Overview
No body gets pregnant as soon as they start the intercourse. For some people it takes few days and for other people it takes few months. It all depends on their body functioning. Remember, we don’t know your timing and just because we don’t know why someone’s timing might be different from someone else’s timing, we still need to be aware of the circumstances and what works for you.
There are many reasons we may try to control our own fertility. The sooner we can understand what causes our infertility and what we can do about it, the sooner we can start the process of taking control of our own fertility. It also depends on how often you go through sex to get pregnant.
There might be social, environmental, emotional, or genetic factors that go into what makes one couple’s timing different from another. If you are seeking information about your timing, you might want to see if you can help discover your own timing. For example, have you been practicing abstinence and intercourse in hopes of getting pregnant? Talk to your partner or friend about what you did to be successful and what you did wrong in hopes of adding to your success.
What is fertility?
Fertility is all about giving birth to a child or developing a fetus. A fertility is a reproductive cycle in which the fertilization of the egg precedes the development into a fetus. Generally fertilization takes place when a couple has sex & when the woman is ovulating or few days before ovulation. When you have sex during that time there are chances of getting pregnant. Your first day of your period is about 6 to 8 days after ovulation. There are several days you could be pregnant after this, but it’s usually not possible to get pregnant until after your next period. Some studies say you can get pregnant two days after ovulation.
What do we know about infertility?
Infertility is a condition that occurs when an individual’s egg and sperm do not meet, which is often the result of non-standard reproductive techniques (such as in vitro fertilization). It is sometimes accompanied by other problems, such as unexplained swelling of the Fallopian tubes, abnormal cell development, and infertility.
This condition is less common in women than in men and can lead to recurrent pregnancy loss. Women with infertility need effective treatment to ensure their chance of having a baby with a healthy genetic makeup. One of the most common methods used to treat infertility is called intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), but also uses a common family planning technique known as ICSI. A woman can use ICSI at home to have multiple IVF treatments over several cycles. At each visit, she will have her egg retrieval and fertilization with a sperm sample.
When her eggs are fertilized, she will have an embryo transferred to her womb, where she will give birth to a healthy baby.
- Some of the most common problems associated with infertility treatments are: increasing hormone levels (treating PMS and menstrual cramps)
- unwanted pregnancy
- low sperm count
- cysts in the fallopian tubes
- inadequate egg production, and scarring on ovaries.
In some cases, infertility may have been diagnosed as early as the third trimester. In such cases, the next available IVF treatment will be the use of a donor egg. The safest way to deliver a healthy baby is to give your doctor your primary embryo, implant it in your uterus, and then use ICSI to remove the existing egg, leaving a fresh human being, who can produce healthy eggs if the situation arises again.
What are the causes of male infertility?
For most couples, male infertility is caused by an infection, such as, an infection with the chlamydia, gonorrhea, or syphilis. If your testicle doesn’t produce a sperm at the time of intercourse, this can indicate an infection with the testicle. It can also be caused by a congenital problem with your testicles, such as a congenital cyst (gland) in your scrotum (the area around the testicles) that can block the testicles from producing sperm.
The spermatozoa from your testicles stay inside your testicles and enter your urethra (the tube that carries urine from the bladder).
Sometimes called cysts, these cysts don’t cause any harm. However, they do prevent your sperm from flowing freely, which can affect the quality and amount of sperm you produce. If you are having problems with your fertility, make sure to see your doctor if you notice any change in your fertility.
What are the causes of female infertility?
Ovulation can considered as the main problem for infertility in women. If you do not ovulate you cannot release an egg and thereby you remain infertile.
Ovulation problems are sometimes caused by problems during the different stages of the menstrual cycle. There are three main stages: ovulation, follicular phase, and luteal phase. Insufficient follicular development or too much luteal development can also lead to failure to ovulate. It doesn’t always happen that way, and some women may not ovulate at all.
Anovulation
Anovulation is when the ovaries do not release an egg from each ovary, making the eggs ineffective. Eggs are usually released during the time of the menstrual cycle. The ovaries are made of numerous small follicles, when an ovum is released by these ovaries, it travels down the fallopian tubes into the uterus.
While most ovaries will release an egg at the same time, some will remain in the follicles until the next menstrual cycle, or may not be released at all.
Anovulation may be caused by an ovarian cyst, ovarian tumors, ovarian cysts, or ovarian failure.
Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) is released from the pituitary gland, which stimulates the ovaries to release eggs.
Endometriosis
Endometriosis is a disorder in which tissue that normally lines the uterus is found outside the uterus. It is extremely painful, usually in a particular part of the pelvis, and may last for years. While the cause is unclear, it is thought to have a number of potential causes including endocrine, uterine, and immune system abnormalities, as well as trauma and injury. It is estimated that 5 to 10 percent of women of reproductive age have endometriosis.
Women with endometriosis may have problems with menstrual cycles or with other physical symptoms. Some have a blockage of the fallopian tubes.
