Before you take a home pregnancy test, experts recommend waiting at least until the day you expect your period to start. That’s because by then, if you’re pregnant, levels of the pregnancy hormone hCG will be high enough to measure in your urine. For best results, take a home pregnancy test first thing in the morning when you wake up, before you drink water or another beverage.
How early can you take a pregnancy test?
For the most accurate results, wait until the day you miss your period.
Some pregnancy tests promise accurate results a week after conception. And while it’s technically okay to take a test then, it may be too soon for the tests to determine whether you’re pregnant or not.
All pregnancy tests measure the same hormone – human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). But when these tests can detect the hormone depends on a number of variables.
Soon after conception, the developing embryo attaches to the wall of your uterus (known as implantation). Before implantation even occurs, the cells that will eventually become the placenta begin to produce and secrete hCG.
As HCG levels rise, it enters the bloodstream, and at higher levels will be excreted in urine. But this takes time, since the fertilized egg must travel into the uterus and implant into your uterine lining. Then, more time is needed still for hCG to become detectable in your blood and urine.
Home pregnancy tests measure the amount of hCG in your urine. So while you could have hCG in your pee a week or so after conception, it may not be concentrated enough to give you a positive result.
The hCG hormone typically doubles every two or three days during the first few weeks of pregnancy (though a slower rise can still be normal). The more hCG in your body, the more likely it is that an at-home pregnancy test will pick it up. If you’re pregnant, waiting just a few days can give your body time to make enough hCG to give a positive result.
But you don’t want to wait too long to test, either. The sooner you know you’re pregnant, the sooner you can decide how to proceed. If you’re continuing your pregnancy, call your provider (or choose a doctor or midwife) to set up your prenatal care.
The best time of day to take a pregnancy test
Wondering whether to take a pregnancy test in the morning or night? Urine is always more concentrated when you first wake up, so most experts recommend taking the test then. Don’t drink water or any other beverage before going to the bathroom. Fluids can dilute the amount of hCG in your urine.
If you need to wait until later in the day to take the pregnancy test, here’s how to make it as accurate as a morning reading.
Hold off going to the bathroom for at least four hours. That will guarantee more concentrated amounts of urine (and hCG).
Try not to drink too much water or other beverages. That will dilute the hCG in your urine.
Are some pregnancy tests more accurate than others?
Yes, some tests are more sensitive than others. It’s a good idea to check the box to see how they measure hCG, and when they can first detect a positive pregnancy.
Also, a blood test is more accurate than an at-home pregnancy test, While both tests measure the hCG in your body, the two types of tests differ in how (and when) they discover it.
A pregnancy blood test, usually given by your healthcare provider in their office or at a hospital, measures the amount of hCG in your bloodstream. They’re more sensitive than at-home urine tests, so they can pick up much smaller amounts of the hormone. That means they’re more likely to detect your pregnancy earlier. Blood hCG can be detected as early as six to eight days after ovulation (which is around 6 to 8 days before your period depending on how long your cycles are).
But blood tests aren’t given very often. They’re more expensive, and only a doctor or provider can order them. Your provider may order one if they want to compare hCG levels and whether they’re rising and declining appropriately.
Should you take another pregnancy test?
If you get a negative result, you may want to test again later. You may have tested too early, or maybe you ovulated later than you thought and aren’t far enough along for the test to catch your rising hCG level. It’s also possible you didn’t follow the instructions correctly (hey, it happens) or drank a lot of water and diluted the hCG in your urine.
Since there are so many reasons for a possible false negative result, wait a few days and take another test. Make sure it’s several days after your expected period. Then:
If you get another negative result and still haven’t gotten your period, call your provider. They may want to set up a visit to see what the reason is.
If you get a positive result, call your provider. They may want to schedule a visit and give you a blood test or ultrasound to confirm the location and viability of the pregnancy.
If you get mixed results – a couple of negatives followed by a positive or vice versa – call your provider. They may want to check with an ultrasound to see what might be going on.
In summary, to take a pregnancy test, wait until the first day of your expected period. If the result isn’t what you’re expecting, wait a few days more. And if you have any questions or worries, call your provider.
Getting a faint line on a pregnancy test may mean you tested too early. Or there may be something else going on, like a pregnancy loss or another medical issue. If you’re trying to conceive or avoid a pregnancy, a faint line can be nerve-wracking. Faint lines aren’t always easy to distinguish, as they may be discolored or colorless. If you do get a faint line, wait to test again in a few days or call your provider to get a blood test.
The two-week wait (the time between ovulation and a missed period) can be frustrating when you’re trying to determine if you’re pregnant or not. That time may seem to drag on, leading you to test before you miss a period. This, among other reasons, can lead to a faint line on a pregnancy test, causing even more confusion – am I pregnant? And how long do I have to wait to test again? Here’s how to navigate what to do if you get a faint line on a pregnancy test.
What does a faint line on a pregnancy test look like?
A faint line on a pregnancy test is difficult to read because it’s barely visible. A line that’s supposed to be red may appear light pink, for example, and a line that is supposed to look blue if positive will be very light blue.
Before you determine whether or not you have a faint line, it can be helpful to understand what a positive test result looks like. A positive pregnancy test result will look different depending on the kind of test you use.
Results from a home pregnancy test may look like:
A plus or minus sign
One line or two lines (with two lines indicating pregnancy)
A pink line
A blue line
The words “pregnant” or “not pregnant”
The words “yes” or “no”
Read the package instructions carefully. They’ll tell you exactly how to do the test and how to read the results. Most tests have a control line where you can check to see that you did the test correctly. If that control line is blank, then the test didn’t work, and you’ll want to do another one.
In an effort to read very early test results, or test results that are unclear, some women turn to pregnancy test tweaking. This involves taking a photo of your home pregnancy test and editing it to see if you can detect the line that indicates pregnancy. There’s no proof that this is reliable and experts don’t necessarily recommend it, but some women are giving it a try.
