What should I do to increase my chances of getting pregnant?

The article is professionally consulted by MSc, BS. Nguyen Thi Tam Ly, Reproductive Support Center, Vinmec Times City International General Hospital.

An increasingly modern society makes people have many changes in habits and lifestyle, especially the issue of late marriage and childbearing. The large age of pregnancy and the effects of external circumstances will make the ability to conceive naturally difficult. What can I do to increase my chances of getting pregnant?

There are many ways to increase your chances of getting pregnant naturally, from changing lifestyle habits, nutrition and daily activities. Here are some tips for couples to improve their fertility.

According to normal physiology, the ability to conceive naturally depends very much on the characteristics of the menstrual cycle in women. Therefore, a woman needs to know the characteristics of her menstrual cycle to increase her chances of getting pregnant.
The first important factor is that the menstrual cycle must be regular, the cycle can vary from 28-32 days, the regularity of repeating each month of the menstrual cycle will help a woman easily predict a the exact time of ovulation.
In women with irregular menstrual cycles, which can last more than 35 days or are too short, it is difficult to predict when ovulation or sometimes ovulation does not occur, especially in women with syndromes. polycystic ovary syndrome. From there, it is difficult to calculate the right time to have sex to increase the chances of pregnancy.

If your menstrual cycle is regular, ovulation is about 14 days before the start of your next period. Conversely, if a woman's menstrual cycle is irregular, the time of ovulation will vary depending on the number of days of that period, usually ranging from 12 to 16 days before the next period.
MORE: How to calculate ovulation for women with irregular menstrual cycles
Some ways to know when you ovulate to increase your chances of getting pregnant:
Using a test to predict ovulation: In most Most pharmacies will sell these predictive tests and essentially measure the concentration of the hormone LH in the urine. If the result is positive, the next day is the best time to have sex and increase your chances of getting pregnant; Cervical mucus test to predict ovulation: According to normal reproductive physiology, in preparation for ovulation, cervical mucus will increase in volume, become clear, thin and thinner . These changes are mainly to help sperm move more easily to fertilize an egg and increase the chances of pregnancy.

According to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, the fertile window (or the time when a couple has sex with the highest chance of getting pregnant) lasts about 6 days, 5 days before ovulation. and 1 day after ovulation. Strengthening the couple's relationship around the conception window increases the chances of getting pregnant.

A person's body mass index (BMI) is calculated using the following formula: weight (in kg) divided by the square of height (m2).
A woman's weight is not ideal, whether overweight, obese or underweight, malnutrition can lead to reduced fertility. Studies have shown that obese women (BMI ≥ 35kg/m2) can take twice as long to conceive and women with low weight (BMI ≤ 19kg/m2) take 4 times longer to conceive compared to women with normal BMI.
Excess fat stimulates the body to excrete more estrogen hormone and affects ovulation in women. Particularly for women who are too thin, the menstrual cycle will be irregular, difficult to determine the day and sometimes there is no ovulation. Therefore, to increase the chances of pregnancy, both husband and wife should adjust their BMI to the acceptable level by healthy physical activity.

The trace elements (vitamins and minerals) although contribute silently, they greatly affect the physiological and metabolic processes of the body, including reproductive physiology. To increase the chances of pregnancy, the following trace elements play a very important role:
Vitamin D: This mineral helps increase the chances of natural pregnancy and in vitro fertilization. Foods high in vitamin D include: eggs, fatty fish, milk and dairy products; Vitamin E: Has the ability to fight oxidation and increase pregnancy, so women should supplement food groups rich in vitamin E such as nuts, spinach, papaya and vegetables. dark blue; Iron: According to studies, getting enough iron (mainly from plant origin) helps reduce the risk of infertility due to the absence of ovulation; Folic acid: Supplementing with folic acid at a dose of about 400mg/day reduces the risk of neural tube defects in children, reduces the risk of premature birth and low birth weight. At the same time, it helps to increase the ability to get pregnant naturally and reduce pregnancy-related diseases in women.

A varied diet with healthy foods, including green vegetables, fruits, grains, milk and dairy products, plant-based fats and proteins... Helps increase your chances of getting pregnant.
Besides, some foods need to be limited or not used such as:
Diet high in saturated fat increases the risk of infertility by 31% due to anovulation (ovulation); Limit caffeine: Consuming more than 500mg/day may affect fertility. According to the American Fertility Association, drinking 1-2 cups of coffee a day or less than 250mg of caffeine per day will not affect fertility and abnormalities in pregnancy; Don't smoke: Smoking is a dangerous factor affecting reproductive health, can cause menstrual disorders, ovarian failure or early menopause... However, if you stop smoking for more than 1 year, the woman's ability to get pregnant will return to normal. Do not use alcohol; Minimize the use of processed and frozen foods.

Appropriate physical activity for 30 minutes a day reduces the rate of infertility due to ovulatory disorders and polycystic ovary syndrome in overweight and obese women.
Therefore, couples who want to increase their chances of getting pregnant naturally should choose a suitable sport to practice and prepare for pregnancy.
However, although physical activity is essential, too much activity or heavy exercise affects the ability to ovulate and reduce the possibility of pregnancy.
MORE: How to get pregnant fast?

Some notes when couples are trying to get pregnant are as follows:
Pregnancy is highest when the cervical mucus is clear, thin and most persistent; The ideal frequency of intercourse is 1 to 2 days apart; The position of intercourse does not affect the ability to get pregnant; Some lubricants are not good for sperm, so couples should do their research and choose the right lubricant (spermicide-free). Always keep your mind relaxed, reduce stress. Stress is a factor that affects fertility by causing many hormonal disorders in women. There are many factors that affect fertility. However, couples also have many methods to increase their chances of getting pregnant naturally if they apply the above methods. In addition, to be able to prepare for a healthy pregnancy, both husband and wife should have their reproductive health checked 3-5 months before becoming pregnant.
The wife should:
Get vaccinated before pregnancy (especially against rubella because rubella in pregnancy is extremely dangerous ) Genetic testing to screen for genetic diseases before pregnancy Check for secondary infections In particular, women over 35 years of age, if they want to become pregnant (especially if they have never been pregnant), will have to have a very detailed health check because pregnancy at this age often problems: Ovarian failure, premature birth, higher risk of birth defects, placenta previa, preeclampsia. The husband should:
Check reproductive health, detect diseases of testicular atrophy, physiological weakness, weak sperm... Sexually transmitted diseases, especially those that cannot be cured, are extremely dangerous.

Vinmec currently has many comprehensive health care programs for couples, pregnant mothers and their unborn babies, including basic pre-marital examination packages, advanced pre-marital examination packages, and maternity packages. . Vinmec has a team of experienced doctors in the fields of obstetrics and gynecology, IVF, stem cells, gene technology, capable of synchronously and comprehensively deploying the most advanced assisted reproductive techniques today.
For specific information about fertility and maternity packages at Vinmec, please contact the hospitals and clinics of Vinmec health system nationwide.