Getting Pregnant

For many people, getting pregnant is easy — they have unprotected sex a few times and, within weeks, have a positive pregnancy test. But for others, it may take a little longer.

There are many ways to increase your chances of getting pregnant and having a healthy pregnancy. At UPMC, we have the expertise and a wide range of services to help support a healthy pregnancy. We also offer fertility services if you’re having trouble conceiving.

Here’s everything you need to know about getting pregnant. 

Pregnancy Basics

Every month, eggs grow inside fluid-filled sacs (follicles) in your ovaries. Ovulation happens when one of the eggs erupts from the follicle about two weeks before your period begins. Your body releases a hormone to thicken the lining of your uterus in preparation for the egg.

The egg moves through one of the fallopian tubes, where it stays for 12 to 24 hours. If your partner has ejaculated during sex, millions of sperm travel from your vagina through the uterus to the fallopian tubes. About 400 sperm will survive the journey, but only one will burrow through the outer membrane of the egg to fertilize it. 

Eggs only survive for 24 hours after ovulation, and sperm survive less than five days after ejaculation. Therefore, timing is vital to conception. 

What Are the Odds of Getting Pregnant the First Time Trying?

You can get pregnant the first time you have unprotected sex. About one in four women in their 20s and early 30s will get pregnant in any single menstrual cycle.

Although the odds are low, you can even get pregnant when you're having your period — especially if you have a short menstrual cycle.

How Long Does It Take to Get Pregnant?

For most people, it takes more than a month of trying to get pregnant.

Of those trying to conceive:

• Within three months, 60% of healthy couples get pregnant.
• Within six months, 80% are pregnant.
• Within one year, 85% are pregnant.
• Within four years, 92% are pregnant.

Best Age to Have a Baby

Technically, you can get pregnant anytime from puberty (when periods start) until menopause (when periods stop). But in terms of fertility, the best age to have a baby is in your late 20s to early 30s. Your fertility naturally declines as you get older.

When you're:

• Younger than 30, you have an 85% chance to conceive within a year.
• 30, you have a 75% chance of conceiving within one year.
• 35, you have a 66% chance of conceiving within one year.
• 40, you have a 44% chance of conceiving within one year. 

If you're older, you're also more likely to have complications during pregnancy and childbirth and a higher risk of miscarriage. 

However, there's more to having a baby than your chronological age. You may not be emotionally ready to start a family at any given age. Career demands, your relationship status, other health conditions, and whether you have a support system can all be factors.

With advances in medicine and fertility treatments, many people have healthy pregnancies well into their 40s. You should talk to your ob-gyn about getting pregnant at an older age.

How Can I Increase My Chances of Getting Pregnant?

There are many ways to increase your odds of getting pregnant each month.

Stop using birth control

It may seem obvious, but if you stop using birth control, you can get pregnant. However, the type of birth control you use may affect how soon you’ll ovulate.

The following details how long it typically takes to resume ovulation when you stop using various birth control methods:

• Birth control pills — You’ll begin ovulating about two weeks after you stop taking pills. However, your periods may not be regular for a few months — making it harder to track ovulation.
• Condoms — Male and female condoms prevent sperm from reaching a woman’s egg. You can get pregnant as soon as you stop using them. 
• Depo-Provera — With this method of birth control, you get a shot every three months to prevent pregnancy. It may take 10 months or more after the last injection before you ovulate regularly.
• Implant or intrauterine device (IUD) — These devices get implanted in your body (implant in your arm; IUD in your uterus) to prevent pregnancy. Once removed, you can start trying to get pregnant. 

Monitor your cycles

Because timing is a major factor in becoming pregnant, you should keep track of your menstrual cycle and ovulation.

Many factors affect ovulation, including:

• Changes in weight.
• Exercise.
• Hormonal imbalance.
• Illness.
• Sleeping patterns.
• Stress.
• Travel. 

To monitor your menstrual cycle, note when the first day of your period begins. If it’s usually the same number of days apart every month, it’s considered regular. Tracking this information on a calendar or an app can help you predict ovulation and your fertile window. 

If you have regular cycles, you usually ovulate two weeks before your period arrives. But if your periods are irregular, your ovulation cycle may vary from month to month. 

