How long does it take to get pregnant?

It makes sense: if you want to have a baby, you would naturally like to know exactly how long it takes to get pregnant. In general, we can say that about 80% of all couples get pregnant within a year of trying – provided that they have sexual intercourse at the right time in the cycle (during the fertile phase) and that there are no underlying physical problems. Of course, age also plays a big role: it usually takes longer to get pregnant as you get older. Since every single woman is different, however, it is very difficult to make general statements. Rather, each case should be considered individually.

Even statistics can only provide an estimate of probabilities. Statistics show that the average time to get pregnant is not the same for all women and therefore cannot give a ‘one size fits all’ time frame. It depends on very distinctive factors, such as age, the state of health of the woman (& her partner), genetic conditions, and even each couple’s life situation.
Statistically, women between the ages of 20 and 30 have the highest probability of becoming pregnant. The probability of becoming pregnant within 12 months is about 80%.
At the age of 20, the average time to get pregnant is about 6 months.
From the age of 30, the probability of getting pregnant quickly is already lower. The probability of becoming pregnant within 12 months then is still about 60%.
At the age of 32, the average time to get pregnant is about 12 months.
From the age of 40, the probability of becoming pregnant within 12 months is only about 30%. At the age of 45 and afterward, it is only about 5%. From the age of 50, it is quite unlikely to become pregnant.
At the age of 40, the average time to get pregnant is about 26 months.

We can totally relate: Many couples wonder what they can do to increase their chances of getting pregnant. Fortunately, there are many things you can do to create the right conditions for a successful conception. The following tips are mostly self-explanatory & apply to both partners, but we can’t stress them enough.

• It’s all about timing: correctly identifying the fertile window is essential when it comes to getting pregnant quickly. Couples who make the most of the full fertile window can significantly increase the chances of successful conception.
• A healthy diet plays a big role: Yes, unfortunately, there is no miracle cure that will get you pregnant right away. However, it is possible to support your body (and that of your partner) for successfully conceiving and to prepare it optimally for pregnancy through nutrition. Your diet should be balanced and healthy. For women, it is also important to sync their diet as well as possible with their menstrual cycle. Gut health also plays a major role when it comes to conception & pregnancy.
• Avoid stress: It is already known that severe stress (whether physical or psychological) can lead to hormonal imbalances in both women and men. This stress can have various causes. However, the result is always reduced fertility and thus lowered chances of pregnancy.

If you have been trying for a while and are wondering why you are not getting pregnant, it can of course be helpful to ask your doctor for advice. As a general rule, you should seek medical advice after a year of unsuccessful attempts. If you are older than 35, you can seek support after six months.

…from the age of about 26. It is no secret: women give birth to their first child later and later. Currently, the average age of first-time mothers is around 30. Arguments for this are extended periods of education and a greater focus on their career. However, it is important to note that many women, in a way, ‘overestimate’ their own fertility. Unfortunately, it is often wrongly assumed that physical fitness goes hand in hand with fertility. Unfortunately, it is not the case that fertility is extended simultaneously with increasing life expectancy. In cases of successful late pregnancies, it is unfortunately often not even questioned whether they have come about naturally or artificially. Of course, there are some factors that can negatively influence fertility (in women and men). However, the gradual ‘loss’ of eggs is a continuous process that already starts in the womb of the female fetus. At birth, about one million eggs are still present, while by the time of the first menstruation, only about half of them are left. With advancing age, the reserve of eggs gradually shrinks.

We can only emphasize again and again: unfortunately, there is no miracle cure that will make you fall pregnant straight away. However, it is possible to support your fertility (or at least not harm it) and prepare your body for a healthy pregnancy. If you want to get pregnant, you (and your partner) should pay attention to the following points that can influence fertility.

• It is important to:
  focus on a healthy diet with an abundance of plant-based, wholesome foods. This applies to both partners, but women should also try to sync their diet with their menstrual cycle.
• get sufficient & regular exercise to obtain a basic level of physical fitness
• get sufficient relaxation & enough quality sleep
• get an optimal supply of vitamins & minerals
• observe and get to know your menstrual cycle
• consciously have intercourse during the fertile days and enjoy it
• avoid stimulants and addictive substances (alcohol, coffee, and cigarettes)
• avoid severe weight fluctuations (diets). The ideal BMI is between 18.5 & 24.9.

A sufficient supply of vitamins and minerals is not only crucial for our general health but also when it comes to fertility. It is not only women’s fertility that is significantly affected. Studies have also shown that certain nutrients can increase the number and motility of sperm in men. Supplements can therefore be very helpful when you are trying to get pregnant. However, it is important to remember that much more research is still needed in this area.

You have probably already heard about it: folic acid is considered THE nutrient for all those who want to get pregnant. The reason for this? Women who do not get enough folic acid in their diet have a higher risk of their child being born with a neural tube defect. When we consider how a baby’s life begins – a single cell that divides over and over again – it makes sense that folic acid could help ensure that cell division, and therefore fetal development, goes well.

Basically, as soon as you stop taking the pill, contraceptive protection also ends. Theoretically, you can get pregnant right away. For many women, however, reality is very different. After all, one should not forget that the pill interferes significantly with the natural hormonal balance and thus with the cycle by ensuring that ovulation no longer takes place. Because of this, it is no surprise that it can take a while for your body to recover and your cycle to return to normal after you stop taking the pill. The following problems can occur after stopping the pill and can have a negative effect on successful conception:

 

• Cycles that are too short: ovulation does not take place at all or the egg cannot implant in the second half of the cycle.
• Cycles that are too long: If cycles are very long or irregular, it is usually very difficult to reliably determine the fertile window.
• Missed periods: If there is no bleeding at all, ovulation does not take place in most cases.

After stopping the pill, it is very important to support your body as much as possible and to pay attention to the signals your body is giving you. This also includes getting to know your own cycle well and living in harmony with the body’s cyclical patterns. After all, optimal fertility is the basic prerequisite for successful conception and pregnancy.

A cycle in which ovulation does not take place is also called an anovulatory cycle. As a result, fertilization (and also pregnancy) cannot occur.
Studies show that it is indeed the case that most women do not ovulate in one or two cycles per year. Most of the time they don’t even notice it. The bleeding that a woman experiences after an anovulatory cycle is usually an estrogen breakthrough bleeding. Cycles without ovulation occur most often at the beginning (in teenagers) and at the end of the childbearing years (before menopause). An occasional anovulatory cycle is not a cause for concern in most cases. Anovulatory cycles only become a problem if they occur chronically and/or if there is a very urgent wish to have a baby. After all, every cycle provides a new chance!