How to Get Pregnant in 2024

It’s the start of a new year, and with it comes the possibility of hopes and dreams being fulfilled. If one of your dreams for 2024 is to start your family, now’s the perfect time to prepare. Conceiving is often more challenging and takes longer than you expect, but there are many things you can do to improve your chances. 

Learn How to Predict When You Ovulate

One of the best methods to help you get pregnant in 2024 is to learn how to tell when you will ovulate. Fortunately, there are several methods you can use to help. 

First, try charting your menstrual cycle from the first day of your period to the first day of the next. If you have a typical 28-day cycle, you’ll likely ovulate on Day 14. But if your cycle varies from month to month, you’ll need to find the midpoint of your cycle, which is when you’re likely to ovulate. Remember, you need to chart your menstrual cycle for several months to most accurately predict when you ovulate. 

Basal thermometers also help predict ovulation. Like charting your cycle, you’ll need to measure your basal temperature for several months to get the best idea of when you’ll ovulate. Take your temperature each morning before getting out of bed, and write down your measurements. Your temperature rises when you ovulate, but only a few tenths of a degree, so pay close attention!

If you prefer a more convenient method, try an over-the-counter ovulation kit. These kits work by measuring the amount of luteinizing hormone in your urine. Luteinizing hormone plays an important role in ovulation and will rise a few days before you ovulate. Once you have a positive test result, you can expect to ovulate in about three days. 

Have Enough Sex

It probably comes as no surprise that couples who have sex more often typically also have higher rates of pregnancy. But how much is enough? As a general rule, having sex every other day is a good amount when you’re trying to get pregnant, but if that’s too much for you, concentrate on the times you’re most fertile.

The most important time to have sex is on the day you ovulate and five days before. Sperm can survive for up to five days within your body, so during that window try to have sex every day or once every two days. 

Adjust Your Exercise Routine

Exercising is always good for you, but getting the right amount of exercise is especially important when you’re trying to conceive. If you’re overweight, you’re less likely to become pregnant, and exercising may help you achieve a healthy weight. Women at a healthy weight are less likely to have problems with ovulation. Men are also less likely to have low sperm counts when they are in a healthy weight range. 

Exercising too intensely or too frequently can disrupt your menstrual cycles and even cause you to stop ovulating. While you should aim for a regular exercise routine, cut back to a few times a week and not longer than an hour at a time.

Adopt a Healthy Diet

What you eat has a big impact on your ability to become pregnant, and many foods can affect your menstrual cycle. 

Fortunately, there are simple changes you can make to your diet. First, replace processed foods with whole foods like whole grain bread, pasta and rice. Eat lots of leafy greens, nuts, and fortified foods to get the folate your body needs for a healthy baby. Get plenty of antioxidants from foods like berries and citrus fruits. Swap out fatty foods for lean proteins, like fish and tofu, and healthy fats, like avocados. And don’t forget to take prenatal vitamins!

Reduce or Eliminate What’s Working Against You

Ongoing exposure to specific things in your life may be working against your chances of getting pregnant. And while you can’t control everything, it makes sense to reduce or eliminate what you can control. This includes stress, chemicals, certain substances, and even work shifts.  

If you smoke, or regularly drink alcohol or caffeine, it’s best to quit while trying to get pregnant. Try to manage the stress in your life, and seek help from a therapist if you need it. Be sure to get enough sleep every night, and ask about switching shifts if you work overnight. Believe it or not, for women, working the night shift and disrupting the circadian rhythm can affect fertility. And both men and women should try to reduce or eliminate exposure to chemicals at home and work. All of these factors can impact your ability to conceive. 

Now that you’ve learned what you can do to help you get pregnant this year, it’s time to make the necessary changes! Remember, if you haven’t haven’t successfully conceived after 12 months of regular sex (or six months if you are over 35), schedule an appointment with a fertility specialist at Reproductive Health and Wellness.