Increasing Your Chances of Pregnancy

Your biological clock is ticking and you have one thing on your mind: getting pregnant. Today, having a willing partner isn't a necessity thanks to the assistance that sperm banks offer. Whether you're doing it the old-fashioned way or taking advantage of technology, there are a few basic steps that you can take to help raise your chances of pregnancy.

First, a healthy pregnancy begins long before sperm meets egg. Take the time to get into better shape, minimize stress, and stop your bad habits.

Being overweight or underweight can affect your chances of getting pregnant. When you are either over or under weight, your hormones are more likely to be out of balance than if you are closer to your ideal weight. Overweight women often have an associated condition called polycystic ovary syndrome. This is the result of a hormonal imbalance which can prevent or delay ovulation. In many cases, those with weight problems sometimes stop menstruating altogether, making conception nearly impossible without outside help.

If you've ever told a friend who's trying to conceive to "relax" you probably got an earful. However, stress decreases your chances of getting pregnant. The more stressed you are, the less efficient your body operates. Stress interferes with your hormones - hormones that you need in order to get pregnant. It also interferes with your immune system which also affects your fertility. Learn how to manage your stress, start exercising, and try to relax.

While you may intend to quit smoking and drinking once you've become pregnant, you'll be better off stopping now because both smoking and drinking decrease your chances of getting pregnant. In addition to being bad for you and your future baby in general, smoking affects the production of required hormones for reproduction. While you're at it, urge your partner to quit smoking too because male smokers have lower sperm counts than non-smokers as well as other issues with their sperm including motility, amount of semen, and sperm shape.