Unexplained infertility
Some people may have high levels of hormones produced in the body that can cause infertility. Others may have a genetic disorder that causes other serious health problems. With years of therapy and fertility treatments, the chances of finding a cause for infertility have improved dramatically.
Physical problems that may cause infertility
One of the most common causes of unexplained infertility is an underlying health problem. Some medical conditions, including obesity, diabetes, autoimmune disease and premenstrual syndrome, can increase a woman’s risk of getting unplanned pregnancies. Others may be caused by a combination of factors. Disabilities may restrict a woman’s range of motion or lead to impairment of other organs. Cholesterol problems or neurological problems may result in heart or muscle problems, and a health problem that prevents a woman from being able to breast-feed may increase a woman’s risk of getting an unplanned pregnancy. Influenza, hemorrhoids, diabetes or kidney disease are some of the most common physical problems that can affect a woman’s ability to get pregnant.
When the ovum comes out (ovulation)
Even if a woman is unable to get pregnant, there is a 50 percent chance that at least one of her eggs will be successfully fertilized. Ovulation may be occasional or it may be very regular. Some women may not ovulate at all and ovulation may occur only in very specific circumstances. The exact time of ovulation can be as little as five days before the start of her menstrual period. This is known as an ovulation.
Time taken to get pregnancy
It’s normal for people to want to know how long it takes for the eggs to develop during their menstrual cycle. The conventional thinking is that the egg undergoes a process known as “ovulation” and the body produces a new egg every month, one that will then be released during your next period. This theory has long been debated, but research has proved that this theory is not correct. The likelihood of having children drops by 20 percent for every year older you are, according to a study in the Journal of Adolescent Health.
- Hispanic women have the highest chance of getting pregnant by age 35.
- Filipinos are second at age 35.
- American women have the lowest chance of conceiving by age 35.
- Filipino women have the highest at age 35.
- New York women have the highest chance of having a baby by age 35.
Does it matter if you’re fertile?
It makes a difference whether or not you’re fertile. The hormones that tell your body to release eggs willmake you more likely to ovulate if you’re fertile, and less likely if you’re not. Furthermore, because your ovaries go through a change in size during your menstrual cycle, it makes sense that your ovaries have their own individual cycle, which is different from the cycle your body has a year or two earlier.
How can I tell if I’m ovulating?
There are two signs that can tell if you’re ovulating or not.
- First, your periods will become heavier and you’ll feel more aroused. And your mood will brighten.
- The second sign that you’re ovulating is when your vagina becomes wet and lubricated. During your period, your vagina usually is more sensitive to touch than it is at other times. So it will feel wet and slippery when you’re at your most fertile stage.
Treatment
Most fertility specialists recommend the following treatment modalities: If pregnancy is possible, try to find the cause of infertility.
An alternative to infertility diagnosis and treatment is gamete intrafallopian transfer (GIFT), in which eggs are placed into the fallopian tubes of the embryo so that the embryo can grow in the fallopian tube and implant in the uterus. In pregnancy, the Fallopian tube continues to form and widen after conception. In women, such procedures are only recommended for advanced or chronic infertility. These approaches have no proven benefits for people with complete infertility.
Several types of infertility treatments exist, but they each have both pros and cons.
Pelvic floor stimulation (PFS) for Men
Pelvic floor stimulation (PFS) involves using electric stimulation to help stimulate the man’s pelvic floor muscles to overcome an erectile problem. This has been shown to be effective in about 40 percent of men with non-reproductive infertility.
What exactly is pregnancy ‘?
Pregnancy occurs when a human egg develops into an embryo – a genetically complete zygote, which is called a ‘germ cell’ or ‘fetus’ – and implants into the lining of the uterus.”
This process can take anywhere from 7 to 10 weeks from fertilization to implantation.
What is the most common way to know you’re pregnant?
That is easier said than done, but since a lot of women don’t know they are pregnant until they are very far along, most of you will be able to figure it out.
If you are feeling extra tired and cranky and can’t keep food down, don’t wait to take a test.
Or a million different other signs will likely be staring you in the face.
Somewhere in the middle of your 3rd trimester, you will be able to feel your baby move in your tummy. The movement isn’t very strong at first, but it will get stronger as the child grows.
As you reach the end of your pregnancy, your baby is now up to at least 10 lbs, and you’ll probably be able to see the movement of the legs and the head.
Bottom Line
Pregnancy doesn’t start the day you have sex or even the day you conceive. The earliest stage of pregnancy is the fertilized egg (progesterone and estrogen) attaching to the uterus.
After that, the uterine lining (endometrium) takes over and begins thickening. It actually forms during the first three weeks, right after the egg fertilizes the ovum (egg) and two days before ovulation.
But that doesn’t mean pregnancy is automatically imminent after the lining begins to thicken.
After ovulation has occurred and after your body has made the deposit (aka, made you a potential egg donor), pregnancy can happen with no intervention, meaning no ovulation, no intercourse, and no unprotected sex.
But it isn’t guaranteed and with a lot of effort and waiting.
So, from the time that egg is fertilized until the lining has formed enough to implant, you can have a very long and miserable waiting period.
Sirisha B