It’s an experience that a lot of couples go through at some point in their lives, and one which is actually becoming even more common these days, according to the statistics out there. When you are trying to conceive and it’s not happening, there are all sorts of emotions that can crop up and often they can be quite persistent. Of course, it can be the kind of thing that puts a strain on any relationship, so that is worth being prepared for.
All that being said, there are always steps you can take if you are struggling to conceive, and it’s worth knowing about as many of these as possible beforehand. Let’s take a look right now at these steps as well as some general advice on dealing with the situation you find yourself in.
Home Testing
There are all sorts of home testing that you can do these days, which will help to determine if there is something not quite right with either your own reproductive system or your partner’s – or, as sometimes happens, with both. These home testing kits are more affordable than ever, easier to use than ever, and more accurate than ever, so there is really not much reason not to use them if you are wondering why you are struggling to conceive a child. At the very least, it can help to indicate the general issues that might be going on before you then go to see your professionals.
The kinds of tests you can get for home vary quite a lot. You have sperm tests to see whether the sperm count and motility is as it should be, and you have tests to check the mother’s systems as well, so it’s worth trying them all and seeing what results you get. Remember: these are just to help you move in the right direction for knowing which professionals to see, but they can certainly be helpful for that.
IVF
One of the most popular methods for conceiving for couples who are struggling to do it the natural way is to use IVF, and the process for this has only become more and more modernized in recent years. The first thing you will want to do here is to research it thoroughly so that you know what it is all about and what to expect. Then you can go and find yourself an infertility clinic in your area who can help you with IVF, so that you know you have the right people on your side. Choosing that clinic well is really important, so make sure you don’t rush it and that you choose one that seems to be good to you.
After that, it’s a case of going through the motions of IVF, which can take a long time. One of the things you never know about IVF is how many cycles it might take to succeed. You might have to do it three or four times before you fall pregnant – there are just no ways of knowing, and no promises that can be made.
That being said, it does work for many people, and there is a reason that so many people try it out at least. It is worth thinking about if you are trying to conceive.
Personal Changes
Even before you look into IVF and other options, however, there are some personal changes that you might be able to make which could help you to be more likely to conceive. For instance, there is a correlation between having a healthy weight and being able to conceive a child, so if you are a little under or over the ideal weight, changing that is always a good move to make. It does not guarantee anything, of course, but it does mean that you are that little bit more likely to be able to conceive more quickly.
Beyond changing weight, you should consider your diet and whether you are physically as fit as possible. In general, the healthier you are, the easier your body will find it to conceive – although, again, this is not to say that it’s automatic, and neither is it about shaming those who might not be at their healthiest. But improving your diet is certainly going to help if you are in a place where you can do that. Many people also like to take pregnancy vitamins, and these are certainly useful for getting your body to the right state to have a baby.
Of course, you will also have more luck if you are choosing to try and conceive at the right times, which means paying close attention to your cycle so that you know when you are ovulating and when you are not. Sometimes couples try for months before really thinking about honing in on those things, so it’s worth remembering about.
Around 12% of all infertility is down to factors like these, so it’s something that you should certainly focus on at least.
The Issue Of Stress
One of the real catch-22 situations here is to do with the role of stress in trying to get pregnant. As with most things, stress makes this worse, and if you are very overly stressed a lot of the time, then that will negatively affect your chances of getting pregnant. Now, you can’t simply magic stress away, and you’ll probably find that the whole situation of trying to get pregnant can be stressful in itself too, which doesn’t help. But anything you can do to minimize your stress will help, so you might want to consider deep breathing, meditating and other factors that can help with your stress levels.
As you can see, there is a lot to think about, but as long as you are keen to work on all that, you can increase your chances of having a baby. For many couples, it takes looking into all of these to ensure that they can have a baby, so that might be something you need to prepare for.
