This post was in partnership with Modern Fertility but all of the opinions within are those of The Everymom editorial board. We only recommend products we genuinely love.
"When you finally make the decision to start a family of your own, conception may be more of a process than anticipated. Despite what we were all told during our middle school sex talks, “have sex and get pregnant” is easier said than done. Sure, it’s possible to conceive your little bundle of joy without trying, but statistics show that over six million women in the United States between the ages of 15 and 44 have difficulty getting pregnant.
This might sound alarming, but there are plenty of things you can do to improve your chances of conception—and they don’t have to be painful, expensive, or time-consuming.
Whether you’ve fully committed to bringing a child into this world or you’re simply exploring the idea, we found some of the best things you can do when trying to conceive.
1. Find Clarity in Your Cycle
Conception comes with a whole lot of twists and turns, but if your goal is to get pregnant quickly, you want the process to be as clear as possible.
One of the easiest ways to eliminate some of the fogginess is by understanding your cycle, and ovulation tracking can get you there. Look at it this way: If you were shooting a bow and arrow for the first time, you wouldn’t do it blindfolded, right? The same thing applies to conception.
If pregnancy is your dream outcome, you want to put in the most effort when you’re ovulating. Unlike your period, ovulation comes with more subtle bodily changes, so pinpointing exactly when it occurs can sometimes feel like a shot in the dark. But predicting ovulation means you can time sex or insemination around the days you’re most likely to get pregnant—when there are higher chances that sperm will meet up with egg. Thankfully, there are easy-to-use tests that make predicting ovulation and your most fertile days smoother than you might think.
One of those tests is the Modern Fertility Ovulation Test, which helps you find your two most fertile days by detecting luteinizing hormone (LH) in your urine with 99 percent accuracy.* (LH surges about 24-48 hours before the ovary releases an egg, so it’s a very solid predictor of ovulation.) You don’t have to go to your OBGYN’s office either (because who wants to sit in a waiting room for two hours to pee in a cup for two seconds?). Available in a 20-pack of strips for just $16 (plus an extra 10% off with our link!), this ovulation test is delivered to your door in discreet packaging so your whole neighborhood won’t be asking about your baby-making endeavors.
Here are a few reasons this test stands out among the rest:
- Instructions are super straightforward and can be followed from the comfort of your own bathroom.
- The test detects low, high, and peak LH levels so you can identify your unique LH surge (instead of just positive and negative results).
- Pinpointing your unique LH surge helps you predict ovulation and your two most fertile days (the day of and the day after your surge).
- You can log all of your test strips in an easy-to-use app, making tracking your LH levels way simpler.
Source: Modern Fertility
Even with insight into your ovulation patterns, there is no absolute predictor of when you’ll get pregnant. This can make the process of trying to conceive pretty daunting.
In the same app you use to track your cycle, you’ll find a group called the Modern Community. Completely free and virtual, it offers people with ovaries an online space to talk about health, fears, fertility, careers, or whatever might come up during the conception journey.
Ovulation may be hard to detect, but the Modern Fertility Ovulation Test can detect LH with 99 percent accuracy. Instead of providing you with positive and negative results, these strips measure low, high, and peak LH levels to give you more insight into your cycle. One pack includes 20 strips and you can track your results in the free and easy-to-use Modern Fertility App. Click the link to get 10% off your first Modern Fertility order!
Modern Fertility
2. Talk to the Pros
It’s not the most exciting thing on the list, but with a decision as big as having a child, a visit to the doc is always a good idea. Speaking with an OBGYN in what’s called a “preconception checkup” will help you tackle any concerns you have about conception and pregnancy. A professional can also help you navigate any complications that may arise when you start trying to conceive.
While you can get the inside scoop on ovulation and pregnancy from the comfort of your own bathroom with at-home tests, a doctor has the ability to test for things that aren’t visible—like pre-existing conditions or underlying medical issues that might affect your ability to get pregnant. A thorough look at your medications, bloodwork, and lifestyle might also put your mind at ease, which can alleviate unhealthy stress.
If you want to get a leg up on that conversation, Modern Fertility also has an easy at-home Fertility Hormone Test that you can take to get a better understanding of how your levels of important reproductive hormones (like AMH and TSH) might impact your ability to conceive. You can even download your results and take them to your doctor to discuss what they mean for you and your plan.
