So you have been thinking back and forth about It, you've discussed It with your partner - maybe even with your parents and friends. You've probably devoured all the information that Google can provide. You may have thought about timing, your goals in life, your work, your monetary situation, healthcare, and a number of other factors that should be considered. You have probably been over every thought a million times over. And you are as sure as you’ll ever be: you want to get pregnant.

Well, congratulations! You have taken the first step towards trying to conceive. That’s right, trying to conceive. While there are many things in life you can plan, ‘getting pregnant’ is not one of them. This is all up to nature. However, there are ways to help nature help you.

Timing

So, how do you get pregnant? Depending on your cycle, which can vary anywhere between 24 and 36 days, and how regularly you menstruate, every woman has a window of opportunity. This window is during the five days leading to, and on the day of, ovulation. When you know your cycle, you should be able to calculate when you will ovulate and what your days of fertility are. There are ways to calculate when your body is most fertile. You can do it yourself, or use the Pregly ovulation calculator. Some women may even feel it when they are ovulating. Ovulation occurs somewhere between 12-14 days after your period. If you have a cycle of 22 days, you will ovulate within days after your menstruation. If you have a cycle of 36 days, it can take more than 16 days before you ovulate. Therefore, the best course of action would be to have sexual intercourse every three days.

Diet

Aside from having sex every three days, it's good to adjust your diet and make sure you are well rested. This doesn’t mean you have to quit exercising or going to bed at half past eight. But it does mean that you should actively work on keeping your stress level as low as possible. Stop smoking, lower your alcohol intake or quit altogether (good exercise for when you are pregnant), and start taking folic acid three months before you want to become pregnant.

Research has shown that most (80%) women conceive during the first year. Of the 20% who don’t conceive during that first year, another 20% will conceive within the second year. After trying for a year without conceiving, or after suffering more than three miscarriages, you should contact your physician.