Almost every couple sooner or later thinks about having a child. This is not such a simple process as it seems at first glance. Some people cannot get pregnant for years, even decades. And therefore this issue is taken extremely seriously. How long does it take to get pregnant? We will try to understand this issue further. Let's consider situations in which the parents are healthy. This is the simplest scenario; it will save the couple from visiting doctors, lengthy treatment and numerous tests.
How does conception occur?
How long does it take to get pregnant? Unfortunately, this process is not always easy to predict. The duration of planning a baby depends on many factors. And the health of parents is not always a guarantee of a quick pregnancy.
First, let's find out how conception occurs in general. This process occurs when an egg is fertilized by male sperm.
After puberty, cyclical processes begin in a woman’s body. They are “separated” by critical days. With their arrival, the egg begins to mature in the body. It develops in the follicle even after the end of menstrual bleeding. Approximately in the middle of the monthly cycle, the follicle ruptures and an egg ready for fertilization is released.
The female cell moves through the body to the uterus through the fallopian tubes. At this point, she may encounter sperm. The fastest sperm penetrates the cavity of the egg. This leads to conception. A fertilized egg is formed and attached to the uterine cavity.
If during its “walk” the egg was not fertilized, upon reaching the uterus, it begins to die. This process lasts up to 2 days - during this period, conception is still possible, but less likely. After the death of the egg, the body begins preparations for menstruation and the growth of a new female cell. The next cycle begins with menstruation.
How long does it take to get pregnant? This is quite a difficult process. And then we will consider possible options for the development of events.
How long do sperm live?
Many people think that a sperm is capable of fertilizing an egg in just a few hours. In fact, this is not true: the minimum lifespan of a healthy male reproductive cell is 24 hours, and some sperm can live for more than a week! The difference in the lifespan of sperm is not accidental; they are divided into two types - X and Y, on which the sex of the unborn child depends. Spermatozoa with a “charge” Y (contain the Y sex chromosome) at conception determine the male sex of the embryo, and those containing the X chromosome lay the foundation for the formation of the female sex. It is important to note that the sperm of these groups differ not only in genetic factors that subsequently determine the sex of the embryo, but also in physical properties. Many years of research in the field of embryology and genetics have shown that these types of sperm differ in size, shape, speed of movement and resistance to adverse environmental factors.
Future boys - Y sperm - are small in size and equipped with a longer “tail”, which allows them to develop significant speed of movement. Thus, group Y sperm are very mobile and active, which, under other favorable conditions, gives them significant advantages for fertilization. However, sperm with a Y charge also have disadvantages - they are not resistant to aggressive environmental conditions (high and low acidity, temperature changes). Another disadvantage of “boy sperm” is their low life expectancy. Even when placed immediately after ejaculation in the most favorable environment, Y-sperm live on average no more than 24 hours. In contrast, group X sperm, larger and, as a result, less mobile, adapt much better to external unfavorable conditions and retain the ability to fertilize, sometimes up to 1–1.5 weeks! Medical studies have even described cases of “preservation” of X sperm in the vaginal vaults for the period of menstruation and subsequent conception at the beginning of the next menstrual cycle. By the way, this is one of the reasons explaining the possibility of conception during menstruation - X-sperm can simply wait for ovulation! Therefore, the opinion that the sperm age is determined by several hours is completely unfounded. Unlike an egg, whose lifespan after ovulation lasts on average no more than 24 hours.
Some statistics
The thing is that in the modern world, more and more people are faced with problems conceiving a baby. They occur in both healthy couples and patients. No one is immune from failure, because the process being studied is influenced by many factors.
According to statistics, 30% of women succeed in getting pregnant on the first try. More than half of couples experience success within 3 cycles—about 56%.
How long does it take to get pregnant? The longer a couple plans for a baby, the higher the chances of success. About 80% of women experience pregnancy within six months.
As practice shows, healthy couples become pregnant within a year. But it is not always the case. 91-92% of citizens encounter an interesting situation within three years of active planning and 95% within 48 cycles. This is about 4 years.
How long does it take to get pregnant? The statistics presented to our attention are not a 100% guarantee of success. Predicting the success of conception is problematic. And there are reasons for this.
Fertilization of the egg
Fertilize an egg
maybe several sperm. According to this version, the likelihood of conception is similar to applying for a grant on a competitive basis. This is partly true, since the path of sperm to the egg consists of continuous trials and obstacles (the acidic environment of the vagina, the viscous secretion in the cervical canal, and finally, two fallopian tubes, only one of which contains a mature egg). In this sense, we can indeed consider that the future participant in fertilization is identified in the process of a competition for survival, in which, naturally, the strongest wins. However, in the fertilization process itself, only one sperm is always involved - even if, during the selection process, several male reproductive cells moved simultaneously to the egg.
The membrane of the sperm head contains a special substance - an enzyme that can dissolve the membrane of the egg. As soon as one of the sperm reaches the target and touches the egg, its membrane at the point of contact dissolves; this effect lasts a fraction of a second, during which the sperm is inside the egg, after which it again becomes impenetrable, and the remaining sperm - the “applicants” - are left with nothing. Immediately after the union of the sperm and egg, their nuclei merge and exchange genetic information - this is the laying of new DNA of the unborn child. Even in the case of multiple pregnancies, only one sperm fertilizes one egg.
Identical twins are obtained as a result of dividing an already fertilized egg into two equal halves - this is due to a genetic failure and can be inherited; such twins are always of the same sex and are like two peas in a pod. Another variant of multiple pregnancy - fraternal twins - is formed as a result of polyovulation (simultaneous maturation of several eggs in one or different ovaries); here the reason most often lies in hormonal imbalance. Fraternal twins can be of different sexes; they can be very similar or completely different from each other, just like children from the same family born at different times. However, in this case, there is only one sperm for each egg.
How long does it take to get pregnant? This question is asked by many couples who decide to conceive a child. After all, only 2 out of 10 couples manage to achieve their goal within a month from the moment the decision to add to the family is made. For other potential parents, conception occurs over a longer period. In this article, we will tell you how long it takes to get pregnant, and also give you tips to speed up the process.
How long does it normally take for pregnancy to occur?
The norm is to conceive within 12 months. According to research, 84% of couples are able to conceive a child within a year of regular sex.
For a woman to become pregnant, two conditions must coincide:
- ovulation period;
- the presence of motile sperm that are capable of fertilizing an egg.
However, ovulation does not occur every cycle, not all sperm manage to reach the fallopian tubes and fertilize the egg, the fertilized egg is not always able to attach to the uterine wall, etc.
Factors influencing the timing of conception
- Age.
It is known that with age the body loses fertility. Before the age of 35, the chances of conceiving are highest. After crossing this age limit, you need to put in more effort to conceive a child. Note that if both spouses are under 35 years of age, but there has been no conception for more than 12 months, then you should consult a doctor. If a woman is over 35 years old and a man is over 40, the diagnosis of infertility is made if pregnancy does not occur for more than 6 months. - Nutrition.
A proper and balanced diet will significantly speed up pregnancy. Couples who eat right (eat vegetables and fruits, whole grains, meat, fish, vitamins, minerals) manage to conceive a child faster. - Lifestyle.
Bad habits (smoking, alcohol abuse, etc.) negatively affect reproductive health. The same goes for low physical activity and excess weight. On the other hand, conception often occurs on vacation, when partners do not experience stress, enjoy life, and get enough sleep. This can be taken into account when planning a child. - Health problems.
Hormonal disorders in women can cause anovulation (lack of ovulation), loss of the ability of the uterine endometrium to attach an egg, as well as thickening of the cervical mucus, which interferes with the progress of sperm. A disease such as endometriosis can prevent egg implantation. In men, inflammatory diseases of the reproductive system lead to deterioration in sperm quality. In such cases, partners will need the help of doctors. - Regularity of sex.
Naturally, to get pregnant you need to have unprotected sex. Once a week may not be enough, but there is no need to overdo it with love affairs either - daily sex can reduce the quality of sperm.
