How to get pregnant more quickly?

A fertile couple aged 25 has a 25% probability of achieving a positive pregnancy test each menstrual cycle. This likelihood of pregnancy then decreases with age. Infertility affects 5% of women aged 25, rising to 50% at age 40.

Today in France, it is considered that 20% of couples are affected by this issue, and this percentage has increased in recent years. Likely contributing factors include: the environment, endocrine disruptors, excess weight, and age.

If after 12–24 months of trying for a baby (6 months if the woman is under 35) with regular sexual intercourse (2 to 3 times per week), there is still a negative pregnancy test, it is advisable for the couple to consult a doctor.

"First, do no harm": our environment matters when we're trying to conceive. There's no secret — a healthy lifestyle will greatly support conception. The egg from the current cycle reflects our health from three months ago, so maintaining a healthy lifestyle over the long term is essential for getting pregnant. 

No matter how good the "best dietary supplement to get pregnant", acting on your environment remains essential. 

Here are some practical tips on how your environment can support your fertility — small changes you can put in place every day. 

A healthy lifestyle to boost your fertility

No tobacco, no alcohol or cannabis.

Aim for a balanced diet, ideally organic (to avoid endocrine disruptors such as pesticides). 

Favour foods with a low glycaemic index, rich in omega-3s, vitamins and antioxidants

Don't forget folates either, which support cell multiplication.

Avoid pollutants 

We are surrounded by pollutants of all kinds — sometimes chemical substances, electromagnetic waves. Endocrine disruptors are often xenoestrogens: they act on our hormonal receptors, influencing the processes of synthesis, secretion, transport, storage, release, action or elimination of hormones. They can disrupt the hormonal cycle and also lead to a decline in ovarian reserve.

We often think that being exposed to very small amounts of endocrine disruptors means we're out of danger. Yet our own endocrine system functions with tiny quantities of hormones, and equally tiny quantities of endocrine disruptors can significantly disrupt our hormonal balance. So do pay attention to the products you use and their ingredients. 

Exercise (in moderation) to increase your chances of pregnancy

Moving helps manage stress, which disrupts our hormonal and endocrine balance.

Movement helps regulate blood sugar levels, which are the cornerstone of hormonal balance.

That said, be mindful of overly intense physical activity, which can reduce your chances of conceiving.

Reduce stress 

Under the effect of stress, the production of FSH and LH hormones is disrupted — yet these are the two hormones that trigger ovulation. 

Don't hesitate to take time for yourself — try yoga, meditation, breathing exercises… whatever feels good for you!

Sophrology can also be a helpful option. 

Studies have also highlighted the importance of nutrition for fertility.

Inadequate nutrition may be a factor in infertility in 46% of cases (far more so than other factors such as weight or physical activity) [1]. Weight — whether that means being overweight, obese, or severely underweight — can also have a major impact. In women, the risk of taking more than a year to conceive is increased by 27% in cases of overweight, and by 78% in cases of obesity (INSERM). Here are some key points on how diet can support conception.

Focus on healthy fats

It is best to avoid restrictive diets when trying for a baby, as they can lead to nutritional deficiencies or hormonal imbalances. If you are not eating enough, or not consuming enough calories, the body may halt ovulation altogether. A lack of fat is problematic for the production of sex hormones, which are all synthesised from cholesterol — so do not demonise fat (unless it is the processed kind found in industrial food products). Omega-3s play a very important role in the composition and fluidity of oocyte membranes, which makes it easier for sperm to penetrate the egg.

Please note: research has shown that it is not only a low-calorie diet that can lead to the cessation of the menstrual cycle, but also a low-carbohydrate diet.

Taking a vitamin B9 supplement several months before pregnancy

Vitamin B9 (folates or folic acid) helps prevent serious malformations of the foetal nervous system, such as spina bifida. Folate supplementation before pregnancy is associated with a reduced risk of anovulation [2] and a lower risk of miscarriage [3].

A clinical trial involving women with fertility issues showed that among those who took 400 µg of folic acid for 3 months, 26% successfully became pregnant, compared with 10% in the control group [4]. Opt for a methylated form, and avoidfolic acid during pregnancy and before, which is poorly absorbed. Our pregnancy gummies and our pregnancy snack are perfectly suited, with 400 µg in methylated form.

