What factors affect my chances of conceiving?
A number of factors affect your chances of conception. They include the following:
-
your age
-
the timing and frequency of intercourse relative to ovulation
-
the length of time trying to conceive
-
whether or not you have been pregnant before
-
getting adequate nutrition
-
maintaining a healthy body weight
-
avoiding excessive smoking, drinking and recreational drugs
-
avoiding potential occupational exposures
(Baird and Strassman 2000; Taylor 2003)
The table below, (adapted from data in Taylor 2003) identifies some of the significant factors affecting one’s chance of conception.
Increased chance of conception Reduced chance of conception Woman aged under 30 years Women aged over 35 years Previous pregnancy No previous pregnancy Less than three years trying to conceive More than three years trying to conceive Intercourse occurring during the few days before and/or the day of ovulation Intercourse incorrectly timed, not occurring within the few days before and/or the day of ovulation Woman's body mass index (BMI) 20-30 Woman's BMI < 20 or > 30 Both partners non-smokers One or both partners smoke Caffeine intake less than two cups of coffee daily Caffeine intake more than two cups of coffee daily No use of recreational drugs Regular use of recreational drugs
While some of the factors are beyond one’s control (such as age, time trying, and previous pregnancies), others are more possible to control. Particularly, identifying your fertile window and focusing intercourse within that time can dramatically increase your conception probabilities (Hilgers et al 1992; Gnoth et al 2005).
Since so many factors may come into play, it is not possible to precisely estimate your conception chances each cycle. However, when you are charting your fertility signs and examining your chart for possible clues about your pregnancy chances, the best thing to see is a clear ovulation pattern (best when correlated with multiple fertility signs) and well-timed intercourse within your fertile window.
A number of factors affect your chances of conception. They include the following:
- your age
- the timing and frequency of intercourse relative to ovulation
- the length of time trying to conceive
- whether or not you have been pregnant before
- getting adequate nutrition
- maintaining a healthy body weight
- avoiding excessive smoking, drinking and recreational drugs
- avoiding potential occupational exposures
(Baird and Strassman 2000; Taylor 2003)
The table below, (adapted from data in Taylor 2003) identifies some of the significant factors affecting one’s chance of conception.
| Increased chance of conception | Reduced chance of conception |
| Woman aged under 30 years | Women aged over 35 years |
| Previous pregnancy | No previous pregnancy |
| Less than three years trying to conceive | More than three years trying to conceive |
| Intercourse occurring during the few days before and/or the day of ovulation | Intercourse incorrectly timed, not occurring within the few days before and/or the day of ovulation |
| Woman's body mass index (BMI) 20-30 | Woman's BMI < 20 or > 30 |
| Both partners non-smokers | One or both partners smoke |
| Caffeine intake less than two cups of coffee daily | Caffeine intake more than two cups of coffee daily |
| No use of recreational drugs | Regular use of recreational drugs |
While some of the factors are beyond one’s control (such as age, time trying, and previous pregnancies), others are more possible to control. Particularly, identifying your fertile window and focusing intercourse within that time can dramatically increase your conception probabilities (Hilgers et al 1992; Gnoth et al 2005).
Since so many factors may come into play, it is not possible to precisely estimate your conception chances each cycle. However, when you are charting your fertility signs and examining your chart for possible clues about your pregnancy chances, the best thing to see is a clear ovulation pattern (best when correlated with multiple fertility signs) and well-timed intercourse within your fertile window.
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