There are several methods to help track your most fertile days:

• Basal body temperature method — Take your temperature before you get out of bed every day and chart for about three menstrual cycles. After you ovulate, your basal body temperature (your temperature when you’re fully at rest) typically increases less than half a degree (Fahrenheit). You're most fertile during the two or three days before this slight rise in body temperature.
• Home ovulation-predictor kit — Using this over-the-counter (OTC) product, you can test your urine for luteinizing hormone (LH). LH is a substance that increases every month before ovulation and causes the ovaries to release an egg. To increase your odds of becoming pregnant, have sex for three days after a positive test result.
• Tracking cervical mucus — Regularly check the amount and appearance of mucus in your vagina. Just before ovulation — when you're most fertile — it becomes thinner, clearer, and more slippery to help sperm reach the egg.

Have sex frequently during your fertile window

The fertile window spans six days, including the day of ovulation and the five days before ovulation. These are the days each month when you're most fertile.

Try to have sex near your time of ovulation, starting two to three days after your period ends. That will give you the best odds of hitting the fertile window and getting pregnant.

Adopt healthy habits

Many lifestyle changes can improve your odds of getting pregnant. A healthy body will boost your chances of having an uncomplicated pregnancy and delivery.

You should:

• Cut down on caffeine — A cup of coffee (or two) probably won’t make a difference. But if you rely on caffeine all day long, it might interfere with your ability to get pregnant.
• Don’t do drugs — Marijuana and other illegal substances can make it harder to conceive.
• Eat a healthy diet — To conceive a baby and sustain a healthy pregnancy, you should fuel your body with enough calcium, protein, and iron. Aim for balanced nutrition, with lots of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, dairy, and healthy fat sources like nuts and avocados.
• Exercise, but don’t overdo it — Being physically active can help your body prepare for the hard work of labor and delivery. But heavy-duty athletic training can throw your menstrual cycle off-kilter and interfere with ovulation.
• Get treatment for pre-existing health conditions — Chronic health issues like diabetes or kidney problems can affect your fertility. Consult with your doctors for advice on managing them.
• Give up alcohol — If you have an alcohol use disorder, get help if you want to conceive. Even drinking modest amounts of alcohol (one or two drinks a day) can make it harder to get pregnant.
• Stop smoking — Chemicals in cigarette smoke, such as nicotine and carbon monoxide, may affect the quality of your eggs. Secondhand smoke can also affect your chances of becoming pregnant, so urge your partner to quit, too.
• Stay away from toxic substances —Frequent exposure to chemical solvents, pollutants, or lawn and farm pesticides may harm fertility. To minimize exposure, wear protective masks, gloves, glasses, and clothing around potentially toxic materials.
• Strive for a healthy body weight — Being too heavy or too thin can reduce your odds of conceiving and having a healthy pregnancy.
• Take a prenatal vitamin — Doctors recommend taking prenatal vitamins (or a multivitamin with 400 micrograms of folic acid) when you’re trying to conceive. Folic acid helps prevent defects in a baby’s spine and brain three to four weeks after conception, before you realize you’re pregnant.
• Talk to your doctor — Let your ob-gyn know that you’re trying to get pregnant. Ask if you should keep taking any prescription or OTC medications.

Seek a fertility evaluation

If you’ve been trying to get pregnant for a while with no success, you should seek expert evaluation and diagnosis. Fertility problems can occur in both men and women. 

You should seek fertility help if you’re:

• Under 35 and have been trying to get pregnant for at least one year.
• 35 or older and have been trying to get pregnant for at least six months.
• 40 or over and trying to get pregnant. 

You should also consult a fertility specialist if you’re undergoing treatment for cancer. High-tech methods of fertility preservation are available. 

Why Choose UPMC for Pregnancy Care?

UPMC has long been a leader in advanced pregnancy and childbirth care, with a woman-focused approach to fertility and reproductive health care. From conception to taking your baby home, we are experts at helping women and babies thrive. 

We are also world-renowned experts in fertility treatments and preservation. If you have trouble getting pregnant on your own, in vitro fertilization (IVF) may be the answer to building a family. We provide state-of-the-art programs in a warm, welcoming environment.

Our experts take a team approach to fertility care, drawing in specialists from related fields when needed. The couple is always involved in fertility decisions. We take great care to inform you about the details of any fertility procedure or treatment, from genetic testing to surrogacy.

UPMC is also involved in ongoing research in fertility and reproductive health care, which enables us to access the most current procedures and treatments. 

By UPMC Editorial Staff. Last reviewed on 2024-09-05.