Getting pregnant is not an imminent occurrence as we would like to believe; in fact, a whopping 7.3 million couples are trying in vain to have a baby. However, doctors will not deem a couple to be infertile unless they have been trying to conceive for six months, if over the age of 35 years, and for 1 year if the couple is under 35.

While there are a myriad of options for people who want to have their own bundle of joy like in vitro fertilization, test tube baby and more, these treatments can burn a huge hole in your pocket. Fortunately, a lot can be done to augment your chances of conceiving naturally in the 6 months to 1 year time that you have before you need to seek medical intervention. Here are some tried and tested tips on increasing fertility for both men and women.

How can women increase their chances of getting pregnant?

Watch your weight: Not only obesity but also being underweight can hamper your chances of getting pregnant. A study on preconception weight revealed that a BMI range of 18.5 to 24.9 is considered normal while 25 to 29.9 range is overweight and 30 or higher should be slotted into the obese category. It was found that a higher than normal BMI of 25 to 39 increased the time needed for conception by almost twofold while women with a lower BMI stood a lower chance of conception with the time needed to get pregnant increasing by four times.

Watch your eating habits and go slow on beverages: Healthy eating will not only help you to keep your weight in check but also the vital nutrients and minerals in a well balanced meal will augment your chances of conceiving naturally. It is also imperative to cut down on your intake of beverages; particularly those that contain caffeine. Fertility experts claim that 5 cups of coffee a day can put a whopping 500 milligrams of caffeine in your bloodstream which can significantly lower your fertility. However, moderate coffee consumption can actually improve your chances of getting pregnant; keep your daily caffeine intake at 200 to 250 milligrams and you should be fine.

Higher levels of alcohol in the blood stream can also prove detrimental, so moderation is the key here as well. When trying to get pregnant, do not consume more than one drink a day and cut out alcohol completely once you conceive.

Exercise daily: Light to moderate exercise helps to eliminate stress and the resultant hormonal imbalance which may be affecting your chances of motherhood. In fact, the holistic approaches of yoga and meditation are known to calm the mind and often provide miraculous results to couples who are trying to get pregnant.

Fertility increasing tips for men

Protect your sperm producing organs and your sperms: Research has revealed that factors which influence scrotal temperature can impact male fertility. For instance, continual exposure to high heat in industrial settings, sitting on heated car seats, laptop computers or cell phones placed on the lap and even tight underwear can markedly reduce the sperm count. So, go for boxers over briefs, sleep naked at night, and don’t use a hot tub too frequently to keep those family jewels cool. The quality of your sperms will also make a difference: Partial male infertility can also be attributed to the quality of sperms which includes their size, shape and mobility. Scrotal temperature will also have a bearing on sperm quality along with other lifestyle aspects such as eating habits etc.

Tips for him and her

Smoking is truly injurious to your health: Fertility can be gravely impacted by nicotine and other toxins in cigarettes. In men, smoking can reduce the sperm count and damage the DNA that they carry. In women, nicotine addiction impacts the receptivity of the uterus to the egg. If already pregnant, smoking significantly increases the risk of miscarriage.

Take advantage of the fertile window: This is the defined as the six day duration that ends on the day of ovulation. A lot of couples wait to have intercourse on the day of ovulation or later in the hopes of increasing their chances of getting pregnant. However, according to experts, this is the wrong approach. Instead, they recommend early intercourse over later. You can keep track of the ovulation cycle with an ovulation predictor kit or by using the calendar method. Ovulation generally occurs 14 days before the first day of menstruation. You are most likely to get pregnant if you have intercourse within three days before ovulation.

The frequency of lovemaking: A lot of couples try to save up their sperms by avoiding sex for several days or overdo things with daily love making sessions. While the former approach can adversely impact sperm count if you try to hold off intercourse for more than 5 days, nothing indicates that making love everyday can lead to quick conception. In fact, intercourse every alternate day can produce the same results as daily love making. Be careful with the lubricants: All water based lubricants like KY Jelly have spermicides which reduce the mobility of sperms by 60% to 100%. So, go natural and use peanut or canola oil for lubrication.

Go missionary: The position of love making can also impact conception to some degree. The missionary position is the best if you are trying to get pregnant as it deposits the sperms close to the cervix, making the journey to the egg shorter for those small boys. On the other hand, the woman on top position may not work as well simply because your sperms will give into the effect of gravity and fall out.

These simple measures are deceptively effective and can help you to realize your coveted dream of having your own child. Start incorporating these measures in your life today before you consider expensive infertility treatments and who knows, maybe in the next few months you may delightedly announce your pregnancy to your friends and family.