How to Increase Your Chances of Getting Pregnant

October 28, 2025

3 min read

Pregnancy does not always happen on the first try. This is normal. There are many nuances that affect fertility, and changing them is not always in our power. Nevertheless, it is possible to increase your chances.

Key takeaways

Pregnancy does not always happen on the first try.
Determine the date of ovulation
Try, but not too hard

Who this is for

People exploring Women's health through pregnancy, infertility.

Why it matters

This piece helps you get oriented quickly, then move into a collection or series if you want to keep going.

Article author

Dr. Halina

obstetrician-gynecologist

Determine the date of ovulation

To become pregnant, you need to know the exact time of ovulation. The ideal period for conception is the day of ovulation and two days before it, as the sperm, once in the fallopian tubes, remain viable during this period. You can roughly calculate the ovulation date using the calendar method, but even with a regular cycle, it does not guarantee an exact hit. If you want to be sure, use a specialized test sold at any drugstore.

Ovulation tests operate like pregnancy tests: a strip filled with a compound that reacts to your hormone levels is dipped into your urine. Two stripes appear on the indicator to show you're ovulating.

Contrary to myths, the time of day and the position in which you have sex do not affect the process of conception.

Try, but not too hard

Some couples, dreaming of a child, especially abstain on the eve of ovulation to "accumulate" sperm for that moment. Others, on the contrary, turn this period into a sex marathon based on the principle "the more, the better."

There's no need to abstain from sex. If a man has an orgasm once or twice a day, he will not lose active spermatozoids. In addition, if you do not know the exact day of ovulation, having sex every day will increase your chances. But do not be too zealous: repeated ejaculation during the day can worsen the quality of sperm.

The optimal option is the golden mean — not too much, not too little.

Control your weight

People with a normal BMI (body mass index) are less likely to have problems conceiving. And this applies to both partners. Being overweight and obese alters the body’s hormone levels and can lead to infertility. However, a severe weight deficit, especially in women, will have the same result.

Lead a healthy lifestyle

Giving up cigarettes and alcohol when deciding to become parents is the right choice. Smoking inhibits hormone production, hinders the maturation of eggs, slows the movement of eggs through the fallopian tubes, and can affect the health of the unborn child. There is no reliable data on the effect of moderate alcohol consumption on the ability to conceive.

Still, it is well-documented that drinking alcoholic beverages can adversely affect the baby. And since a woman usually does not find out immediately about the onset of pregnancy, it is better to be reassured and live a healthy lifestyle.

Also, giving up coffee before or during pregnancy is not necessary. It is enough to reduce its quantity to 1-2 cups a day.

Enjoy it

Obviously, if a man does not experience an orgasm, he will not have an ejaculation; therefore, pregnancy is out of the question. But does a woman's orgasm affect the process of conception? Most experts are inclined to believe that it is desirable, although not necessary.

This is because the uterine muscles contract at the peak of a woman's pleasure, creating progressive movements. These contractions make it easier for seminal fluid to enter the uterine cavity and reach the egg. However, this does not mean that if a woman does not orgasm during sexual intercourse, she will not conceive. A woman can still conceive regardless if she orgasms.

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