If you want to increase your chances of getting pregnant, you already know that becoming a parent can be challenging. Trying for a baby should be a super exciting time in anyone’s life, but it can be very stressful.
However, struggling to get pregnant is a problem that around 2 in every 5 couples struggle with due to women’s infertility issues. Getting pregnant can be more difficult than you think due to issues with fertility caused by health issues, obesity, hormonal imbalance, age and even STIs.
Finding ways to naturally increase your fertility can help you become pregnant before spending thousands of dollars on medical treatment.
Lifestyle, nutrition and other minor changes can drastically increase your chances of getting pregnant faster and naturally. Read on to learn more about it.
Why Am I Not Getting Pregnant?
It's frustrating if you’re not getting pregnant but you’ve been trying for a while. You might be wondering if you are doing something wrong or have concerns about your fertility.
There are loads of misconceptions about getting pregnant. Many people think it is easy and natural, but in reality, a study found that 92% of couples having regular sex will only conceive after one year of trying.
This is because your chance of getting pregnant is tied to your fertility, and many things can impact your fertility levels.
Some factors that impact your fertility are:
- Age
- Weight
- Smoking
- Unhealthy diet
- Excess caffeine
- Exposure to chemicals or pollution
- Drugs or medication
- Stress
- Early menopause
- PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome)
- Hormone imbalance
So, there are lots reasons why you are struggling to get pregnant. For more information on causes of infertility, check out:
Can I drink alcohol while trying to get pregnant?
Drinking alcohol can impact your fertility as a woman and reduce your chance of getting pregnant. Alcohol can disrupt your ovulation cycle, making the fertilisation of an egg harder. Frequent, heavy drinking can cause infertility, so you should avoid alcohol if you are trying to get pregnant.
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Alcohol can affect fertility in women for up to three months, so you should try cutting all alcohol out of your diet as soon as possible. Aim for fewer than three units per week if you don’t want to give it up entirely just yet (you will have to once you get pregnant). |
SUMMARYGetting pregnant is actually much harder than people think, with most couples taking over a year of trying before conceiving. Your fertility dictates your chance of getting pregnant, and your health and lifestyle can considerably impact your fertility. |
How to calculate your menstrual cycle to become pregnant
| Average Ovulation Cycle | Phase |
| Day 1 to Day 5 | Menstruation |
| Day 6 to Day 10 | Follicular Phase |
| Day 11 to Day 13 | Most Fertile Days |
| Day 14 to Day 16 | Fertile Days |
| Day 17 to Day 28 | Luteal Phase |
Of course, even if you have a healthy lifestyle, you can’t get pregnant unless you try at the right time of the month. You need to track your menstrual cycle to increase your chances of getting pregnant.
Did you know you can only become pregnant a few days each month? Depending on your cycle, it could be as short as two or three days or as many as six days.
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You can only get pregnant when you ovulate, which only happens once a month. Ovulation is when your ovaries prepare to release and then actually release the egg. Experts have found that the egg is only fertile for around 24 hours after it is released, and sperm can only live for five days. |
So, intercourse during the five days before the egg is fertile and the day-of could result in pregnancy. At any other time of the month, pregnancy just isn’t possible.
For an average 28-day cycle, this means a maximum of six days in which you can fall pregnant. So, you need to track your cycle and make sure you are having intercourse on these days if you want to become pregnant. Here’s what to do:
- Make a note of you last had your period. The first day of bleeding is day 1 of your cycle. The first day of bleeding for your next period is the start of your next cycle.
- Track your period for three months to determine the average length of your cycle; most women will be 28 days.
- Ovulation will happen around 14 days before your next period. For a 28-day cycle this means day 14 of the cycle. For a longer cycle of 35 days, ovulation will happen on day 21.
- Your fertile window is the day of ovulation and the three or four days before.
If you want to be precise and track your ovulation, you can use an online ovulation calendar. You can also download an app to your phone to help track your cycle. Apps can also track irregular cycles by checking your weight, mood and body temperature to determine when you are ovulating.
