Top ten tips for getting pregnant

Dr Vicky O'Dwyer, special registrar in Obstetrics and Gynecology tells us her top 10 tips for getting pregnant. 

1. Make sure you’ve had a smear test in the last 3 years, if you are 25 years of age or older. Having a smear will detect precancerous cells that can be treated. A smear test is required for all women who undergo assisted fertility/ IVF.
2. Optimise your weight. Aim to have a normal BMI (18.5-24.9). Infertility and polycystic ovarian syndrome are more common in overweight and obese women. Pregnancy complications such as diabetes and high blood pressure are also more common in overweight and obese women.
3. Don’t smoke- cigarettes or cannabis. Smoking will affect your chances of conceiving and is also associated with pregnancy complications including small babies and intrauterine death.
4. Do your best to have a healthy diet and exercise frequently. 
5. Regular sexual intercourse. You need to have regular intercourse to increase your chances of getting pregnant during your fertile window. Sperm will live for 72 hours so if you have sexual intercourse 3 days before you ovulate you can still get pregnant.
6. Know your fertile window. If you have a 28-day menstrual cycle you are most fertile from day 11-17 (ovulation day 14). If you have a longer subtract 14 days from the cycle length to calculate the date of ovulation ie 35-day cycle, ovulation is day 21.
7. Don’t get stressed, enjoy trying to conceive.
8. Take folic acid. It is recommended that you take folic acid for 3 months prior to conception. You can get folic acid in all pharmacies without a prescription. Folic acid reduces the risk of neural tube defects such as anencephaly and spina bifida. Unfortunately unlike other countries Ireland does not fortify its bread with folic acid so supplementation is needed.
9. Tell your man to adopt a healthy lifestyle too. Semen production is affected by heat so avoid cycling and driving for hours. Sperm is also adversely affected by smoking and illicit drug use
10. If you have endometriosis and have been trying to conceive seek medical attention after one year. Otherwise you should seek medical advice after 2 years trying to conceive.