How does conception work?
Every month, your body undergoes a reproductive cycle that can end in one of two ways: either you get your period or you become pregnant. This cycle continues throughout your reproductive years, starting from the first time you get your period until menopause, which usually occurs around age 50.
When the cycle results in pregnancy, several steps take place. Initially, a group of eggs, known as oocytes, prepares to be released from your ovary during a process called ovulation. The eggs develop in small, fluid-filled sacs called follicles, which serve as containers for each immature egg. Typically, one egg in this group matures and continues through the cycle.
During ovulation, the mature follicle opens and releases the egg from your ovary. After this, the opened follicle transforms into a structure called the corpus luteum, which releases hormones like progesterone and oestrogen. Progesterone plays a vital role in preparing your uterine lining for a potential pregnancy. If you do not become pregnant, your body sheds this lining during your period. However, if sperm fertilizes the egg, conception occurs, and the fertilized egg travels to your uterus to implant.
You are most likely to become pregnant around the time of ovulation, when the egg is mature, and you are at your most fertile. If you are under 40 and engage in regular unprotected sex, there is an 80% chance that you will become pregnant within one year.
Advice For Conception
How do I know if I’ve ovulated?
Ovulation usually happens about midway through your menstrual cycle. Not everyone has ovulation symptoms, but some common ones include:
- A thin, clear, slippery discharge coming out of your vagina – This type of discharge indicates that ovulation is approaching. Fertile cervical fluid assists sperm in moving up the cervix to fertilize an egg, while also keeping the sperm healthy during their journey. Just after ovulation, there is usually less fluid, and it tends to become thicker.
- An increase in body temperature – When progesterone levels rise, your core body temperature also increases. By tracking your basal body temperature (BBT), which is the lowest resting temperature of your body measured first thing in the morning, you can determine when you ovulated. You can do this manually or by using a wearable device like a fertility tracker.
- Cramps – Approximately 40% of women experience a mild ache on one side of their lower abdomen, known as mittelschmerz, around the time of ovulation.
How do I know when sperm meets with an egg?
While you may notice signs that you’ve ovulated, most people do not feel fertilization. You might experience a dull ache or light spotting several days after conception, which could be due to the fertilized egg implanting in your uterus.
How do I increase my chances of getting pregnant?
You can improve your chances of getting pregnant and having a healthy pregnancy by following the steps on this page.
There are things you and your partner can do to increase the chances of getting pregnant.
Tips before trying to conceive:
- Review the medications you’re taking – Speak with your GP and make sure that all your prescribed and any of the over-the-counter medications you take are safe when you’re trying to get pregnant.
- Re-evaluate birth control – Most methods of contraception other than condoms and similar devices take 1-3 months to work their way out of your system once stopped.
- Increase your vegetable and vitamin intake – This helps ensure your body has the necessary nutrients, such as folic acid, which is crucial for the baby’s development. Pregnancy supplements can be beneficial. Consuming a supplement designed for the pre-conception phase will give you 400mcg of folic acid along with other nutrients like l-arginine, vitamin D, and vitamin B12, which help meet the nutritional needs of women looking to conceive.
- Assess your weight – You have a greater chance of getting pregnant and having a healthy baby if you are closer to a healthy weight, thus reducing your risk of complications. For those who struggle with obesity, weight loss can have significant effects on your fertility and pregnancy health.
- Stop smoking or drinking alcohol – The effect of cigarettes and alcohol can seriously decrease your chances of getting pregnant. The longer your body has to flush out the effects the better your chances. You and your baby will be healthier for it and you are also less likely to run into complications. This advice is also for your partner. Smoking decreases sperm count and increases sperm abnormalities in men. For help to quit smoking please click HERE. (insert link to new quit smoking page – maybe put link in pt resources, then I can link to smoking and alcohol at same time)
- Keep up to date with your recommended vaccinations – Being fully vaccinated is an essential part of building your own and your babies immune system. For more information on the recommended pregnancy vaccinations click HERE.
- STDs – Make sure that you have been properly screened for STDs. Pelvic inflammatory disease is common amongst women with the number-one cause being an untreated sexually transmitted disease.
- Long term Condition – See a GP you have a long term condition such as diabetes and want advice about pregnancy or there is a risk of passing on a condition such as sickle cell disease to your baby.
Tips for conception:
- Have sex often, at least 3 times a week without using contraception – Every 2 to 3 days is recommended. Ensure that sperm is deposited in the vagina, and remaining lying down for a few minutes post intercourse enhances the chances of sperm reaching the waiting egg. Elevate your hips with a pillow after sex to help gravity guide the semen toward your uterus. Spending 10 to 15 minutes in this position is sufficient. Rest with your legs elevated against a wall, which is another method to allow gravity to aid the sperm.
