Conception is not always easy and some people can try to get pregnant for years whereas some can get pregnant within a few months of trying.

Many people cannot conceive naturally, either due to a medical reason such as low fertility or Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, or for unexplained reasons. In some cases a couple will decide or be advised to have IVF treatment to increase their chances of conception.

If you are not due to undergo IVF, are on a waiting list or have not had any problems but want to be as proactive as possible in increasing your fertility then the following tips may hep you to increase your chances of conceiving naturally:

1. Use an ovulation test. These tests usually work in a similar way to pregnancy tests but instead of testing for pregnancy they test whether you are ovulating.
2. Try fertility charting. Read our article “How do I chart my fertility?”
3. Eat a healthy balanced diet and drink adequate fluids (both mum and dad to be)
4. Reduce or eliminate your use of caffeine, non essential medication (e.g. cough medicines, herbal supplements, pain killers, etc), alcohol and nicotine. Various studies have pin pointed all of these as lowering fertility I(both mum and dad to be).
5. Take a pregnancy supplement. These are sometimes advertised for people trying to conceive or pregnant and sometimes just as “for women of child bearing age”. Buy one which contains folic acid, zinc, selenium and vitamins A, C and E which can all not only help to increase fertility but are also essential in early pregnancy both for mother and baby.
6. If you are overweight then try to lose weight but do it healthily as any extreme diets could be damaging to your health and fertility. Likewise if you are underweight as this could also create fertility problems (both mum and dad to be)
7. If you have any addiction or an eating disorder seek help to stop it so that you can optimise your health and fertility (both mum and dad to be)
8. Overheated testicles can inhibit the production of sperm so men should opt for loose fitting boxer shorts instead of any tighter style of pant
9. Stop taking any form of birth control such as the pill and give it chance to get out of your system
10. When having sex avoid using any lubricants which could kill or hinder the progress of sperm. Also use positions such as the missionary position or any position which allows deep penetration so that gravity and that couple of extra centimetres can give the sperm a helping hand
11. Do not go to the toilet straight after sex. Try to stay still and on your back for a while first.
12. Don’t have sex just to make a baby. This can cause problems in your relationship and can also raise your stress levels. Many studies have shown that being generally relaxed seems to improve fertility (both mum and dad to be)
13. If you want to seek advice from your doctor at any time then do so but keep in mind that most doctors will stop at advice and will not offer tests or treatment until you have been activley trying to conceive for at least a year (both mum and dad to be)