What does a faint line on a pregnancy test mean?
A faint line on a pregnancy test probably means that it’s very early in your pregnancy. Even a faint positive pregnancy test indicates that you have some of the pregnancy hormone human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG) in your system.
Your body starts producing hCG right after implantation. If you have a typical 28-day menstrual cycle, hCG may be detectable in your urine 12 to 15 days after ovulation if you’re pregnant. The levels of hCG are very low at first and then they rise quickly, usually doubling every three days in early pregnancy. That’s why you might have a faintly positive result at first and one that’s crystal clear a few days later.
Here’s why you might see a faint line on your pregnancy test results:
Testing too early
Using an expired test
Not checking the results in time. The directions will tell you to check the results within a certain amount of time (usually a few minutes). That’s because the results are accurate when the urine is still wet. Once it dries, urine may leave a faint line where it evaporated – an “evap line.” Unlike positive result lines, which are usually dark or bright, an evap line will be colorless.
Very diluted urine. To minimize the possibility of this happening, take your test first thing in the morning, when your urine is most concentrated.
Using a less sensitive brand to do an early test – some are more sensitive than others at detecting low levels of hCG.
Of course, if it’s really too early, you may not even see a faint line. Instead you might get a negative result because your hCG levels aren’t high enough to be detected. The earlier you test, the higher the chances that you’ll get a false negative test even if you’re pregnant. It’s recommended to wait until at least your missed period (ideally a few days after that) , to start testing to prevent this confusion.
What to do if you see a faint line on a pregnancy test
If you see a faint line, the best thing to do is wait a few more days and take another home pregnancy test. By then your levels of hCG will rise enough to give you a clearly visible result.
Another option is to ask your healthcare provider to confirm that you’re pregnant with a blood test, which can usually detect pregnancy a few days earlier than a home pregnancy test. (The hormone hCG can be detected in the blood about 6 to 8 days after you ovulate, typically a few days to a week sooner than in urine.)
If you saw a faint positive result and retested in a few days with a negative result (or you got your period after testing positive), you may have experienced a chemical pregnancy or early miscarriage. A chemical pregnancy means the egg was fertilized but didn’t completely implant. So your body may have produced a little hCG but then stopped when the embryo stopped developing.
What can cause a false positive pregnancy test?
It’s pretty rare, as pregnancy tests are accurate 97 to 99 percent of the time, but there are reasons you might have hCG in your body and not be pregnant, giving you a false positive result on your pregnancy test:
An early pregnancy loss. This might be from a chemical pregnancy or an ectopic pregnancy. A chemical pregnancy happens if the fertilized egg doesn’t implant. An ectopic pregnancy happens if the fertilized egg implants someplace other than the uterus (usually in a fallopian tube). You might have this if you have one or more faint lines on a pregnancy test, followed by a negative pregnancy test. If you continue to get a faint line, talk with your doctor to figure out what’s going on.
Fertility drugs and some other medications. Medications that are used in fertility treatment may contain traces of hCG that remain in your system for a week or more. Most medications, including birth control medication, won’t affect the accuracy of your pregnancy test.
A recent birth, miscarriage, or abortion. It can take weeks for hCG to completely leave your system after a pregnancy.
Perimenopause or menopause. Higher levels of luteinizing hormone from perimenopause or menopause could possibly result in a positive pregnancy test.
Certain medical conditions. Rarely an ovarian cyst and some cancers can cause a false positive pregnancy test result.
Home pregnancy tests work by detecting the presence of a hormone called hCG in your urine. Some at-home pregnancy tests claim they’re sensitive enough to give a positive result as early as five days before your next period. But you’re more likely to get an accurate result (and avoid a false negative) if you wait until the first day of your missed period.
All home pregnancy tests measure the amount of a specific hormone known as human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in your urine. When the embryo starts to implant in the lining of your uterus, as early as six days after conception, cells that will later develop into the placenta begin to produce hCG.
As the placenta grows, the amount of hCG in your body doubles every two days or so during the first few weeks. When hCG levels are high enough, the hormone enters the bloodstream. That’s when it starts to show up in the blood and urine. If the home pregnancy test detects enough hCG in your urine, it gives you a positive result.
Some tests are more sensitive than others. But in general, it’s easier for any home pregnancy test to pick up hCG in the urine when you’re 4 weeks pregnant (when there’s more hCG) versus 6 days after fertilization (when there’s a trace amount of hCG at best).
The best way to tell if a test is sensitive enough to pick up the smaller amounts is to read the fine print. Some urine pregnancy tests can detect lower levels of hCG. If you’re wanting to test early, before you miss a period, check the package insert to learn more about how much hCG needs to be present in your urine to detect a pregnancy.
How to use an at-home pregnancy test
For best results when using a home pregnancy test:
Make sure the test is up to date. Check the expiration date on the package, especially if you’ve had it for a while. If you’ve been storing the test in the bathroom, the humidity may have ruined it. Better to throw it away and get a new one.
Test first thing in the morning. Your urine is most concentrated when you first get up. If you’re pregnant, hCG levels will be higher too. That makes it easier for the at-home test to spot it.
Read the directions carefully. Different brands have different instructions. With some home tests you urinate in a cup and then use the dropper to place a small sample in the testing well. With others, you can pee directly onto the strip or stick. And some let you do either.
Wait 5 minutes to check. You get the most accurate results if you wait up to 5 minutes, though this can vary by brand. Read the package instructions to learn exactly how long you’ll need to wait to confirm a negative or positive result.
Different tests reveal the results in different ways too. Some show pink or blue lines on the test strip, while others have a red plus or minus sign in a window. Digital tests give results in words (“You’re pregnant”). Most have a control indicator (often a second line or symbol) that tells you whether the test is valid.
If the control indicator doesn’t show up properly, the test is probably faulty. If this happens, call the manufacturer and see if they’ll send you a new one. Also call the company if you have questions about how to use the test.