To find out more about how to balance your hormones during your menstrual cycle and the impact of your hormones on your body, check out:
SUMMARYYou can only get pregnant when you are ovulating, so you need to track your menstrual cycle so you can have intercourse on the appropriate days. Ovulating occurs around 14 days before your period, but you can check your ovulation using an online calendar or an app. |
The best herbal teas for fertility (even if you are over 40)
A great way to naturally increase your fertility is with herbal teas. These can be used to encourage conception naturally in women, even if you are over 40.
Herbal teas are easy to add to your diet, and some contain essential nutrients that can help naturally boost your fertility and help you fall pregnant fast.
These are the best herbal tea to increase your fertility.
Black Cohosh to treat infertility
Black Cohosh tea is excellent for fertility problems because it can help balance your hormones to increase fertility.
Black cohosh tea has phytoestrogen properties that mimic oestrogen in your body to help balance your oestrogen and progesterone levels. With balanced oestrogen levels, your ovulation will be more regular, and therefore you have a higher chance of getting pregnant.
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Research found that just 40mg of black cohosh per day can improve your ovulation, and for women with irregular cycles, it can make ovulation regular. |
By supporting your hormones, black cohosh can also help to treat conditions that cause infertility, such as PCOS and fibroids. Drinking black cohosh can also increase your uterine lining, so your uterus is more receptive to a fertilised egg, helping your chances of maintaining a healthy pregnancy.
Red raspberry leaf tea for a greater chance of conception
Red raspberry leaf tea is another herbal remedy that increases your chance of conception.
Red raspberry leaves are packed full of vitamins and nutrients to help boost your fertility and increase your chance of becoming pregnant. Drinking red raspberry leaf tea can ensure you have a regular menstrual cycle, increasing your fertility.
Red raspberry leaves contain:
- Vitamins A, B, C and E
- Niacin
- Calcium
- Potassium
- Magnesium
- Phosphorus
- Zinc
- Iron
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Studies show that red raspberry leaves can also be used to improve the amount of progesterone you have in your body. Progesterone is a crucial hormone for fertility, and red raspberry leaves have Phyto-progesterone properties that act like this hormone increasing your fertility. |
To improve your fertility, you should try drinking 2 cups of red raspberry leaf tea during your period. Drink 2/3 cups every day during your cycle except when you are ovulating. Doing this means your body will be as fertile as possible and ready to become pregnant without overloading your body with hormones during ovulation.
To find out more about red raspberry leaf tea, click here:
Ashwagandha for female fertility over 35
You can also take ashwagandha for female fertility problems. Ashwagandha enhances the endocrine system and regulates thyroid glands for hormone balance and improved fertility.
Ashwagandha has been used for centuries to boost fertility because it can improve your hormone levels. Ashwagandha helps ensure the normal functioning of the thyroid to regulate hormones, and it can restore your oestrogen levels to help you get pregnant faster.
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Ashwagandha has a wide range of health benefits that support your body to ensure you are ready for pregnancy. |
If you suffer from other health conditions that you think might be impacting your fertility, you can take ashwagandha every day to help manage your health.
But you can also use ashwagandha to directly improve your fertility as you get older. Read: As your eggs run out, your body produces fewer sex hormones making you less fertile. Read:
Research shows that ashwagandha is so effective it can be taken daily even during menopause to improve your thyroid health to maintain your hormone levels as you grow older. This enhances fertility in women over 35.
You can find out more about the health benefit and fertility properties in this article:
Stinging Nettle Tea to get pregnant
Stinging nettle tea is high in crucial nutrients and vitamins to support the body and help with baby growth to ensure you fall pregnant and stay pregnant.
Stinging nettles contain lots of essential nutrients and vitamins to promote fertility and help you get pregnant. Drinking just two cups a day can support your reproductive system and help increase your chances of pregnancy.