- Try to have sex around the time you are ovulating – Ovulation typically occurs 12 to 16 days before your period starts, around 14 days after the first day of your last cycle. The egg remains viable for about 12 to 24 hours post-release. To enhance the chances of conception, engage in sexual activity in the days leading up to and on the day of ovulation. Keeping a menstrual calendar to track your cycle details can be helpful for you and your healthcare provider.
- Stay hydrated – It’s crucial to drink plenty of water (around 8-10 cups daily) while trying to conceive. This aids in helping your kidneys eliminate waste and improves the quality of cervical fluid related to fertility.
- Reduce stress – Many individuals become overly concerned about conceiving, and once they manage to lessen that stress, their bodies often respond positively by facilitating new life. So, it’s important to relax and enjoy the process of trying to conceive.
Getting pregnant is often a matter of chance. Even if you do everything right, you still have only a 25-30 percent chance of becoming pregnant in any given month.
Myths Unravelled
Planning for a baby is one of the most significant moments in a couple’s life, but it can often be overwhelming and complex for many. Below, we clarify some prevalent fertility misconceptions.
Myth: Engaging in sexual activity every day will enhance our chances of conception.
Couples attempting to conceive are advised to have regular sexual intercourse to boost their chances, but doing it daily may lead to exhaustion, especially since it typically takes couples 6-12 months to conceive. Since sperm can live for up to 5 days after being released, and predicting ovulation can be imprecise, most healthcare professionals recommend having intercourse every 2-3 days to ensure sperm are available to fertilize an egg during ovulation.
Myth: Pregnancy cannot occur during menstruation.
Although women cannot conceive while menstruating (as the hormones causing menstruation are oppositional to those needed for pregnancy), having sex during this time could still lead to conception since a woman might ovulate early and sperm can last for up to 5 days. Women can be fertile as soon as day 4 of their cycle (with day one counting as the first day of bleeding), meaning pregnancy could happen at any time during the cycle.
Myth: A typical menstrual cycle lasts 28 days.
This is inaccurate; the belief was fueled by the contraceptive pill, which standardizes menstrual cycles to 28 days. In reality, menstrual cycles can range anywhere from 24 to 36 days, and not only do they vary among women, but an individual woman’s cycle can also fluctuate significantly month to month.
Myth: Consuming oysters will enhance my fertility.
Oysters are high in zinc, important for fertility. Ensure your diet includes plenty of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains rich in antioxidants, along with oily fish like salmon or sardines twice a week for essential fatty acids. Limit caffeine and alcohol, as too much can hinder conception. Stay active and quit smoking if you smoke.
How soon can I confirm that I’m pregnant?
Pregnancy begins when a sperm fertilizes an egg, which is called conception. However, you might not notice any symptoms right away. A missed period is often the first sign that you could be pregnant, especially if you usually have regular cycles.
After conception, a hormone called human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) appears in your blood. This hormone comes from the cells that will become the placenta, which provides nourishment to the developing fetus. HCG is what pregnancy tests look for. Although HCG is present from the start, it takes time to build up in your body. Usually, it takes three to four weeks from the first day of your last menstrual period for HCG levels to rise enough to be detected by pregnancy tests. Most tests work from the first day of your missed period and are available at supermarkets or pharmacies.
- Click HERE for advice from NHS UK on doing a pregnancy test.
How can you determine your due date?
Many online due date calculators can assist you in figuring out your due date. Another method to estimate this date involves:
- Noting the date of your last menstrual period (LMP).
- Adding seven days to that date.
- Subtracting three months.
- Adding one year.
Or you can use the NHS UK Due date calculator below.
Even if you calculate your estimated due date, your pregnancy care provider will verify this date during your appointment. They may also provide a revised due date based on the results of an ultrasound. Attending prenatal visits is essential, as it allows your provider to assess the accuracy of your due date.
It is important to note that the likelihood of giving birth on the estimated due date is only approximately 5%.
Infertility
If you have been attempting to conceive for some time without achieving success, it’s advisable to consult your GP. They can assist in exploring the issue and refer you to services that can identify the underlying cause.
In cases where fertility issues are present, the treatment options available to you will be determined by the cause of the problem and what your local integrated care board (ICB) has to offer.
Find your local integrated care board (ICB) here.
There are 3 main types of fertility treatment:
- Medicines
- Surgical procedures
- Assisted conception – including intrauterine insemination (IUI) and in vitro fertilisation (IVF)
To find out more about infertility treatment with the NHS please click HERE.
Useful Websites
See below for a selection of websites and flyers that you may find useful when trying to conceive.