There are a great many factors that play a role for conception to occur.  Everything from the timing of intercourse to your age to your nutrition can impact whether or not you will be able to conceive.  Some of these factors are things that you may be able to do something about, in order to improve your chances of conception occurring.  Other factors are beyond your direct control, but may be addressed medically.  Finally, some of these factors are things that you just can’t do anything about.

One of the most important factors that plays a role for conception to occur is your age.  Women are most fertile in their twenties.  At the age of 30, their chances of conception occurring drop somewhat.  Again at 35, their chances for conception drop again.  By the age of 40, it can be extremely difficult for conception to occur.  Age is one of those factors that you can’t directly do anything about.  However, there are medications and procedures that can work around some of the aging factor in terms of conception.

When and how often you have intercourse plays a major role for conception to occur.  You can only become pregnant when you are ovulating.  Therefore, there have to be sperm in your body during ovulation for conception to occur.  Because sperm have a relatively short life, you need to time conception either during or just before ovulation.  How often you have intercourse plays a role for conception to occur as well, in that a man’s sperm reserve takes some time to build back up between ejaculations.  If he ejaculates too often, there will be fewer sperm that can cause conception.

There are other factors that play a role for conception to occur, as well.  For example, whether or not you have been pregnant before makes a difference.  If you are over- or under-weight, for example, you may also have a harder time conceiving.  If you smoke or abuse drugs or alcohol, it can keep conception from occurring, as well.  Even the amount of time that you have been trying to conceive plays a part.

• Do Hormones Play a Role in Fertility?
• Can Stress Play a Role in My Fertility?
• Can Depression Play a Role in My Fertility?
• How Soon After Ovulation Will Conception Occur?
• Will My Age Play a Factor In Getting Fertility Treatments?
• Does Weight Play a Role In Fertility?
• Hormones That Play A Part In Conception
• Can Spotting Occur During Conception?
• How Does Progesterone Play a Part in Fertility?
• What Role Does Cervical Mucus Play in Getting Pregnant?
• Trying to Conceive Newsletter Issue 15
• Role Insulin Plays in Conception

This entry was posted under Getting Pregnant.