Stinging nettles contain:
- Vitamins A, C, D and K
- Calcium
- Potassium
- Iron
- Sulphur
- Chlorophyll
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By ensuring your body is packed full of all the proper nutrients, you increase your conception chances. Research shows that the combination of vitamin K and calcium are crucial to your reproductive system and the health of your eggs. |
Furthermore, stinging nettle tea has strong detoxification properties to help remove toxins from your body. By cleansing your body of harmful substances, you could eliminate properties that make you infertile.
SUMMARYHerbal remedies can help boost your overall health and regulate your hormones. You can use herbal tea to naturally increase your fertility, even after 35. Ashwagandha, black cohosh, red raspberry leaf and stinging nettle tea are all beneficial for your health if you are trying to get pregnant. |
Foods that increase fertility in women
Your diet and what you eat has a big impact on your overall health and reproductive system and some foods can increase your fertility. You should eat more of these foods encourage conception.
If you are not getting the proper nutrients and your diet isn’t balanced, your body will struggle to support a pregnancy, so you won’t be able to fall pregnant. Your body needs to be in good health before growing another life.
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You could use fertility supplements to ensure you get the proper nutrients, but eating healthy foods is better. Supplements are packed with nutrients, but they are processed, making it hard to break these down, and your body can’t absorb them all, so you don’t get the full benefits. |
Try adapting your diet to include the following foods to give yourself the best chance of getting pregnant.
- Lentils and other high-fibre foods
- Sunflower seeds
- Nuts
- Fruit and vegetables
- Avocados
- Yoghurt and cheese
- Salmon and fatty fish
- Asparagus
- Quinoa
- Beets
- Leafy greens
- Liver and high-protein foods
Research shows that ensuring you have a healthy, balanced diet is one of the most significant ways to increase your fertility at home. The same study found that while vitamin supplements can help, a balanced diet is more effective if you want to fall pregnant quickly.
SUMMARYGetting the right vitamins and nutrients is crucial for increasing your chances of becoming pregnant. Supplements are synthetic and processed, and your body cannot absorb them the same way as a healthy diet, which is more efficient at helping you conceive naturally. |
How can I relax to increase my fertility?
When you are stressed and anxious, your cortisol hormone is dominant, making it hard for your reproductive system to function correctly. You need to be relaxed if you want to become pregnant. Read:
- What Can I Do to Stop Being Anxious About Going to Work?
- Valerian Root: My Best Natural Supplement for Anxiety
Being stressed is one of the biggest obstacles to fertility. When your cortisol levels are high, your other hormones are repressed. Your body goes into fight or flight mode, making falling pregnant much harder.
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Finding ways to destress and relax will naturally lower your cortisol levels which will allow your body to become pregnant more quickly. Taking medication to help with anxiety and stress can cause infertility, so naturally reducing stress is more efficient if you want to get pregnant. |
Here are some ways to relax naturally to get pregnant:
- Take a warm bath
- Journaling
- Read a book
- Go for a walk outside
- Gentle exercise
- Relaxing herbal teas
- Meditation and yoga
- Listen to relaxing music
- Guided breathing
- Avoid your phone, TV and computer screen
For more information on how to relax naturally for fertility, this article has some fantastic tips:
SUMMARYWhen you are stressed, your cortisol tries to stop you from falling pregnant because it wants to focus on the source of your stress. To get pregnant, you need to find ways to relax naturally without using medications that can cause infertility. |
Tips to help you get pregnant fast naturally
There are plenty of ways to naturally increase your fertility at home before you resort to spending money on IVF treatment or hormone therapy.
Simple changes to your life and lifestyle can make you healthier and increase your chances of getting pregnant quickly. Evaluate your life to see what could be stopping you from falling pregnant.
Here are some tips on how to get pregnant fast naturally:
- Check your cooking equipment to see if it contains harmful chemicals that you might be ingesting by accident. Swap for natural products.
