is a complex process but it often occurs by chance and sometimes by mistake. For a woman to become pregnant there must be ovulation (egg production) in the ovary. The released ova must travel throught the fallopian tube and travel towards the uterus. Here, it must meet up with a sperm. Fertilization must occur at this point. This must be followed by implantation in the uterus. The fertilized egg is called a zygote. It will, later on become a fetus and then a baby. If any of these steps goes wrong, then infertility will occur.
If you are in your 20s, statistically you are more likely to become pregnant compared with other age groups. In any single ovulation cycle you have a 25% chance of getting pregnant. Your chances of conceiving within a year are 98%. Only 7% women who are in this age group struggle with conception. A female who is in her 40s is three times as likely to have amiscarriage as another in her early 20s. For women who are more than 45 the rates are significantly higher.
Infertility is a common problem. In the USA 12% of women have difficulty getting pregnant or carrying a baby to term. These stats are for 2002 and were compiled by the National Center for Health Statistics of the Cernters for Disease Control and Prevention.
It is generally assumed that infertility is just a woman’s problem. The truth is that it is not always the case. Statistically, only one-third of cases of infertility are due to female conditions. In the remaining one third infertility is due to male factors. In the last one third, both male and female factors are to blame for the infertility. Some of these factors are not clearly understood.
Infertility in men is often due to problems making sperm, or making too few sperm or none at all. In some individuals there are problems with the sperm’s ability to reach the egg. Inability to reach the eggs results in infertility. Abnormal sperm shape or structure may prevent it from moving reaching the ova. Sometimes the pH in the vagina may affect sperm motility.
Some men are born with a problem that affects sperm production. At other times the problem starts later in life due to illness or injury. For example, cystic fibrosis is known to cause infertility in men.
The following factors are known to affect men’s risk of infertility. The number of sperm produced can be dependent on his overall health and lifestyle issues. The following factors are known to reduce sperm numbers and sperm quality.
- Amount of alcohol including beer consumed.
- Drugs (both legal and illicit)
- Environmental toxins, pesticides and lead level in blood and bones.
- Smoking of cigarettes/ marijuana/ pipe smoke
- Health problems, cystic fibrosis
- Prescribed and over the counter medications
- Radiation and other cancer treatments.
- Chronological age.
Infertility in females is usually associated with ovulation. Without ovulation, fertilization cannot take place because there is no egg to be fertilized.
Diagram 2. Getting pregnant: The Male role.
Women who are not ovulating normally may have blocked fallopian tubes, they may have irregular or no menstrual periods. Physical problems with the uterus and uterine fibroids may contribute to infertility in females. The following factors increase a woman’s infertility: age, stresses in life, poor eating habits and diet, athletic training, overweight or underweight, alcohol consumption, cigarette and tobacco consumption, sexually transmitted diseased, health problems associated with hormonal changes.
If both of the partners in a relationship want to have a child, it is best to reduce the risk factors in both partners. The statistical probability of pregnancy will increase by 66% hopefully no other intervention will be necessary. My next article will be about IVF.
Pregnancy is a serious responsibility. If you are not ready to lead a safe, healthy, alcohol free, tobacco free and lead free life, you should consider putting off pregnancy until you are ready for it.
Last but not least, ADHD in one third cases is associated with smoking during pregnancy and exposure to lead in early childhood. For more details read here: http://www.healthmad.com/Children/ADHD-for-Nurses-and-Parents.-Self-Learn-Series..3046
Good Luck and Best wishes.
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ghada | Aug 5, 2007 | Reply
my husband and I have been trying for almost a year. I have abnormal menstrual period. I get it once every 3 or 4 month. It usually last about 7 days. I dont know if this has anything to do with the reason why I’m not getting pregnant. We have a son already, but we want another baby and no luck. What should I do? Please help.
Shergill | Oct 7, 2007 | Reply
I am not a medical doctor. Please see your general practitioner and he/she should be able to refer you to a specialist clinic which will help you with increasing your chances of conception and may offer artificial conception.
Good Luck.
nesha | Jan 15, 2008 | Reply
I have been trying to get pregnant for the last couple of months. I have been married recently. I had surgery for pretty large ovarian cyst abouy six months ago. During which time it was terminated because it posed a risk. How soom can I look foward to having another pregnancy?
suzie | Mar 11, 2008 | Reply
when i was in highschool i smoked ALOT of marijuana, im 24 now, me and my husband aren’t really trying YET, will i not be able to get pregnant because of my marijuana usage six years ago. i smoked ALOT. I loved getting high after highschool i had no time to party or smoke anymore because of college, after i graduated college, i smoke once after that. :[
angel | Apr 11, 2008 | Reply
Me and my partner have been trying for almost 3 yrs and still nothing has happened, we have tried all the possible postitions, and giving up smoking, taking folic acid, and other help towards getting pregnant, our last wish as a couple is to have a baby. could any one give suggestions of how there could be other natural ways of getting pregnant, i am 24 and my partner is 37. age shouldn’t matter should it?
Thanks
Shergill | Apr 13, 2008 | Reply
Good Day Angel,
The process is very complex. There are many issues which a couple who is not able to conceive need to understand. First, try and see your GP. You do want the GP to evaluate if there are any anatomical or physiological difficulties. The common ones in women are strictures of the fallopian tubes and presence of fibroids. In men, the common problems are aspermatogenesis. Your GP should be able to help you resolve these issues. Strictures are normally due to UTI when one is young. The formation of fibroids is less clearly understood.
Emotional pressure to conceive can actaully prevent conception. Is there any way for you to not think about it?
I know you wanted natural ways. I do not feel that seeking help from a GP amounts to un-natural intervention. You are both young. Hopefully you will conceive naturally.
Good Luck. Bye for now.
712 | Sep 26, 2008 | Reply
I have two blocked tubes, I had an HSG test done two months ago and thats how I found out. My periods started to come evry two months. I have not had my period but have been have little pinches here and there in my tummy for the last couple of weeks. Do you think it is a possibility that I am pregnant! I wish for a baby more then anything. But here and there I will have some weird symptoms! Please let me know what you think. I am afraid of taking a pregnancy test due to the fact of negative on the stick. I dont want to be let down again. I have been married for ten years and I have been trying for about 4 years.
Shergill | Sep 27, 2008 | Reply
Dear 712,
I feel that you are honestly trying to conceieve. Based on what you have said, the odds of you being able to conceieve are literally nil.
Please get your tubes unblocked. You will increase your chances of getting pregnant. Remember, the chances of getting pregnant are higher when anxiety goes down. So, get the tubes unblocked and then just enjoy biological beauty of sex. Pregnancy will occur.
I am truly sorry. I hope I am wrong.
mandy | Oct 1, 2008 | Reply
I have endometriosis which blocked both tubes and was told my insurance should cover 3 sessions of invitro,but you may have multiples.We decided one or none for us.After trying for 5 years every way we knew how we gave up. I quit work for the first time ever in my adult life, jogged took daily vitamins and b12 and unknowly went almost four months without knowing i was expecting by that time i got to know the gender its a boy! when your not expecting youll be blessed.
Shergill | Oct 7, 2008 | Reply
Good Day Mandy,
Thank You for sharing your story with all the readers and me. This article has been read by more than a few thousand people. You are indeed very brave. I hope more people would open up. We might even find a “treatment/cure” for endometriosis.
In my experiences, some women become pregnant when they least expect it. Yours is a very good example. I know you are honest.
Another example is when a couple adopts a child and they give up trying then the woman becomes pregnant.
I guess, “anxiety about getting pregnant” operates at a level which is not clearly understood.
Exception | Jan 13, 2009 | Reply
My partner had cancer treatment justr over a year ago, a lump was removed from his neck, what are the chances of the treatment affecting his fertility?
Cindy | Mar 30, 2009 | Reply
I have been trying for the past 4 yrs to conceive but no luck yet. I have taken all the tests HSG etc and everything has been normal.
However, I did terminate a pregnancy 8 years ago. Do you think this may have any effect on my inability to conceive now? And do you have any suggestions to help me?
Thanks..
ida | Mar 31, 2009 | Reply
my husband and I have been together for 4 years and not one child yet we’ve been trying for 2 years! nothing yet everyone around me having beautiful babies and I dont have even one. i get a period every 3 to 4 months and it lastes 7 days. we’ve been to the cliniks and they said that we just waiting on time that everything is good me and him. but i think i’ve waited long enough. please help
shanda | Apr 21, 2009 | Reply
i had been diagnosed with PID a couple of years ago and found out that i have blocked fallopian tubes. however, since then i have had one child naturally. i am trying to conceive another child at this time but i havn’t been successful. do you know why and do you have any recommendations?
lisa | Apr 22, 2009 | Reply
i had an abortion since june 2009, since then my husband and i are trying to get pregnant and its nine months now and i cant conceived! Does this means i am not fertile enough? Or does the abortion i did got something to do with it?
Marie | May 24, 2009 | Reply
My husband is a Marine, and will be gone for the next year. He will be home July 9th-18th though. This is during my ovulation time. We know we can get pregnant. I just had a miscarriage in March of 2009. He also has a son from his previous marriage. I just want to know how to increase our chances if any of getting pregnant during his leave time in July. Otherwise we have to wait til he comes home next May to start our family. Any recommendations to help us conceive during this one time chance til next year???
cindy | Sep 11, 2009 | Reply
hello 712,
i am going through the same thing. did you get pregnant? please let me know i am late as well and have two blockages and am late. thanks.