Avoid trans fats

Excessive consumption of trans fatty acids (TFAs) from industrially processed foods (ready meals, fried foods, industrial pastries) may have an impact on fertility. One study found that a 2% increase in energy intake from trans fats was associated with a 73% higher risk of infertility! [5]

Taking a pregnancy food supplement

Take a pregnancy food supplement multivitamins helps address deficiencies that may contribute to reduced fertility. It also helps prepare the body for the nutritional demands of a future pregnancy. 

The liver is central to our health. It metabolises hormones and is very often implicated in hormonal imbalances when it is overworked.

The intestines absorb nutrients and secrete hormones.

The mucous membranes are very often weakened by processed food and stress, and allow hormones and toxins that should not be absorbed to pass through, re-stimulating hormonal receptor sites and adding further strain on our liver and kidneys.

Other factors that can also play a role in conceiving: blood sugar management, thyroid health, feeling at ease with your body and your femininity, your mindset, respecting your circadian rhythm (= the 24-hour biological clock), exposure to natural light/sunlight...

It is important to learn about your menstrual cycle, which is unique to each person, and in particular to identify the ovulation phase. Key points to remember:

- For a 28-day cycle, ovulation occurs on the 14th day after the start of your period

- Sperm survive for between 2 and 3 days in cervical mucus

- The egg remains fertilisable for 16 to 24 hours after ovulation

Regular cycles are the foundation for getting pregnant: on the one hand, irregular cycles may be linked to hormonal issues (the cause will need to be understood), and on the other, it will be easier to identify the date of ovulation.

Tracking your ovulation is the best way to identify the optimal fertile window. Women are fertile for approximately 6 days per cycle: 5 days before ovulation, during it, and 1 day after, as the egg survives for 12 to 24 hours. Many ovulation symptoms will help identify this window (basal body temperature, monitoring cervical mucus, etc.). An ovulation test (which works on a similar principle to a pregnancy test) can also help. To find out how to calculating your ovulation, visit our article.

Regular intercourse

Regular sexual intercourse, every 2 to 3 days, helps maximise your chances of conceiving. It is also important not to put pressure on yourself or feel obliged to have sex — pleasure should remain part of the experience. Having sex multiple times a day, every day, is also not recommended, as this can reduce sperm quality.

Regular intercourse around the time of ovulation is important. That said, abstaining for the rest of the cycle is not necessary.

Choosing your position during intercourse

In practice, you can become pregnant regardless of the position you adopt when making love. 

Certain positions where ejaculation occurs close to the cervix, such as the missionary position and doggy style, may support conception. These positions may help bring sperm closer to the uterus. 

Lying down after intercourse may also be beneficial for conception. 

And don't forget, it's not only women who need to be mindful when a couple is trying to conceive quickly! Having a baby is a two-person project! Men also need to pay attention to their lifestyle (stress, alcohol, sleep, etc.), what they eat, and avoid overly thick underwear or tight trousers that can affect sperm production… It is recommended that he undergoes a male fertility test, such as a semen analysis, in order to assess sperm quality and count. 

Because fertility is 50/50, the male fertility food supplement Cocooning+ men powder can help boost male fertility. Based on 3 active ingredients (Coenzyme Q10, carnitine and N-acetyl-cysteine), it can help improve sperm quality, motility and concentration. 

As a duo with our supplement Cocooning+ for women, which helps support ovulation and fertility, and promotes embryo implantation. 

And to support your egg quality, the supplement Ovo+ is made for you.

The egg from the current cycle reflects our health from 3 months ago (and the same applies to sperm, for that matter). It takes around 100 days for the dominant follicle to reach ovulation. Its health therefore depends on what has happened during that fairly long period. Nutrition is important over the long term. There is no miracle recipe for getting pregnant quickly — you cannot expect to reap the rewards after just a few days; it is a sustained effort over time!

Do not hesitate to consult your healthcare professional (midwife, gynaecologist, GP, etc.) for further advice.