Common Mistakes When Trying to Conceive

Pregnancy is a natural function of the body, so most patients expect that conception will come easily once the decision has been made to conceive. In reality, pregnancy rarely happens as quickly or as easily as patients expect. At Dr. Sonja Kristiansen’s Houston fertility center, the entire staff is trained to diagnose infertility problems and offer appropriate treatment. However, there are also cases in which the source of difficulty is attributed to one of several mistakes that are commonly made by patients who are trying to conceive. When attempts at conception have been unsuccessful, patients in Houston should consider if they have been making these common pregnancy mistakes.

• Timing: Many women are actually misinformed about the body’s ovulation cycle. In a 28-day cycle, the average woman ovulates on day 14. Because each woman’s cycle may vary slightly, the best way to determine ovulation is to count 14 days backwards from the start of the period. Using this technique can help a woman with a regular cycle estimate when ovulation will occur in the upcoming month.
• Having sex only on the day of ovulation: While it is good to have an accurate idea of when ovulation will occur, this should not be the only day that conception is attempted. Even a woman with a regular cycle may ovulate a day or two before or after the estimated day of ovulation. Dr. Kristiansen recommends that patients have sex beginning four to six days before the estimated day of ovulation and continue attempts until four to six days after ovulation.
• Having sex every day: While it may sound strange, having sex every day can actually hurt couples’ chances of conceiving. The body needs time to recover from sex so if the couple is having sex on a daily basis, the man’s sperm count can actually decrease, making it more difficult to conceive.
• Poor emotional or physical well-being: Emotional and physical health is very important when trying to conceive. Stress, poor nutrition, and being either over- or under- weight are all factors that can make it difficult to conceive. Dr. Kristiansen offers her patients nutritional training, emotional counseling, and acupuncture as additional treatments that can put couples in the right physical and emotional state for conception.
• Waiting too long to try: Many couples are seeking parenthood later in life. While it is important to establish a stable relationship, successful career, sound finances, etc., do not ignore the body’s natural fertility clock. The ability to conceive drops about 50 percent between the ages of 20 and 40, so age is an important factor in determining when to attempt pregnancy.
• Waiting too long to seek help: If pregnancy has not come as easily as patients desire, they should not be ashamed to seek help. If a patient has been unsuccessful in conceiving after trying for a year or if extenuating circumstances exist (advanced age, short or long menstrual cycles, or painful and heavy periods), she should see a specialist at her earliest convenience. At the fertility center of Dr. Sonja Kristiansen in Houston, in vitro fertilization and other fertility treatments can help couples finally achieve the dream of parenthood.
• Assuming the problem is with the female: Once couples are ready to seek help, many assume that the woman is the source of infertility. It is actually just as likely that the male may have fertility problems. Dr. Kristiansen offers exams and fertility treatment for both male and female patients.

Schedule a Consultation

Facing infertility can be a difficult challenge for couples. At Dr. Sonja Kristiansen’s Houston fertility center, a highly trained staff is here to help. Dr. Kristiansen and her team can help determine the cause of infertility and guide patients through the treatment options available. Schedule a consultation with Dr. Kristiansen to begin on the road to parenthood.