How to speed up the process?
To make pregnancy happen faster, it is advisable to adhere to the following recommendations.
- Have sex regularly.
Simply relaxing and enjoying intimacy is the best way to increase your chances of conceiving. Many recommend monitoring ovulation and intensifying your sex life on the days when the likelihood of conception is highest (about 4 days before, during and within 2 days after the release of the egg). If you don't feel comfortable planning your sex life this way, have unprotected sex every 2-3 days. - To refuse from bad habits.
Future parents will have to give up alcohol and tobacco, which not only interfere with getting pregnant, but can also negatively affect the course of pregnancy and the health of the baby. - Normalize weight.
Excess weight leads to hormonal imbalances in men and women. Therefore, if you need to lose weight, do it, but wisely. Keep in mind: being too low is also not good for fertility. - Eat right and take vitamin and mineral complexes.
To get the required amount of nutrients, you need to balance your diet. Special preparations with a complex of vitamins, minerals and other substances that help increase fertility will be extremely useful for accelerating conception. Speroton improves the number of sperm that have normal motility and are able to fertilize an egg, and Pregnoton increases the chances of conception (improves the condition of the endometrium, reduces the level of prolactin, a hormone whose elevated content interferes with conception) and allows you to comprehensively prepare the female body for bearing a child.
Thus, the answer to the question “how long does it take to get pregnant” depends on many different factors. But you have the power to bring your child’s birthday closer!
Every married couple sooner or later matures psychologically and wants to have a child. And here they are faced with the question: “How long does it take to get pregnant?” No one can definitely answer this question for you.
Due to the individual characteristics of the body, the time to conceive a child can vary significantly for each couple. Conception can occur on the first try, and fertilization will occur at the next ovulation. But there are couples who are faced with the problem of infertility, and the process of planning a child has dragged on for many years.
When to go to the doctor
How long does it take to get pregnant if your body is healthy? There is no clear answer to this question. It all depends on the specific couple and its individual characteristics.
Doctors assure that in case of prolonged failures in planning a baby, infertility should be suspected. In modern medicine, a similar conclusion is made after a year of unsuccessful attempts to conceive.
Important: failures are not always justified by infertility.
Additional questions
I already have a child, but I can't get pregnant again.
Professor Michael Thomas
There are many factors that can reduce your ability to get pregnant even after your baby is born. The most likely reason is your age. If you already have a child and are over 35 years old, your ability to become pregnant may be reduced. You may have a problem with the regularity of ovulation, or there may be a polyp or fibroid in the uterine cavity that affects the ability of the embryo to attach to the wall and develop. In addition, your partner may have developed a sperm abnormality, resulting in a decrease in sperm count, motility, or change in shape. If you have any concerns, contact your healthcare professional.
I've had a pregnancy loss in the past and I'm worried that this will make it difficult for me to get pregnant again.
Professor Michael Thomas
Typically, ending a pregnancy does not reduce your ability to become pregnant in the future. In rare cases, adhesions can form in the uterus, which can affect future fertility. If you have normal monthly cycles, then there is a low chance that these spikes are affecting your fertility. Consult a fertility specialist or gynecologist to make sure your uterus is normal if you have been trying to get pregnant for one year, are under 35 years old, and have a cycle of 23 to 35 days. If you are over 35 years old, seek advice in six months, and if you are over 40 years old, immediately.
This question is very difficult to answer because several factors influence conception. First of all, this is age, how healthy the spouses are, whether they have bad habits, a woman’s ovulation frequency is greatly influenced. Ovulation
- This is the maturation of the egg.
The first factor influencing ovulation is age. Over the course of a woman's lifetime, approximately four hundred eggs mature. But not every cycle ovulation occurs. The older a woman is, the fewer eggs she has left. Before the age of 35-40, you can get pregnant much faster.
The second factor is lifestyle. Bad habits - smoking, alcohol - reduce fertility (ability to conceive). A healthy lifestyle - regular fitness classes, walks in the fresh air, proper nutrition, lack of stress, on the contrary, increase the rate of conception.
