If youre trying to get pregnant, you know step one: Have unprotected sex.
And if not, is there something else you should be doing to increase your chances of conceiving instead?
Our experts:
How long does conception take?
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First, a little refresher on how one gets pregnant in the first place.
Semen is a mixture of fluid, special enzymes, and sperm.
Scientists think it takes about 30 to 45 minutes for the sperm to make that long trip.
Sperm is of course only one piece of the puzzle, as you also need ovulation to occur.
It doesnt technically matter if the sperm or the egg arrives first.
(This is why knowing your fertile days and when you are ovulating mattersmore on that below.)
If timing aligns and egg and sperm meet, its time for fertilization, baby.
If implantation is successful, a pregnancy begins to grow.
How long after sex does implantation occur?
Despite popular myths, lying down after sex does not increase the chances of pregnancy, says Dr. Bagdasarian.
Scientists discovered that there was pretty much no difference in the odds of getting pregnant between the two groups.
Of course, the study looked at intrauterine insemination and not at couples who had regular sex.
With women having regular intercourse, the ejaculate goes right up against the cervix, she explains.
And at your fertile time, the mucus is quite receptive to sperm right there.
Typical semen ejaculate has at least 15 million sperm cells per milliliter.
The female urethra is quite short in length.
Using ovulation predictor kits can help you identify your most fertile window.
How soon after unprotected sex can I test for pregnancy?
Trust me, I know.
I have been pregnant five times, and I dont always follow my own advice.
But its best to wait.
How long does it take to get pregnant?
One of the best predictors offertilityis age.
