Do you desire to have children? Is there a time frame within which you’d like to conceive and how do forms of contraception and your cycle play into conception timing? Have you become pregnant before and were there any complications?  Have you had difficulty conceiving in the past? 

Topics like this all have a likelihood of being explored when discussing your plan for your pregnancy with your provider. Your provider may also have insights into how to increase the likelihood of becoming pregnant by timing your window for fertility, so take advantage of this opportunity to ask them. 

You will likely also be asked to detail your health history to your provider, including medical conditions and the results of your last annual exam. The presence of medical conditions including but not limited to sexually transmitted diseases (STD’s), high blood pressure, thyroid disease, diabetes, polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) and more may also play a role in the success of pregnancy outcomes.1 Certain STD’s can adversely impact the likelihood of becoming pregnant, so your provider may recommend  screening for both you and your partner.

Click here to book an STD screening appointment at an Obria clinic near you.

Additionally, your vaccination record may be reviewed as being vaccinated prior to a pregnancy can protect the health of the mother as well as offer health benefits to the baby.2 Obtaining certain vaccinations during a pregnancy such as the Varicella vaccine & MMR (measles, mumps & rubella) are strongly discouraged, so your provider may recommend you take certain vaccinations prior to becoming pregnant instead.3  

While some of the medications you are currently taking may be fine to continue, there are others that your doctor may advise you to discontinue in order to achieve successful pregnancy outcomes. Certain medications for psychiatric or cholesterol conditions, as well as Retin-A (an acne medication) and even over the counter ibuprofen, cannot be taken during a pregnancy. As a result, it is very important for you to detail your medications to your provider and get their approval on what can be taken at this time.3 Do not start or stop medication without talking to your doctor first.  

Certain supplements are encouraged by your practitioner to produce a successful pregnancy. The CDC recommends taking 400mg of Folic Acid daily both one month prior to becoming pregnant as well as throughout pregnancy to prevent conditions like Ancephaly & Spina Bifida, which are neurological birth defects to the baby’s spine and brain.4 Taking prenatal vitamins will also likely be encouraged by your provider, which can provide this dose of Folic Acid in addition to other beneficial vitamins. 

Examining your family history can help you to recognize factors that may impact your likelihood of becoming pregnant and identify inherited conditions that could affect your child. The CDC advises that even a cousin’s Sickle Cell diagnosis or a sibling’s heart defect may have the genetic potential to affect your baby, so sharing this information with your medical provider is paramount.5 

Therefore, it is important for you and your partner to take stock of your family history, noting any genetic conditions. Your provider may recommend genetic counseling as needed. While we most often associate ideas of genetic counseling with birth defects or intellectual disabilities, issues with infertility, multiple miscarriages or genetic defects in previous pregnancies are also reasons your provider may refer you for genetic counseling or screening.6 

Certain substances such as fertilizer, bug spray, heavy metals and feces can harm reproductive systems, and exposure at any life stage can lead to diseases.6 For this reason, individuals are encouraged to take the necessary precautions to identify toxic environments and avoid them as much as possible even prior to becoming pregnant. 

Avoid Alcohol, Smoking & Caffeine 

While it may be common knowledge that alcohol and cigarettes (including secondhand smoke) can harm a baby during pregnancy and are strongly discouraged, avoiding these substances when trying to conceive is also recommended. While research is divided on whether drinking 1-2 alcoholic drinks daily negatively affects fertility, the act of smoking cigarettes has been proven to decrease fertility in both men and women.7 Additionally, your doctor may also encourage you to decrease your caffeine intake, if applicable.  

Regardless of the substance, abstaining from or limiting (in the case of alcohol or caffeine) the rate at which you partake may increase the likelihood of a successful pregnancy. 

Maintaining a Healthy Weight 

Research shows that being both overweight or underweight during a pregnancy can result in adverse outcomes such as premature birth, diabetes and high blood pressure.8  In order to ensure you are healthy, your doctor may examine your BMI (Body Mass Index) which is an estimate of your body fat percentage based on the ratio of your height to weight, which can indicate whether you need to lose or gain weight. Additionally, your practitioner may explore the importance of a healthy diet with you coupled with physical activity and exercise.