The third factor is the good health of the reproductive organ system. The reproductive system of both women and men should be in good condition. That is, chronic diseases, sexually transmitted diseases of the genital organs of spouses greatly reduce the likelihood of rapid conception.
The fourth factor is sex. Naturally, the more regularly spouses have sex, the faster and greater the likelihood of getting pregnant. Daily sex is, of course, good. But the quality of sperm decreases slightly.
Time to conceive
Often the main reason for unsuccessful and long-term planning of a child is the incorrectly selected time of unprotected sexual intercourse. It is enough to change it to increase the chances of conception.
When is the best time to have unprotected sex? Doctors say that the most favorable period for conception is ovulation. It occurs approximately in the middle of the menstrual cycle. To determine the X day, you can do an ultrasound or do a home test.
It follows that the chances of conception will be highest approximately a day or two before ovulation and on day “X”. Then the woman can become pregnant immediately. Especially if you follow some recommendations. But more about them later.
Important: sperm can maintain viability in a girl’s body for about a week. Unprotected sex 7 days before ovulation can lead to unexpected pregnancy. Especially if male sperm differ in its speed and activity.
Sex only during ovulation
For successful conception, you need to have sex only during ovulation.
. This advice, as they say, mixes truth and fiction: on the one hand, the probability of conception during the period of ovulation is really maximum, on the other hand, it is completely incomprehensible why marital duties should not be performed on less “happy” days? Apparently, here the natural human fear of wasting energy and “not accumulating” the necessary potential before the cherished day “X” comes into force again.
Despite the grain of truth regarding the high probability of conception during ovulation
, the advice cannot be called correct. Firstly, the date of ovulation may shift significantly closer to the beginning or end of the cycle, and not occur exactly in its middle, even with completely regular menstruation. Such schedule changes can be caused by stress, climate change, physical activity, a recent illness, or simply slight hormonal fluctuations that are normal in a healthy woman. Thus, the middle of the cycle is just the most frequent, but not at all obligatory, time for the maturation of the egg and its release from the ovary.
There is no method that allows one to accurately record the moment of release of a mature egg from the ovary: even ultrasound, which is considered the diagnostic standard in this area, still allows for the possibility of error in determining the moment of ovulation
. Home methods, such as ovulation tests or measuring basal temperature, also will not provide a 100% guarantee that ovulation has occurred. This means that by incorrectly calculating the date of ovulation and having sex only on these days, the spouses do not increase, but, on the contrary, reduce the chances of conceiving a child in this menstrual cycle. After all, the egg lives only 24 hours, and if it does not meet the sperm, then pregnancy will not occur. With regular intimacy, longer-living sperm (up to 1 - 1.5 weeks) can wait until ovulation and fertilize the egg.
Secondly, it sometimes happens that as a result of small hormonal changes in one cycle, ovulation occurs in both ovaries - i.e. two eggs mature and are ready for fertilization at once; in this case, the interval between adjacent ovulations can be extended within 7–10 days. Obviously, in this cycle scenario, the advice to have sex only on the days of expected ovulation (days 12–16) also turns out to be a losing proposition and only reduces the chances of an early pregnancy. With polyovulation, pregnancy can occur even at this time - after all, the second egg can ovulate just at this time, when the first one has already died. However, you should not use this information as a guide to action - sex during menstruation
often becomes the cause of inflammation of the genital organs, since when the uterine mucosa is rejected during menstruation, the organ inside is a wound surface, and the penetration of microbes into the uterus can easily lead to inflammation.
After birth control
How long does it take to get pregnant after taking birth control? There is also no clear answer to such a question.
Pregnancy can occur the first time. Especially if you have sex without protection immediately after stopping oral contraceptives. Thanks to them, a woman can control ovulation.
Most often, after one or two cycles, the girl becomes pregnant. Particularly if she and her partner are healthy. If it doesn't work out, don't despair. As we have already said, the normal period for planning a child in Russia is 1 year.