If the test shows a negative or a faintly positive result, wait another few days and try again if you still haven’t gotten your period. Maybe you ovulated later in your cycle than you thought and took the test too early to get a positive result.
One negative result doesn’t necessarily mean you’re not pregnant. Every woman produces different amounts of hCG and it’s not even the same for each pregnancy. If you suspect that you’re pregnant (say, you’re having early pregnancy symptoms) and still have a negative test, take another home pregnancy test in a week if you still haven’t gotten your period.
If you still haven’t gotten either your period or a positive result two weeks or so after you would expect it, reach out to your provider.
When can I take an at-home pregnancy test?
At-home pregnancy tests are getting better and better. But you’re still more likely to get the most accurate results if you wait to take a pregnancy test until the morning of your expected period. Waiting a few more days after that may provide an even more accurate result.
Some home pregnancy tests claim they’re sensitive enough to give you a positive result as early as five days before your next period. And some women will have produced enough hCG to get a positive result at that point. But, once again, every pregnancy is different.
If you’re eager (or anxious) to know if you’re pregnant, go ahead and do the test 10 or 12 days after you think you’ve conceived. If you get a negative result, no problem. Wait a week and test again if you still haven’t gotten your period.
How accurate are home pregnancy tests?
At-home pregnancy tests are 99 percent accurate. But you can still get what are called false negatives or false positives.
A false negative is when you’re pregnant but the test results show up negative. Sometimes you get a faint line on the home pregnancy test, so the result is unclear. These things usually happen if you take the test too soon, before your hCG levels are high enough. If you get a faint line on a pregnancy test, wait a few days and test again.
A false positive pregnancy test means that you get a positive result but aren’t pregnant. This doesn’t happen very often, except for in the following circumstances:
You’ve had a miscarriage or terminated a pregnancy in the past eight weeks, or have a molar pregnancy.
You’ve taken a fertility drug with hCG (used to induce ovulation in fertility treatments).
You have a rare medical condition, such as an hCG-secreting tumor.
You’re using an expired or faulty test.
You’re going through perimenopause or menopause.
If you have a positive result and then get your period soon after, you may have had what’s called a chemical pregnancy. This means the embryo implanted in your uterus and developed just enough to start producing detectable levels of hCG, but then it stopped developing. This is most commonly caused by a genetic abnormality of the embryo.
An ectopic pregnancy can also result in a positive pregnancy test, even though these pregnancies often show slower rises in hCG.
No matter what result you get from a pregnancy test, call your healthcare provider right away if you:
Feel dizzy or faint
Have abdominal pain (especially a sharp or stabbing pain in your abdomen or on one side of your pelvis
Have abnormal bleeding
These could be signs of a miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy.
What to do if you get a positive home pregnancy test
Some women take more than one home pregnancy test (or several) just to be sure – but that’s not really necessary. Once you’ve gotten a positive pregnancy test, call your healthcare provider to set up a prenatal visit or to discuss your options if you’re not sure about continuing the pregnancy.
If you don’t already have a family doctor, ob-gyn, or midwife who can provide prenatal care, do some research to see who’s covered by your insurance, and ask for recommendations.
Doctors typically schedule the first prenatal visit when you’re about 8 weeks pregnant. But some providers will see you sooner, especially if you have a medical condition or have had problems with a pregnancy in the past. It’s especially important to see your provider sooner if you’re having nausea and vomiting, vaginal bleeding, or abdominal pain.
Will you need a blood test to confirm your pregnancy?
Not necessarily. To make sure you’re pregnant, most healthcare providers use a urine pregnancy test, just like your at-home pregnancy test . But your provider may use a blood test instead. Just note: It may take anywhere from an hour to a day or more to get the results.
There are two types of pregnancy blood tests:
A qualitative hCG blood test just shows whether there is hCG in your blood. The results return as “positive” or “negative.” You usually get the results in about the same time you would with a urine test.
A quantitative blood test (beta hCG test or serum test) measures the exact amount of hCG in your blood. The results return as a number. This test is very accurate. It can detect hCG as early as six to eight days after ovulation, or about a week before your period is due. It takes longer to get results from a quantitative blood test, though.
Again, your provider may not give you a blood test. Oftentimes, a positive home pregnancy test is enough to get started with the prenatal care you need.
The biggest obstacle for women age 35 or older may be getting pregnant in the first place. Fertility rates begin to decline gradually at age 30, more so at 35, and markedly at age 40. Even with fertility treatments such as in vitro fertilization, women have more difficulty getting pregnant as they age.
Women 45 and older rarely get pregnant, even with fertility treatment. Fertility specialists routinely recommend oocyte donation (IVF with eggs donated by a young egg donor) for these women because pregnancies with their own eggs are so rare.
Women also have more trouble staying pregnant as they get older: The rates of miscarriage and ectopic pregnancy go up substantially with age.
Infertility evaluation is generally recommended for women who have been trying for 12 months or longer. But if you’re 35 or older, don’t wait a whole year. Get an evaluation after six months, or sooner if you suspect that something may not be right – such as if your periods aren’t regular, or if you’ve had previous abdominal surgery.
Once you conceive, and you get past the first trimester miscarriages, you face a higher risk of conceiving a baby with a chromosomal problem. This risk goes up every year. If you get pregnant at age 25, your risk of having a baby with Down syndrome, for example, is about 1 in 1,250, according to the National Institutes of Health. At age 40, the risk is 1 in 100.
Having a baby if I’m 35
If you’ll be 35 or older on your due date, you’ll be offered genetic counseling. This is normally done by your obstetrician after you show up pregnant, but increasingly, couples are opting for “pre-conceptual counseling” – an opportunity to plan ahead and get information before getting pregnant.
A genetic counselor can help you understand your particular risks and decide whether to have genetic testing to screen for or diagnose chromosomal problems or other birth defects. Keep in mind that every woman has a chance of having a baby with problems, no matter what her age.
