For some people, getting pregnant seems to happen in the blink of an eye, so many of us end up thinking that's the norm. We are crazy cautious until we decide we are ready and then when it doesn't happen right away we become discouraged. But there's a lot of misinformation about ovulation and fertility floating around that has us all more than a little confused bout trying to conceive. Read on to find out more about getting pregnant.
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You probably don't ovulate on Day 14. The average menstrual cycle is 28 days long, so most women think they ovulate on day 14. In reality, that is just an average–for most women, it's a few days before or a few days after. Even if you have an average 28-day cycle as opposed to a perfectly normal 21- or 35-day cycle, you may ovulate on day 12 or even day 18. Every woman is different. Since you need to have sex around when you ovulate, it's a good idea to find out when you actually do.
It takes a while to regulate after birth control. If you've been on hormonal birth control for a while, it can take several months for your body to figure out exactly how to do things on its own. You may get pregnant your very first cycle off the pill–or it could take a while. Be patient, and let your body do what it needs to do.
On average it takes three months to conceive. Most couples conceive within three months of when they start trying, not the first month! We've all heard stories of women who conceived right away, or before they even started trying, or while on the pill, but those cases are not the norm.
You don't have to completely change your lifestyle. If you want to get fit, or stop drinking or start eating organic before or while you're trying to get pregnant, that's fantastic, but if not, that's okay too. Be easy on yourself while you're trying–there will be plenty of changes to make once your little one is on the way.
Stress can have a huge effect on fertility. Stress can have a pretty significant effect on your natural hormone levels, so it shouldn't be a surprise that it's likely to affect fertility. Definitely easier said than done, but try not to put so much pressure on yourself! Relax, get a massage, have a glass of wine, do yoga–whatever it takes.
Infertility isn't typically diagnosed for a year. Step away from Dr. Google and stop searching out fertility specialists. Most doctors won't see you until you've been trying for a year–especially if you don't have any other medical conditions that could affect fertility. Take it easy and know that for some people, it just takes time. If you hit that mark, and still haven't conceived, you shouldn't have a problem getting the help you need.
*Image via Thinkstock
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