What is sperm
We keep talking about how much sperm you need to get pregnant. What is the notorious liquid? Sperm is a kind of cocktail. Its formation involves the testicles with appendages, the prostate gland and the glands of the urethra. The composition includes sperm plasma, as well as cellular elements. Let's decipher these concepts. Spermplasm is seminal fluid that is mostly produced by the prostate gland. Cellular elements include sperm, leukocytes, and epithelial cells. Finally, there are additional, non-cellular elements in the composition. These are fatty inclusions, lecithin and much more. That is, we are already directly approaching the answer to how much sperm is needed to get pregnant. Nature has calculated everything for us. Just one ejaculation contains enough substances to effect conception.
Retries
How long does it take to get pregnant a second time? What about the third and subsequent ones?
Some believe that the success of conception depends on the time a woman becomes pregnant. This is not entirely true. Typically, a repeat pregnancy occurs immediately after proper planning or within a year.
Important: it is recommended to begin active work on the next pregnancy 2-3 years after birth. But often, some people start planning for a baby after six months. It is difficult to predict how quickly an interesting situation will arise.
How long does it take to get pregnant?
Scientists have calculated that out of a hundred couples, only twenty can get pregnant quickly the first time
within a month. After six months, fifty percent of couples will become pregnant. And in a year, 85 women will become pregnant.
These statistics were conducted on couples between the ages of twenty and thirty. After thirty years, the likelihood of conceiving decreases by about fifty percent. And after forty – by about seventy percent. But this does not mean that after forty years doctors can diagnose “infertility”
. The body just needs more time to conceive.
Tips for conceiving
From all of the above it follows that pregnancy can occur at any time after the abolition of protection during sexual intercourse. Couples who have intercourse during ovulation have the greatest chance of becoming parents.
There are a number of tips to help you get pregnant. Among them are the following recommendations:
- Calculate ovulation. Either a gynecologist, an ultrasound, or a home ovulation test will help you do this. It is recommended to conduct appropriate studies on the 10-14th day of the menstrual cycle.
- During sexual intercourse, do not forget about the force of gravity. It is recommended to choose poses in which the woman will be on the bottom.
- After sexual intercourse, do not rush to wash yourself. It's better to lie down for a while.
- Avoid stress, anxiety and overwork during pregnancy planning. All this negatively affects conception. It is for these reasons that ideally healthy couples often experience difficulty conceiving.
- Lead a healthy lifestyle and give up bad habits. Alcohol, drugs and tobacco not only lead to various diseases, but also negatively affect the health of future babies.
- Before planning a baby, undergo a full medical examination. Pay special attention to gynecological examinations. If any diseases or inflammations are identified, it is better to treat them.
I guess that's all. By following these tips, couples can become parents quite quickly.
Nutrition and chances of conceiving
Your chances of conceiving depend on your diet. This idea cannot be called completely wrong - the diet of future parents really has a significant impact on health in general, and on the reproductive sphere in particular, on which the possibility of conception depends. That is why a couple who consults a doctor is first recommended to review their diet and follow a balanced diet. However, unfortunately, many people misunderstand this recommendation and begin to strengthen their diet in the direction of increasing the calorie content of food. It is generally accepted that for the health of future parents
It is useful to eat “for two”, preferring foods with an abundance of proteins and fats of animal origin. This opinion is incorrect - and not only in relation to the period of pregnancy planning: such a rich diet is extremely unfavorable for health.
High-calorie nutrition is appropriate only during excessive physical activity; in other cases, it inevitably leads to an increase in cholesterol levels in the blood and its deposition on the walls of blood vessels with the formation of atherosclerotic plaques, narrowing the lumen of blood vessels. Excessive intake of cholesterol into the body is a high risk factor for the development of obesity, hypertension (persistent increase in blood pressure), and dysfunction of the heart, liver and kidneys. Such nutrition also has a sharply negative effect on the functioning of the reproductive system, both for women and men.
