Is it taking longer than expected to get pregnant? After yet another negative test, it’s understandable if you’re feeling frustrated. Why isn’t it happening? Fortunately, there are several ways nowadays to give nature a helping hand.
To get pregnant, a woman needs to ovulate, and the man’s sperm quality is also important. Did you know that an ovulation test can help determine when you're most fertile? This can improve your chances of getting pregnant sooner.
It’s generally recommended to try for a year. If you’re not pregnant after a year, you can visit your general practitioner (GP). The GP can run some initial tests and may recommend checking if you are ovulating. They may also conduct an STD test, check if the cervix is accessible to sperm, and examine whether the uterus looks healthy.
Based on these preliminary investigations, the GP can estimate the likelihood of pregnancy. If the chances are less than three in ten, the GP will refer you to a gynecologist for further investigation and assistance.
As you get older, female fertility decreases. Up until age 35, a healthy woman still has a 55 to 75 percent chance of becoming pregnant within a year. However, around age 38, this begins to decline rapidly. To maximize your chances of getting pregnant, it’s best to try in your twenties or early thirties. A healthy lifestyle can also boost fertility. This means avoiding smoking, alcohol, and drugs. Ensure you consume plenty of vegetables and vitamins and engage in regular physical activity.
If you're struggling to conceive, you may experience some stress, which can actually be a factor that disrupts ovulation or your menstrual cycle. Try to engage in activities that help you relax, whether that’s meditation, a good workout, or watching a cozy movie on the couch. It doesn’t matter what it is, as long as it helps you set your worries aside.
Your partner’s fertility is just as important as yours. The same advice applies to him. For example, smoking has a negative effect on sperm quality, reducing the number of healthy sperm and their overall quality. Similarly, alcohol, drugs, and extreme heat (such as in a sauna or hot bath) can harm sperm quality.
It’s also important for men to have regular ejaculations. Sperm quality declines if more than five days pass without ejaculation. However, ejaculating more than once a day is also not ideal. Sperm are healthiest when ejaculations occur every two to three days.
One positive is that sperm "reset" every three months. Once harmful influences are eliminated from the body, healthy sperm are produced again. If you plan to start trying for a baby, it’s advisable for the man to take these factors into consideration around three months in advance to optimize sperm quality.
If you’ve tried all the tips mentioned above but still haven’t had success, you may be eligible for fertility treatments. In our article about fertility treatments, we explain the different options and their details.
Would you like to connect with others who are struggling to conceive in a relaxed setting? Through the 'Kinderwenscafé', you can meet people facing the same challenges or those undergoing fertility treatments (or starting the process). These cafés are held in different regions across the Netherlands.