Even after you get pregnant, age continues to have an effect. The older you are when you get pregnant, the more likely you are to have a chronic disease, such as high blood pressure or diabetes, that may be undiagnosed and can affect your pregnancy.
You’re also at higher risk of developing certain complications during pregnancy – such as gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, placental abruption (in which the placenta prematurely separates from the uterine wall), and placenta previa (in which the placenta lies low in the uterus, partly or completely covering the cervix).
Research also shows that your chances of having a low-birth-weight baby (less than 5 1/2 pounds) or a premature delivery increase with age. Some studies show that older women are more likely to need pitocin during labor, and most studies show a significantly higher rate of delivery by cesarean section.
All of that sounds scary, but population studies don’t take into account whether or not the moms took good care of themselves or if they received appropriate prenatal care. Make sure you do both of those, and your chance of having a healthy baby should be similar to that of younger women who are also in good health.
Women who give birth at 35 or older have a higher risk of stillbirth and maternal death (although the overall number of stillbirths and women who die in childbirth each year has dropped significantly in the United States in the last few decades). The increased risk is largely due to underlying medical problems more common in older women. Proper diagnosis and treatment will help reduce the risks for you and your baby.
If you’re considering getting pregnant, see your doctor or midwife for a thorough examination. Your provider will take a detailed medical and family history of both prospective parents to identify conditions that might affect your pregnancy or your chances of getting pregnant. You can manage many of the risks of pregnancy at age 35 and up by seeing your doctor or midwife regularly for good prenatal care.
If you’re trying to get pregnant in your 20s, time is on your side – and biology is, too. Your body is ready for pregnancy, and probably will be for a while if you decide to wait to start your family.
That said, pregnancy at any age has advantages and disadvantages. We checked in with fertility specialists, financial consultants, relationship gurus, and 20-something moms to get a realistic picture of what it’s like to have a child in your 20s.
Pros
Experts say the average woman’s fertility peaks in her early 20s. So from a strictly biological perspective, this is the best decade for conceiving and carrying a baby.
Like every woman, you’re born with all the eggs you will ever have: about 1 to 2 million. By puberty, your eggs number about 300,000 to 500,000, but your ovaries release only about 300 during your reproductive years.
As you get older, your ovaries age along with the rest of your body and the quality of your eggs gradually deteriorates. That’s why a younger woman’s eggs are less likely than an older woman’s to have genetic abnormalities that cause Down syndrome and other birth defects.
The risk of miscarriage is also far lower: It’s about 10 percent for women in their 20s, 12 percent for women in their early 30s, and 18 percent for women in their mid to late 30s. Miscarriage risk jumps to about 34 percent for women in their early 40s, and 53 percent by age 45.
Pregnancy is often physically easier for women in their 20s because there’s a lower risk of health complications like high blood pressure and diabetes. You’re also less likely to have gynecological problems, like uterine fibroids, which often become more problematic over time.
Finally, younger women are less likely to have premature or low-birth-weight babies than women older than 35.
In terms of fertility, it doesn’t matter if you start trying to get pregnant in your early 20s or your late 20s, according to Judith Albert, a reproductive endocrinologist and scientific director of Reproductive Health Specialists, a fertility center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. “The difference in a woman’s fertility in her early and late 20s is negligible,” she says.
Once the baby comes, as a 20-something mom you’re likely to have the resilience to wake up with the baby several times during night and still be able to function the next day. You’ll also have a lot of company as you chase your little one around the playground: The average American woman has her first child around age 26. And when your own child has children of her own, odds are you’ll still have the energy to be an actively involved grandparent.
Besides the physical advantages, there are other pluses: “You’re more flexible in your 20s, which is good for your marriage and for the transition to parenthood,” says Mother, a family and marriage therapist. When people get married later in life, instead of “our way,” there is often “my way” and “your way,” which can make marriage and parenting difficult, she says.
Cons
When you’re in your 20s, you may still be figuring out a career path and establishing yourself professionally. If you take time out to have a baby, it can be hard to get back on track.
In her book The Price of Motherhood, coined the term “mommy tax” to describe the economic toll motherhood takes on a woman’s earning potential over the course of a lifetime. Even if a woman goes right back to work after having children, statistically she’ll earn significantly less than her childless counterparts.
That can be a powerful incentive for some women to delay pregnancy, mother says: “Women who have their children later in life have higher lifetime earnings and a wider range of opportunities than younger mothers.”
And having a child in your 20s may not be financially optimal. “My younger clients in their 20s and early 30s have a lot of debt,” says financial adviser. “College loan debt is such a problem for young people today – it’s a noose around their necks. And as they struggle to pay it off, it’s very easy to slide into credit card debt.”
“Young people often don’t have the life experience to realize that the early period of life with a new baby is only temporary,” mom observes. “The young mother is likely to feel depressed and overwhelmed, and the father may feel abandoned by his wife, who is suddenly preoccupied with the new little being in her life. Ideally, a couple will support each other through this transition and become even closer, but many couples grow distant and alienated from each other, which can seriously damage the marriage.”
And many couples in their 20s are simply not ready to be parents, says Seidler. Raising children is emotionally and physically taxing, and many parents – especially young ones – aren’t completely prepared for the sacrifice and patience it requires.
An experienced confirms that parenting ability evolves with age. She had one child in her 20s, three in her 30s, and one at 41. As a 20-year-old mom, she says, she lacked some of the wisdom and perspective she has today. “When you have kids when you’re older, you’re more willing to accept the changes that come with having a child. You may miss out on traveling or shopping with your girlfriends, but I don’t think you mind as much as you do in your 20s.”
Your odds of success
In your 20s, the stats are on your side. As a healthy, fertile woman in your mid 20s, you have about a 33 percent chance of getting pregnant each cycle if you have sex a day or two before ovulation. At age 30, your chance is about 20 percent each cycle.