However, the very idea of correcting the diet before conception
really relevant - especially for the future dad. Family planning specialists recommend that men, several weeks before the “X” day, reduce the consumption of fatty and spicy foods, starchy foods, and also try to exclude creamy sauces, mayonnaise, fast food and canned food from the daily diet, as they can reduce male potency and sperm activity. The likelihood of conception is increased by seafood, lean fish and meats, greens, nuts, legumes, fruits and berries. The predominance of these products in the diet helps to increase a man’s sexual activity and reduce sperm viscosity, stimulate spermatogenesis (the formation of sperm in the testicles), and have a positive effect on the speed of sperm movement. It is these male factors that determine the likelihood of pregnancy.
What affects fertility
How long do you need to lie in bed to get pregnant? It is recommended not to get out of bed for 10-15 minutes after unprotected sexual intercourse. There is no need to make a “birch tree”.
As already mentioned, fertility is influenced by various factors. For example:
- heredity;
- individual characteristics of the body;
- bad habits;
- diet;
- chronic diseases;
- stress and anxiety;
- previous abortions and gynecological pathologies;
- increased physical activity.
In some cases, men are prescribed a variety of biological food supplements to improve sperm quality. Women are advised to take folic acid.
Interaction between seminal fluid and the female reproductive system
Sperm, ejaculate or seminal fluid (synonyms), coming out of the head of the penis at the time of orgasm, contains:
- healthy germ cells (antherozoids, viper, male gametes, sperm or spermatozoa).
- liquid blood plasma;
- secretion of the prostate and bulbourethral (Cooper) glands;
- grease or mucus.
Everyone knows that male sperm freely penetrates into the vagina during each sexual intercourse if contraception is not used.
Inside this cavity, which receives the main portion of ejaculate, there is an acidic environment, the pH level is about 4 units, that is, close to neutral. Alkalinization (douching with soda solution) helps reduce acidity, which is harmful to most sperm when there are problems with fertilization. Due to natural acidity, most of the active sperm dies after 2-3 hours. Hundreds of “live ones” out of millions launched into the female perineum during sexual intercourse manage to break through all the obstacles into the fallopian tubes to the egg.
Inexperienced women are worried that sperm leaks out after sex, is it possible to get pregnant? “Traces of love” on the bed and legs are physiological. Judge for yourself, all that volume of unused sperm has to go somewhere. Moreover, cervical mucus, male lubricant from the passages and a natural lubricant from the vagina are added to it.
Western andrology experts have repeatedly conducted experiments to study the amount of sperm needed for fertilization. This question interests men who have sexual problems. Scientists argue that the very formulation of the question is incorrect - is it possible to get pregnant if sperm has leaked out.
What is much more important is not the volume of ejaculate itself, but the number of active male cells. Couples who have been evaluated for infertility will confirm that men with inactive sperm can have a decent volume when ejaculating. And the shape of the vagina in many women is such that part of the sperm spills out only on the way to the bathroom. And the desire to get pregnant is not compensated by restless sleep until the morning after intercourse (sexual intercourse) with turning over on the stomach, as is often recommended.
You should not pay attention to myths, speculation and unverified information if something does not work out with conception. It is better to go for an examination to find out the quality of the man’s seed material, and also to find out if the woman has any pathologies. It is the quality, not the volume, of sperm that determines the ability to have healthy heirs. This is where the “rule of one” comes into play. It means that one active and tenacious sperm is enough to prolong the race.
From theory to practice
Each of us has seen a picture of fertilization in anatomy textbooks. One sperm fertilizes the egg, after which it becomes impenetrable to the rest. But why did nature reward a man with a 4 ml ejaculate? And all because there is a significant difference between the PH level of the vagina and sperm. Therefore, the question of how much sperm is needed to get pregnant and give birth to a healthy child is so important. There is increased acidity in the vagina, which is harmful to sperm. Nature created this barrier not in vain, but so that only the most tenacious of all would reach the goal. Seminal fluid, which makes up most of the ejaculate, has an alkaline reaction. Due to this, the barrier is temporarily neutralized, and sperm can penetrate into the uterus, where the environment is more suitable for them.
