The U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention recognize preconception care as an important factor of health care for all women of reproductive age, developing educational programs to improve both preconception health and pregnancy outcomes.

Some of these programs are aimed to reduce the misuse of alcohol and to quit smoking, although women are also taught to understand the problems associated to obesity, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), intimate partner violence, and exposure to occupational hazards, among others.

Most women in America and around the world do not realize that such factors affect their reproductive health and childbearing. If you want to get pregnant, a change or improvement in your lifestyle can contribute to conception and also reduce pregnancy risks.

Prenatal care is often out of a woman's plan when it comes to conceiving. Since the early moment when you and your partner begin to make plans for your future baby, prenatal care must take place.

A change of habits and a visit to your doctor to design your birth plan are just two of the basic steps towards a successful and happy pregnancy. Even though you can take care on your own empirically, the visit to a professional care will be always rewarding.

Planning pregnancy is also useful when you are suffering from chronic disease such as diabetes. An opportune plan will not only help you to improve your chances to conceive, but also reduce the risks associated to your condition that could be harmful for your developing baby.

If you are under a birth control method, talk to your doctor and allow from one to three months before assuming something is wrong if you cannot get pregnant. It takes a few months for your reproductive system to retake its normal ability to conceive.

The intake of a diet rich in folic acid is another of the factors contributing to increase your chances for pregnancy. Prenatal vitamins also serve as a prevention for birth defects and most doctors recommend the daily intake of a multivitamin with folic acid throughout your pregnancy.

Fertility can be monitored in different ways, including measuring your basal body temperature (BBT) or keeping track of your fertile period by means of an ovulation chart that determines when is the right time for having sexual intercourse with increasing chances of getting pregnant.

Eating well, avoiding caffeine, alcohol and xenoestrogens drugs, as well as including folic acid, vitamin C, zinc and calcium in your diet, contribute to increasing your chances for pregnancy, although you can just begin by trying different sexual positions so extra semen leaks to your reproductive system.

About the author:


For more information about improving your chances for conception and other preconception information you can check out preconception.org.uk