Only a small percentage of 20-year-old women struggle with infertility – whereas two-thirds of women over 40 have infertility problems. A 20-year-old woman has only a 6 percent chance of being unable to conceive, while a 40-year-old has a 64 percent chance.
As for other risks, at age 20, the risk of conceiving a child with Down syndrome is one in 2,000. That risk jumps to one in 900 when you’re 30, and one in 100 when you’re 40.
What to do if you want to get pregnant now
To give yourself the best chance for a normal pregnancy and a healthy baby, consider taking a few important steps before trying to conceive. Read these tips to help you prepare for pregnancy.
If you don’t get pregnant right away, just keep trying for now. It’s likely your healthcare provider will advise you to wait until you have had frequent (about two or three times a week) unprotected sex for a year without becoming pregnant before referring you to a fertility specialist.
But if there are reasons you may have trouble getting pregnant, such as a history of missed periods or sexually transmitted diseases, you may want to consult a fertility expert sooner.
What to do if you want to wait to get pregnant
If you’d like to have children someday but you’re not ready right now, you may want to look into freezing your eggs. Although your chances for a healthy pregnancy decline in your late 30s and 40s, your odds of success with assisted reproductive technology are much better with younger eggs. Some women are banking their eggs now in case they have difficulty conceiving when they’re older.
For more on age and fertility, read our articles on getting pregnant in your 30s and 40s. Plus, check out the preconception and birth stories of six women in their 20s, 30s, and 40s.
As you enter your 30s, your chances of getting pregnant are high – about 1 in 4 women in their early 30s will get pregnant during one given cycle. As you get closer to 40, it’s biologically more difficult to get pregnant and you may have a higher risk of miscarriage, chromosomal issues, and other pregnancy complications. But most women in their 30s will get pregnant with little trouble. If you’re ready to get pregnant, there are plenty of ways to boost your fertility and have a healthy pregnancy.
For many decades, women between the ages of 25 and 29 had the highest birth rate. But in a 2016 research study, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that for the first time ever, women in their 30s were having more babies than women in their 20s. A separate 2018 study revealed that the average age for first-time mothers has gone up from 21 in the 1970s to 26 (and from 27 to 31 for male partners).
So, why are more women having babies in their 30s? There are a few main reasons.
Finances. The number one reason for women delaying childbearing is money, according to a 2020 survey. In fact, 60 percent of respondents wanted to have more money saved before becoming a parent; 51 percent wanted to earn a higher salary first. The cost of having a baby is high.
Health implications. The same 2020 survey revealed that 46 percent of respondents feared COVID-19, access to prenatal care, and the ability to afford fertility treatments if needed. On the other side of the coin, there’s also more access to reliable birth control, giving women more of a choice over when to have a child.
Social norms. Some women want to make sure they have stable careers or reach a certain title at their jobs before starting a family. Additionally, studies have shown that women earn up to 20 percent less than their male counterparts over the course of their careers after having children.
Assisted reproductive technologies (ART). Over the years (and thanks in part to social media), fertility treatment has become less taboo, and women are more aware of the options that can help them have a baby later in life (if they have the financial means to do so) such as egg freezing.
Although your chances for a healthy pregnancy decline in your late 30s and 40s, your odds of success with assisted reproductive technology are much better with younger eggs. Some women bank their eggs sooner than they plan to have kids in case they have difficulty conceiving naturally as they get older, and want to do in vitro fertilization (IVF) down the road.
Is it harder to get pregnant in your 30s?
The short answer is maybe. A woman’s peak fertility is in her teens and 20s. At age 30, fertility slowly starts to decrease. Most women don’t have trouble early in the decade. In fact, even as you inch closer to your late 30s, your chance of getting pregnant within a year is around 65 percent. Age 37 is when fertility decreases more rapidly.
There are some risks to be aware of when it comes to getting pregnant in your 30s. But remember, you’re still very likely to get pregnant easily in your 30s, especially in your early 30s.
Miscarriage
Miscarriage risk rises slowly during your early 30s, but around 35, things change. At age 35, you have about a 20 percent risk of miscarriage with each pregnancy. By age 40, the risk is about 40 percent, and it increases to about 80 percent by age 45. Most miscarriages are caused by abnormal chromosome numbers – either missing or extra chromosomes – the chance of this happening increases as the age of the egg (and the age of the woman) increases.
That’s because, unlike men who continue to produce sperm throughout their lives, women are born with all the eggs they’ll ever have, and with age, the quality and quantity of these eggs decreases.
As we age, women can have a harder time getting pregnant at all and a higher chance of conceiving with an abnormal egg, which could result in a miscarriage or a baby with a chromosomal abnormality such as Down syndrome. Risks of chromosome anomalies in embryos rise sharply after age 35, although the risk is is still low. At age 25, Down syndrome risk is about 1 in 1,400. At age 35, the odds are about 1 in 350; at age 40, the risk increases to 1 in 100.
Ectopic pregnancy and other health complications
Women 35 and older are also more likely than younger women to have an ectopic pregnancy and are at higher risk for complications like preeclampsia and gestational diabetes. Many more women in this age group have preexisting conditions like obesity, hypertension, and diabetes before they get pregnant.
Since chromosomal abnormalities increase as we get older, once you’re pregnant your doctor will discuss options for genetic screening of the pregnancy. Many parents want to know if their pregnancy is affected by a missing or extra chromosome (like Down syndrome). Tests offered include non-invasive testing such as cell-free fetal DNA blood testing and advanced ultrasounds.
Also available for certain high-risk women are amniocentesis and CVS. Your provider will discuss these options with you, explaining how the tests are done, their cost to you, how to interpret the results, and what the results would mean for your pregnancy. You get to decide if the tests are right for you.
Cesarean birth
Cesarean rates are also higher for women older than 35: Women this age have about a 43 percent chance of a C-section delivery compared to a roughly 30 percent chance for mothers in their 20s. Experts suspect these increased cesarean rates are caused by pregnancy problems like fetal distress or prolonged second-stage labor, which are more common for older mothers.
