Get the real numbers on how likely you are to get pregnant at each month, at every age, and how to increase those odds. Show When you’re trying to conceive, it can feel like everyone around you is getting pregnant without even trying. It can be heart-rending, but it’s important to know that most couples don’t get pregnant in one shot.
 How long does it take to get pregnant? According to Yolanda Kirkham, an OB-GYN at Women’s College Hospital and St. Joseph’s Health Centre in Toronto, your chances of conceiving each cycle you try are 25 to 30 percent if you’re under 35, eight to 15 percent if you’re 35 to 39, five percent if you’re 40 to 42 and one to two percent at age 43. Age affects not only fertility rates but also miscarriage rates, which go up from around 10 percent in your 20s to 15 percent after age 35 and up to 50 percent by age 45. It’s worth tracking your ovulation to improve your odds: According to a 2003 study published in the journal Human Reproduction, when 346 women ages 20 to 44 timed their intercourse to help them conceive, they had a 38 percent chance of conceiving in one cycle, a 68 percent chance within three cycles, an 81 percent chance within six cycles and a 92 percent chance of getting pregnant within 12 cycles. In general, Kirkham says 85 percent of women will get pregnant within one year of trying. But if you have been trying for a year without conceiving and are under 35, she suggests that you seek a fertility consultation. If you’re 35 or older, you should seek help after just six months of trying because egg quality declines and medical conditions become more prevalent as we age, so the likelihood that you may need some fertility help is higher. Still, this doesn’t mean you need to look at other fertility options at this point, says Kirkham. “It’s just to see if your intercourse timing is correct and if there are other factors that need to be looked at,” she says. Those factors could include your hormones and the quality of your partner’s sperm. How do you know if your timing is right? You can find out when you ovulate by counting 14 days back from when you get your period or looking for other signs of ovulation, such as an egg-white-like mucus. Kirkham recommends having intercourse every other day in the time leading up to ovulation. Since sperm can survive for about three days, this will help ensure that there is sperm at the ready when your egg is released. While it’s helpful to know these stats so that you’ll recognize when it’s time to seek help, Kirkham says it’s important to not get too hung up on the numbers. “We aren’t robots,” she says. Every woman or couple has their own individual risk factors that can affect their probability of conceiving, and a healthcare provider can help sort out what those might be and what can be done about them. Even if you are among the 12 to 16 percent of Canadians who don’t get pregnant within the first year, meeting with a doctor to test for specific problems and explore other fertility options can increase your chances of having a baby. Read more: When trying to conceive, it can be helpful to know when ovulation occurs and when a person is most fertile. Some people may wish to track their fertile window to avoid pregnancy. Females are most fertile within a day or two of ovulation, which is when the ovaries release an egg. But, it is possible to get pregnant in the days leading up to ovulation, as sperm can survive for several days inside the female body. The days during the menstrual cycle when a person is least likely to get pregnant are known as the ‘safe period.’ This article describes how to calculate the fertile window to aid or avoid conception. The average person’s menstrual cycle is between 28–32 days. Some people have shorter cycles, while others have much longer ones. The first day of a person’s period is considered the first day of their menstrual cycle. Their period then typically lasts 3–7 days. Variations in the menstrual cycle usually happen in the follicular phase that occurs before ovulation. Ovulation occurs when one of the ovaries releases an egg. After release, the egg moves to the fallopian tube, where it will travel to the uterus, which takes about 24 hours. Pregnancy occurs if sperm travels to the fallopian tube and fertilizes the egg. If sperm does not fertilize the egg, the egg moves to the uterus and breaks down, ready to leave the body during the next menstrual period. Learn more about sperm here. Calculating ovulationAccording to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, ovulation occurs around 14 days before a person expects to have their next period if their monthly cycle is 28 days. Most people ovulate between days 11–21 of their cycle. The first day of their last menstrual period (LMP) is day 1 of the cycle. Ovulation does not always occur on the same day every month and can vary by a day or more on either side of the expected date. Doctors call the part of the cycle around ovulation the fertile window because the chance of pregnancy is highest at this time. For example, if ovulation occurs on day 14, a person can conceive on that day or within the following 24 hours. However, their fertile window begins a few days before ovulation because sperm can survive for up to 5 days inside the female body. So, even if a person does not have sex on day 14 or 15, it is still possible to become pregnant if they had sex without using contraception on days 9-13. According to research from 2018, the likelihood of conception rises from day 8, reaching its maximum on day 13 and decreasing to zero by day 30. However, It is essential to note that these findings should only act as a guideline. Every person and every cycle is different. It can be helpful for a person to chart their monthly cycle and take note of the signs of ovulation to help pinpoint the exact day of ovulation each month. Learn more about ovulation here. Signs of ovulationTracking the signs of ovulation can help someone determine the precise day they ovulate each month. Signs include:
Some of these signs, such as basal body temperature, will continue to change after ovulation. For this reason, a person should not use temperature to predict the fertile window. It may be helpful for someone to track the signs over a few months to get an idea of what is typical for their body. But they should keep in mind that there are several variables, and the timing of ovulation can change, month-to-month. Another option is to use an ovulation predictor kit or fertility monitor. Fertility aids measure the levels of specific hormones in the urine to determine the ovulation day each month. Some devices also identify days of peak fertility. Using a combination of these methods may provide an individual with the best accuracy. The following table, based on research from 2015, summarizes a typical menstrual cycle and how fertile a person is likely to be at each stage: To get a more specific range of highest fertility windows based on the day of ovulation, a person can track the first day of their last period in a pregnancy calculator. Learn more about how to track ovulation here. To maximize the chances of becoming pregnant, a person should time sexual intercourse to occur during the 2–3 days leading up to, and including, ovulation. Having sexual intercourse on any of these days may provide a 20–30% chance of pregnancy. Other tips to improve the chances of conception include:
A doctor can assess a couple’s overall health and may be able to identify methods to improve the probability of conception. Learn more about infertility in males and females here. What can affect male fertility?Even if a person is having regular sexual intercourse and tracking ovulation, there can be reasons why the sperm cannot reach the egg. Causes of male infertility include:
There are a variety of medical conditions that can cause any of these problems with male fertility, including a hormonal imbalance, infection or injury to the testicles, surgery in the area, and diseases such as cancer. Learn more about sperm count here. Some people may wish to track their fertility to prevent pregnancy. This is known as the fertility awareness method. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) charts fertility awareness-based methods of contraception as having a 24% failure rate with typical use. The chances of pregnancy are lowest during a person’s period and on the days on either side of the period. However, they may still become pregnant if they have ovulated early or late in their cycle, as sperm can survive in the body for several days. People wishing to use the fertility awareness method should speak with their doctor first. Learn more about the types of contraception available here. Ovulation and the fertile window can change from cycle to cycle, but they may also alter with age. Fertility naturally begins to decline in females in their 30s. By age 40, a person’s chance of conceiving drops to 10% per cycle. The number of eggs and egg quality decrease with age. Ovulation may also become irregular. Birth control pills aim to prevent unintended pregnancy. The pill prevents pregnancy by releasing synthetic hormones that stop ovulation from occurring and the uterus lining from thickening. So, even if the ovaries do release an egg, a fertilized egg would be unable to implant in the wall of the uterus. The pill also thickens cervical mucus, making it harder for sperm to reach an egg. Females who track their fertile window with the aim of getting pregnant should see their doctor for preconception planning. As well as identifying barriers to conceiving, a doctor can advise on the use of folic acid or prenatal supplements to encourage a safe pregnancy. Most couples who have frequent sex without contraception will conceive within 12 months. Women under 35 years of age should see their doctor if they do not conceive after a year of trying. Those over 35 years of age should seek medical advice after 6 months of trying to conceive. Anyone who has irregular cycles or does not appear to ovulate should also speak with their doctor. There may be an underlying medical cause that is preventing ovulation and conception. Learn more about irregular periods and pregnancy here. Here are the answers to some frequently asked questions about when pregnancy can occur. Can I get pregnant 2 days before my period?Can I get pregnant on my period?Although pregnancy is still possible, a female is less fertile while on their period. Learn more about getting pregnant during a period here. How many days after your period can you get pregnant?A female can get pregnant at any time during her menstrual cycle. The likelihood of pregnancy is highest during ovulation, which is typically days 10-14. Intermenstrual bleeding can occur between periods. To pinpoint the start of a menstrual cycle, a female must correctly identify their actual period.
Each person’s menstrual cycle is different. Generally, it lasts 28–32 days. A person is at their most fertile during ovulation, which occurs around days 10–14. A person can calculate the exact days of ovulation each month by counting from the first day of their period. However, certain medical conditions may affect ovulation or impact the sperm’s ability to reach the egg. People who have been unable to conceive for over a year should talk with a fertility specialist. Read the article in Spanish. |
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