If you have been trying to get pregnant for a few months without success, you might be getting discouraged and even a little bit worried.
But, don’t be hasty and become stressed about the whole thing. Chances are that you will conceive within a year, because the law of averages is on your side. Statistically, most couples will conceive within one year.
Research tells us that the average couple trying to get pregnant has only about a 20% chance during each monthly cycle. So, this means that your chances of becoming pregnant the first or even the second month of trying aren’t all that great.
Research also tells us that 95% of couples will conceive within 13 months.
So, unless you have been trying to get pregnant for longer than 13 months, there is no need to borrow trouble and panic prematurely.
If you have been trying to conceive for a year or longer, it may be time to seek medical advice. Here are some common factors that can affect reproductive performance:
- The age of the mother. A woman 35 years or older has more trouble getting pregnant due to decreasing egg supply and the age of the eggs.
- The age of the father. Contrary to popular opinion, although men do not become—strictly speaking—infertile with age, it can still play a part in reproductive success simply because many men with age experience a slow down in libido. Hence, sexual intercourse is apt to happen less often, which will lessen the odds of pregnancy.
- Frequency of intercourse. Some couples do not have intercourse often enough for there to be a good chance of pregnancy occurring. Ideally, having sex every 2-3 days is best when you are trying to conceive.
- Douching. Though mistakenly used for birth control at times, douching will not prevent pregnancy in normal couples, but it might be enough to prevent conception in couples with marginal fertility.
There are more factors that can affect reproductive success.
Here is a graph that shows the likelihood of getting pregnant within a year for women with normal fertility having unprotected sexual intercourse.
Source: Management of the Infertile Woman by Helen A. Carcio and The Fertility Sourcebook by M. Sara Rosenthal
Factors That May Affect Reproductive Performance Part 2
Factors Affecting Reproductive Performance Part 3
How Successful is Assisted Reproductive Technology?
Treatment Options for Unexplained Infertility