Multiples
Women ages 35 to 39 are slightly more likely to have twins – even without the fertility treatments that raise the odds of a multiple birth.
Typically, you release one egg a cycle. But as you get older, your follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) level increases. With a higher FSH, there’s a slightly higher chance you’ll release more than one egg during a cycle, upping the odds of a multiple birth, and in some cases, a high-risk pregnancy.
Advantages of getting pregnant in your 30s
Though it’s easier biologically to have a baby in your 20s, there are plenty of upsides to having your first baby or growing your family in your 30s. You likely have your own personal reasons for why you want to get pregnant now, but here are some potential benefits:
You may have a higher income and more financial security because you’ve had more time to establish your career.
Studies have found that women who became first-time moms at or after age 33 have greater odds of living to age 95 (compared to younger moms).
Studies have also found children of older mothers had fewer behavioral, social, and emotional problems than kids of younger mothers, and these moms resorted less to verbal or physical punishment for their kids.
How to maximize fertility in your 30s
You can’t slow down your biological clock, but you can make some healthy lifestyle choices to maximize your fertility in your 30s. Here are some tips:
Limit alcohol and caffeine
You don’t necessarily need to go cold turkey on alcohol and caffeine when trying to conceive, but it’s smart to consume both in moderation. Studies have found that heavy, long-term use of alcohol can negatively impact sperm. And remember, you might be pregnant and not find out for a few weeks, so it’s best to err on the side of caution and only drink alcohol in moderation. Studies have also found that drinking more than 300 mg of caffeine daily, the equivalent of a large cup of coffee from Starbucks, can make it harder to get pregnant too.
Eat an overall healthy diet
When you’re trying to get pregnant, lower your intake of processed foods loaded with saturated fat and up your consumption of good-for-you foods that are high in antioxidants, such as whole grains, fruits, vegetables, fish, and vegetable proteins. Eating healthy while trying to conceive will also help you maintain a healthy weight and body mass index (BMI). Studies have found that women with BMIs that were too high or too low had a harder time conceiving.
Start taking prenatal vitamins
It’s good idea for women of any age to start taking an over-the-counter prenatal vitamin at least a month before trying to get pregnant. Look for a prenatal that contains folic acid to prevent neural tube defects and iron to prevent anemia in pregnancy. Your practitioner may also recommend an additional supplement such as vitamin D or Coq10, another over-the-counter vitamin that has been shown in some studies to improve egg quality.
Get enough sleep
A study conducted by the American Society of Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) found that women who had low-quality sleep had lower fertilization rates during IVF than those who got good quality sleep, in part because sleep helps balance our hormones. Plus, the more tired and stressed you are, and the less likely you may be to exercise and eat healthy. Aim for 7 to 8 hours of sleep per night to increase your chances of getting pregnant.
De-stress as needed
It’s unclear if infertility causes stress or stress causes infertility, but studies have found that women with depression are twice as likely to experience infertility.
It’s important to try and stay as relaxed as possible while TTC, whatever that means for you. Prenatal yoga, meditation, walking, getting outside, acupuncture, therapy, journaling, calling a friend, or visiting a salon are all valid and healthy ways to relax. Self-care is imperative for your mental health while trying to conceive.
Track your cycle
Your menstrual cycle could change once you hit your 30s, so you may want to track your cycle when you’re trying to get pregnant so you know the optimal time to have sex. You can use an app or old-fashioned calendar to keep track, and buy at-home ovulation predictor kits (OPKs) that measure your hormones and can help predict your fertile days.
Day 1 of your cycle is the day your period starts; for women with regular, 28-day cycles, ovulation occurs somewhere around days 12 to 14. The optimal time to have sex to get pregnant is about two days before ovulation.
Get your partner on board
Though aging doesn’t affect male fertility as much as it does female fertility, your male partner can maximize his sperm health and help you get pregnant in your 30s by exercising regularly and eating healthy foods too. It’s a good idea for him to also quit smoking, avoid spending too much time in hot tubs, and be mindful of his undies.
Some studies have found that men who wore loose-fitting boxers instead of tight briefs have better sperm count and concentration. For most men, however, it’s not necessary to change their favorite underwear. If your partner’s semen analysis shows anything abnormal though, that could be one easy thing to change.
When to see a fertility specialist about fertility issues
The general rule of thumb is if you’re younger than 35 and have had frequent (about two or three times a week) unprotected sex for a year without becoming pregnant, then it’s time to consult a fertility expert, also known as a reproductive endocrinologist (RE). These are ob-gyns with extra training in fertility.
If you’re 35 or older, see a specialist if you’ve had frequent unprotected sex for at least six months and still aren’t pregnant. And if there are reasons you may have trouble getting pregnant – such as a history of irregular or missed periods, sexually transmitted diseases, or pelvic pain – it doesn’t hurt to see an expert even sooner.
There’s no shame in seeing a reproductive endocrinologist and taking charge of your reproductive health. Infertility is common; 1 in five heterosexual couples are unable to get pregnant after a year of unprotected sex, and about 1 in four women have trouble maintaining a pregnancy (known as recurrent pregnancy loss or repeated miscarriages).
Most specialists start a fertility evaluation by doing blood tests to determine if there’s a problem with your ovaries or hormone levels, and may perform a hysterosalpingogram, or HSG, to look at your uterus and fallopian tubes. If you have a male partner, he’ll undergo a semen analysis. Your provider will advise you about your options depending on your individual circumstances and results.
About 1 in 10 women will conceive naturally after 40, while many other women in their 40s get pregnant with the help of assisted reproductive technology (ART). Like at every stage of life, deciding to try to get pregnant after 40 is a personal decision that has its own set of advantages and drawbacks: You may feel more ready and financially secure, for example, but at the same time, your chances of miscarriage, gestational diabetes, preterm birth, and other complications increase. If you’re having trouble conceiving spontaneously, a fertility specialist may be able to help.
If you’re thinking about having a baby at 40, there’s no denying your odds of getting pregnant are significantly lower now than they were just a few years ago – about 1 in 10 women will conceive spontaneously around age 40, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. (After 45, experts say, it’s very unlikely you’ll get pregnant using your own eggs.)
Many 40-plus women do get pregnant, some using fertility treatments and some not. Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention actually showed that the birth rate for moms aged 40-44 rose continuously between 1985 and 2019, at an average of around 3 percent per year.
Pregnancy at any age has its advantages and disadvantages, but here’s a picture of what to expect if you’re planning to try to get pregnant at 40 or beyond.
What are my chances of pregnancy after 40?
It’s possible, but almost half of women over 40 experience fertility issues, according to the CDC. Women over 40 have about a 5 percent chance of getting pregnant in any single ovulation cycle. (That’s compared to a 25 percent chance for women in their 20s and early 30s.)
At 40, your chances of getting pregnant within a year are about 40 to 50 percent. To compare, a woman in her mid-30s has about a 75 percent chance. And by age 43, a woman’s chance of getting pregnant within a year drops significantly to only 1 or 2 percent.
Why the steep drop-off? It’s all about the eggs. When you reach puberty, your eggs number between 300,000 and 500,000, and after that you lose about 13,000 of them a year. Over the years, this steady drop in egg supply leaves you with about 25,000 eggs by age 37 – the age that also coincides with a precipitous drop in fertility. By age 43, your egg supply is near its end. Your risk of pregnancy complications, such as high blood pressure and gestational diabetes, increases after 35 as well, and continues to rise into your 40s.
Miscarriage rates begin to skyrocket in your 40s as well. At 40, the average chance of a miscarriage is about 40 percent, and that rises to around 80 percent by age 45. The same underlying mechanism that causes miscarriage (an increased risk of extra or missing chromosomes in the embryo) also increases the risk of Down syndrome: At 40, your chance of conceiving a child with Down syndrome is one in 100; at 45, it’s one in 30.
Because the increased risk for abnormal chromosome numbers increases with maternal age, experts recommend that pregnant women in their 40s be offered detailed screenings for these abnormalities. This includes non-invasive tests such as cell-free fetal DNA blood testing and advanced ultrasound. Invasive tests, such as amniocentesis or chorionic villus sampling (CVS), are also available if needed. Genetic testing is always a choice, and your OB or midwife can give you a thorough explanation of your testing options, their implications, and their costs.
Mothers over 40 also have a nearly 50 percent chance of having a c-section as a result of delivery complications. Incidents of low-birth-weight and stillborn babies are higher as well.
One very positive fact on your side: Given the range of new assisted reproductive technology (ART) methods now available, there’s no better time in history to try to get pregnant in your 40s. Although in vitro fertilization (IVF) success rates fall significantly when women use their own eggs after age 35, the chance of success using donor eggs remains high with a pregnancy rate of about 50 percent for women through their late 40s.
For women in their 40s who use eggs from a woman in her 20s or 30s, the risk of miscarriage and chromosomal abnormalities is consistent with the age of the egg donor.
An OB-GYN shares what she wishes her patients would do before getting pregnant.
Advantages of getting pregnant after 40
Every woman has her own (very good!) reasons for her family-planning timing. There may be more reasons that are personal to you that explain why you’ve decided to try to get pregnant now, but these are a few of the potential benefits of waiting to become a parent (or adding another child to your family) when you’re older:
You’re more experienced. Probably the greatest advantage of waiting to have children is that you’ve had time to grow. You may be more secure financially and more comfortable in your career. It’s possible that you and your partner, if you have one, have had the chance to get to know each other in a variety of circumstances, which can be a solid foundation for raising a family.
Some studies have also asserted that older mothers are, in general, better educated than young mothers and make wiser parenting decisions. Mothers over 30 are also slightly more likely to breastfeed, according to the CDC.
You may be more financially secure. Waiting to have children might also have financial benefits, possibly as a result of being more established in your career. One study found that women who had children in their 40s were subject to less of a motherhood “wage penalty” than those moms who had children in their 20s and 30s.
Drawbacks of getting pregnant after 40
While conception, pregnancy, and labor and delivery complications may arise at any age, having a baby at 40 and beyond can increase the risks of some of those complications.
You may have a hard time getting pregnant. The biggest downside to putting off pregnancy until your 40s is significant: It’s harder to get pregnant the longer you wait. That’s because your egg supply decreases significantly as you age, and older eggs are more likely to have chromosomal problems, raising the risk of miscarriage and birth defects.
In one study, researchers found that 40-year-old women treated for infertility had a 25 percent chance of getting pregnant using their own eggs. By age 43, that number dropped to 10 percent, and by 44 it had sunk to 1.6 percent. Among women who did get pregnant, the miscarriage rate was 24 percent for 40-year-olds, 38 percent for 43-year-olds, and 54 percent for 44-year-olds. (Using donor eggs boosts the odds of getting pregnant considerably.)
You’re more likely to have a difficult pregnancy. Pregnancy complications are another concern. In your 40s you’re far more likely to develop problems like high blood pressure and diabetes during pregnancy as well as placental problems and birth complications.
You’re at higher risk of a small or preterm baby. Women older than 40 are more likely to deliver a low-birth-weight or preterm baby. Stillbirth rates are also higher, and studies have shown that children born to older mothers may be at slightly increased risk of type 1 diabetes.
Your partner’s sperm may be older, too. Although men are physically capable of fathering children in their 60s and even into their 70s, sperm quality deteriorates with age. Older men’s sperm has a higher rate of genetic defects than younger men’s sperm. Studies have suggested links between the father’s age and genetically related conditions such as schizophrenia and autism spectrum disorder.