- Stop using toxic chemicals in cleaning products and use natural, anti-bacterial products instead.
- Use a fertility app to check your overall health and track your menstrual cycle. This will tell you if you are unwell, need medical help, and when the best days to conceive are.
- Drink lots of water. Staying hydrated is generally important for your health, and when you are healthy, your chance of having a baby goes up.
- Sleep well. Getting enough sleep can help balance your hormones and ensure your body isn’t placed under extra stress, which can impact fertility.
- Enjoy sex! If you force yourself to have sex and don’t enjoy it, it can stress the eggs and sperm and lower the chance of conception.
- Exercise regularly. Gentle exercise can help regulate hormones, keep your body healthy, improve the health of your organs and encourage reproduction.
The best exercises for conceiving
Doing regular gentle exercise has lots of benefits for conceiving. But some exercises are better than others if you want to get pregnant.
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When you do gentle exercise, your body gets a kickstart to rebalance your hormone levels to promote fertility. Staying fit and healthy has various health benefits, putting your body in the best place to become pregnant. |
Furthermore, gentle exercises can help build and tone muscles and promote endurance and balance to prepare your body to carry a baby. It will be harder to conceive if you lack strength and tone because your body isn’t ready to carry a baby.
According to most experts, the best exercises to get pregnant naturally are
- Pilates or barre
- Walking
- Yoga
- Swimming
- Cycling
- Strength training
Just make sure whatever exercise you choose is something you enjoy so you are more likely to do it frequently. Consistency is key. Remember that you shouldn’t push your body too hard. Over-exercising can increase testosterone levels and make it harder for women to fall pregnant.
SUMMARYRegular gentle exercise helps to balance your hormones and prepare your muscles and body to carry a baby. Good exercises to help you conceive include walking, swimming, yoga and Pilates. The key is to be consistent and gentle. |
When to seek help for fertility
There are many easy ways to naturally boost your fertility at home. However, if you have tried at-home fertility remedies and are still struggling to get pregnant, it might be time to seek medical help.
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Some health conditions that impact fertility cannot be treated by natural remedies. You may need IVF treatment or other medical support. |
Conceiving can take over a year, so if you don’t get pregnant immediately, don’t panic. If you have tried natural fertility boosts at home and have been trying for over a year, you should speak to a medical professional.
Your doctor will likely be able to recommend additional supplements and ways to increase your fertility before recommending IVF treatment. IVF can be very expensive, lengthy, and invasive, so it is generally a last resort.
Before starting IVF, your doctor will want to check your hormone levels and run tests for other conditions that could impact your fertility. Conditions that affect fertility include:
- PCOS
- Endometriosis
- Hormonal imbalance
- Nutrient deficiency
- Cancer or tumours
Speak to a professional if you think you suffer from any of these conditions to learn how to manage your health and improve your chances of pregnancy. Your doctor will diagnose any existing health conditions to help with fertility.
SUMMARYIt can take over a year to get pregnant, so don’t be alarmed if it takes a long time. However, if you have been trying to boost your fertility and conceive for over a year, you should speak to a doctor. A doctor can run tests to check your hormones, nutrient levels and blood to diagnose any conditions that may be stopping you from getting pregnant. |
Conclusion
Falling pregnant can take over a year for many couples, which can be stressful. To give yourself the best chance at getting pregnant naturally without needing IVF treatment or hormone therapy, you can take natural remedies to boost your fertility.
Drinking herbal teas packed with nutrients can help. Red raspberry leaf tea and stinging nettle tea ensure your body has everything it needs to conceive naturally. Other herbal teas like black cohosh and ashwagandha can help regulate hormones to encourage conception.
You can also take steps to change your lifestyle to help you become pregnant fast. Doing regular exercise, having a balanced diet and making sure you are stressed can improve your fertility.
While you boost your fertility, you should be on the lookout for early and unexpected signs of pregnancy to see if you have conceived. To know what you should look for, check out this article: