You’ve waited for the perfect time to have a baby. When you are ready, you ditch the birth control and wait to find out you are pregnant. Since we spend so much time worrying about getting pregnant too soon, we often expect that it will happen when we are ready.
If the first and second month pass without a positive pregnancy test, you may start wondering how long it should take to get pregnant? The answer isn’t really simple, unfortunately. There is a range of normal in terms of trying to conceive.
There are many factors that influence the amount of time it will take to get pregnant. Your overall health is one factor. Women in good physical condition often have an easier time conceiving than women in less than perfect health. If you have a health condition, speak to your doctor about how it may influence pregnancy.
Age is another factor in how long it will take to get pregnant. Younger women have an easier time conceiving, if there are no other factors preventing pregnancy. As women age, fertility naturally declines. It is normal for it to take longer to get pregnant if you are over the age of 35.
Infertility specialists recommend an evaluation if you haven’t conceived after a year of trying. Women over the age of 40 should see a doctor after 6 months. The reason for this is that if a problem is detected, the sooner treatment is started, the more likely you are to get pregnant.
While you are waiting to conceive, you can begin preparing for pregnancy. Start eating a healthy diet rich in fresh fruits, vegetables, protein and calcium. Include foods rich in folic acid and take a prenatal vitamin to be sure you are getting the right nutrients.
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