3. Prioritize Healthy Habits
So you want to get pregnant, yes? One of the most important things you can do starting now is maintaining (or achieving) healthy habits.
Engaging in moderate exercise and physical activity can positively impact your fertility. What goes inside your body is also important—whether you’re planning ahead, trying to conceive, or already pregnant. In addition to incorporating fruits and vegetables into your system, you’ll also want to make sure you’re getting the right amount of nutrients to support pregnancy.
Most doctors agree that the best way to get these essential vitamins and minerals is through balanced eating, a prenatal vitamin can help you bridge gaps where nutrient levels in your body might be lacking. The Modern Fertility Prenatal Multivitamin is packed with 12 nutrients OBGYNs recommend to support you and your baby throughout conception and pregnancy.
A prenatal vitamin can help you bridge gaps where nutrient levels in your body might be lacking.
While most prenatal vitamins include the vitamins and minerals you need, there are a few reasons we turn to the one from Modern Fertility.
- OBGYNs recommend starting a prenatal at least one month before conception—and Modern Fertility designed theirs so you can take it (well) before, during, and after pregnancy.
- They include more digestible forms of each nutrient, making their prenatal easy on the stomach.
- The vitamins come in a refillable glass jar so you can feel good about what you’re putting in your body and into the environment (no more empty plastic bottles!).
- There’s a starter kit that includes your first month’s supply of the multivitamin, and you can sign up (or cancel) monthly refills after that.
Drugs, smoking, alcohol, and excessive caffeine are considered a no-go when you have a baby in your belly, so checking in with those habits as soon as possible is something most OBGYNs recommend. If you’re concerned about your health habits, you can always talk to your doc about counseling, supportive services, and treatment.
Packed with 12 essential nutrients recommended by OBGYNs, this multivitamin is designed to prepare your body for pregnancy—whether you’re trying to conceive or you’re already pregnant. They’re easy on the stomach since they include digestible forms of each nutrient, and the capsules come in an eco-friendly, refillable glass jar. After you sign up for your starter kit and subscribe to monthly refills, you can rest assured knowing you can cancel your plan at any time. Click the link to get 10% off your first Modern Fertility order!
Modern Fertility
Source: Modern Fertility
4. Banish the Guessing Game with an Accurate Pregnancy Test
Whether you’ve already timed your sex schedule with your cycle or your body is feeling a little “different,” taking a pregnancy test might be on your to-do list. But before you browse dozens of options at the convenience store (seriously, how are you supposed to know how to choose?), you can save some time by opting for one from Modern Fertility.
Most pregnancy tests are fairly similar, and Modern Fertility’s version is just as accurate as other top-selling tests on the market. The difference? This four-pack of tests costs only $14 (plus an extra 10% off with our link!).
While 99 percent accurate from the day of your missed period, you can start using the Modern Fertility Pregnancy Test as early as six days before your missed period, which can feel like a really long time if you’re waiting for a positive.
Affordable and easy to use, this home pregnancy test is just as accurate from the day of your missed period as other bestselling tests on the market. Plus, it can test for pregnancy six days before your missed period. Unlike the ones you’ll find at a store, this four-pack of tests (that retails for just $14) is delivered discreetly to your door and comes with a free app that gives you a countdown for when to test next. Click the link to get 10% off your first Modern Fertility order!
Modern Fertility
5. Find a Solid Support System
When you’re trying to conceive, the process can feel daunting, confusing, and draining. And if you’re doing it alone, the weight of everything might be enough to leave you wondering if it’s all worth it. That’s why it’s imperative to find a support system you can lean on when things get tough.
Whether it’s a family member, a neighborhood group, or an online forum, discovering a community of people who are going through the same process is a great way to make conception less overwhelming. If you don’t have a supportive individual or community in mind, your OBGYN can offer you resources or point you in the right direction.
Not only is a support system helpful if you have some burning questions on your mind, but it will also provide you a safe place to voice your fears, concerns, or somewhat embarrassing questions (because they’re bound to come up).
*99% accurate at detecting the LH concentrations shown on the chart in laboratory studies.
This post was in partnership with Modern Fertility but all of the opinions within are those of The Everymom editorial board. We only recommend products we genuinely love.