How to Get Pregnant Guide

If you want to become pregnant, there are certain recommendations to follow to increase your chances. It may be more difficult for some people to become pregnant, so it can be helpful to speak with a doctor to come up with a plan that works for you. 

‍*Please note* This article mainly focuses on how a heterosexual couple becomes pregnant (one partner with a penis and one partner with a vagina). Non-heterosexual couples can also have children through gestational carriers (someone else carries the baby), artificial insemination (a medical procedure to inject semen into the vagina), or adoption.  

‍What are recommended tips to get pregnant?

Having sex during your fertile window can increase your chances of becoming pregnant. A fertile window is 3-4 days before ovulation and the day of ovulation (ovulation is usually between day 11 and day 21 of your menstrual cycle). There are multiple ways you can track your fertile window and when you are ovulating. You can use the algorithm here or ask your doctor for more tracking recommendations (these tools may vary in quality). 

It’s recommended to have sex every 1-2 days, but it’s also up to you and your partner to decide what works for your relationship. 

Do certain sex positions help with conception?

There are many myths about certain sex positions that increase your chances of pregnancy, but there is no research to back this up. No matter what position you’re in, if sperm enters the vagina it can swim to meet an egg on its own, without the help of gravity. 

How long does it take to get pregnant?

Because fertility declines as you age, the amount of time it takes to get pregnant may depend on your age. For most couples it may take 6 months to a full year or more to get pregnant, even if sex is occuring several times per week. To test levels of fertility, a doctor may perform a pelvic exam, ultrasound, and blood test. Fertility issues can happen in people assigned female and birth and people assigned male at birth, so there are tests for both. 

You’re not officially considered to be pregnant until the egg is fertilized by the sperm and implants itself in the lining of the uterus. Pregnancy symptoms usually start to show 2-4 weeks after sex. 

How often should I take a pregnancy test?

Home pregnancy tests can be used as early as the first day after your first missed period. If you are trying to get pregnant, the best time to take a pregnancy test is one week after you’ve missed your period to avoid a false-negative test result. In addition to home pregnancy tests, a doctor can also perform a pregnancy test for you using a blood or urine sample.‍

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If I gave birth recently, how soon after should I get pregnant again?

It’s possible for someone to become pregnant as little as three weeks after giving birth, according to the NHS. This means that if you are not trying to get pregnant again, you should resume using birth control after giving birth. If you are trying to get pregnant again, it’s recommended to wait 18-24 months to reduce certain pregnancy risks. It’s important to consult with your partner and your doctor to plan for your next pregnancy. For example, if your chances of becoming pregnant are low, a doctor may decide that waiting 6-18 months between pregnancies is appropriate. You can learn more about using birth control between pregnancies in our article Birth Control for Every Stage of Motherhood.

What if it takes longer than 6-12 months to become pregnant? 

People younger than 35 years should be evaluated by a doctor if they have not become pregnant after 12 months of unprotected intercourse during your fertile window. A person who is 35 years and older should be evaluated after 6 months. 

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