Not being able to conceive a child when you want or expect to can be very frustrating. But take some comfort in the statistics: Your chances of getting pregnant in any given month are actually pretty slim -- from about 25 percent if you are in your 20s, to 5 percent if you're older than 40. But when you look at the big picture, more than half of couples who try to conceive get pregnant within six months, and nearly 90 percent do within one year. Remember, infertility is the exception, not the rule. It may just be that you haven't been trying long enough.
While you wait, it's a good idea to take a look at your and your partner's lifestyle to be sure you're not doing anything to sabotage or slow down conception, like drinking too much alcohol or caffeine, smoking cigarettes or marijuana, having an unhealthy body weight, or using lubricants during sex (many brands create a hostile environment for sperm). If you're not doing so already, it also helps to track your monthly cycle (using an ovulation predictor kit or charting your basal body temperature) and be sure to time intercourse for right before you expect to ovulate.
And if you decide to seek treatment for fertility problems, the odds are still very much in your favor. Experiencing infertility usually means it just takes longer to get pregnant, not that you'll never be able to. Most couples treated for infertility do eventually conceive.
Copyright 2009