You could strain your finances. There are financial advantages to waiting to have children, but there may be liabilities as well. If you wait, you may to have to continue working to an older age to afford childcare, or you may end up setting aside less for retirement because you have other expenses. Additionally, fertility treatments can be pricey.
Pregnancy Signs. Could you be pregnant? Look out for these early pregnancy symptoms. Some of these first signs of pregnancy can show up before you even miss your period.
Perhaps you’ve ditched birth control, started tracking your cycle and have been actively trying to conceive. You may be wondering: Are the symptoms you’re experiencing just PMS, or could I be pregnant?
Before you even take a home pregnancy test, you may get a heads-up in the form of some early pregnancy symptoms, including smell sensitivity, breast changes and fatigue. But because many of these early signs of pregnancy will be similar to symptoms you have right before you get your period, it can be hard to tell the difference.
While the only way to know for sure that you’ve got a baby on board is by peeing on a stick (then getting those results confirmed by a doctor), these early symptoms — some of which can occur before a missed period — may provide clues that you’re expecting.
When do pregnancy signs and symptoms start?
First, it’s important to note that pregnancy symptoms can crop up at different times in different people. And while some women experience every pregnancy symptom possible, others experience very few (if any) of these signs until many weeks into their pregnancies, if at all.
So with that said, here’s average pregnancy symptoms timeline, based on a typical 28-day menstrual cycle:
About 14 days after your last period: Conception
17 or more days after your last period: Sensitivity to smell, tender breasts, fatigue, raised basal body temperature may begin
20 to 26 days after your last period: Implantation bleeding, thicker cervical mucus may occur
28 to 35 days after your last period: Frequent urination and mood swings may begin; missed period
35 or more days after your last period: Other pregnancy symptoms may begin at any point during the first trimester.
Early signs of pregnancy before a missed period
(Before a missed period: Pregnancy weeks 2-4)
1. Raised basal body temperature
If you’ve been using a special basal body thermometer to track your first morning temperature, you might notice that it rises around 1 degree when you conceive and stays elevated throughout your pregnancy.
Though not a foolproof early pregnancy symptom (there are other reasons your temp can rise), it could give you advance notice of the big news.
2. Smell sensitivity
A heightened sense of smell is an early pregnancy symptom that makes previously mild odors strong and unappealing. Since it’s one of the first symptoms of pregnancy many women report, babies might be in the air if your sniffer’s suddenly more sensitive and easily offended.
3. Breast changes
Tender, swollen breasts and darkening, bumpy areolas are among the breast changes you might experience early in pregnancy. The hormones estrogen and progesterone deserve most of the credit (or the blame) for this early pregnancy symptom. The breast tenderness is pain with a gain, though, since it’s part of your body’s preparation for the milk-making to come.
Your areolas (the circles around your nipples) may get darker and increase in diameter. You’ll also likely start to notice tiny bumps growing in size and number on your areolas. These bumps, called Montgomery’s tubercles, were always there, but now they’re gearing up to produce more oils that lubricate your nipples once baby starts nursing.
4. Fatigue
Imagine climbing a mountain without training while carrying a backpack that weighs a little more every day. That’s pregnancy in a nutshell! In other words, it’s hard work, which is why fatigue is an early pregnancy symptom almost every mom-to-be experiences.
When you get pregnant, a huge amount of energy goes into building a placenta, the life-support system for your baby. All that can zap you of your usual get-up-and-go, and cause pregnancy fatigue shortly after you conceive.
5. Implantation bleeding
It’s possible to have light spotting and be pregnant. In fact, some newly expectant moms experience what’s known as implantation bleeding six to 12 days after conception.
Light spotting or implantation bleeding before you’d expect your period is sometimes an early pregnancy symptom signaling that an embryo has implanted itself into the uterine wall, which may be accompanied by menstrual-like cramps.
Here’s how to tell it’s implantation bleeding and not your period: Implantation bleeding is usually medium pink or light brown — it’s rarely period-red. It’s also spotty (much lighter than your period) and not continuous, lasting a few hours to a few days.
Spotting, however, can sometimes be a mid-cycle blip before your usual period, especially if you have an irregular or disrupted cycle. Mid-cycle brown discharge may also happen when you’re not pregnant because you’re reacting to a vaginal exam, a Pap smear or rough sex.
6. Changes in cervical mucus
Have you become a student of your cervical mucus? Then check it out now: If it becomes creamy and stays that way after ovulation, it’s a good sign you’ll have a positive pregnancy test.
As your pregnancy progresses, you’ll also notice increased vaginal discharge, called leukorrhea. This thin, milky-white discharge is normal and healthy, but speak to your practitioner if it appears lumpy or thick.
7. Frequent urination
Two to three weeks after conception you may notice an increased need to pee. This new gotta-go feeling is due to the pregnancy hormone hCG, which increases blood flow to your kidneys, helping them to more efficiently rid your body (and, eventually, your baby’s body) of waste.
Your growing uterus is also beginning to put some pressure on your bladder, leaving less storage space for urine and making you head for the toilet more frequently.
8. Mood swings
Yet again, blame those pregnancy-related hormonal changes for the mood swings you may be experiencing once you’re expecting. As early as 4 weeks into your pregnancy, you may feel a PMS-style moodiness; later in the first trimester and often throughout the rest of pregnancy, you could be up one minute and anxious or down the next.
Aside from pregnancy hormones running amok, your life is about to change in a big way, so it’s completely normal for your moods to go haywire. Do what you can to give yourself a break, eat well, get enough sleep and pamper yourself.
(After a missed period: pregnancy weeks 4-9)
9. Missed period
It might be stating the obvious, but if you’ve missed a period (especially if your periods usually run like clockwork), you’re probably suspecting pregnancy, and for good reason. A missed period is one early pregnancy symptom all expectant moms experience!
10. Bloating
Having trouble buttoning your jeans? Early pregnancy bloating is hard to distinguish from pre-period bloat, but it’s an early pregnancy symptom that many women feel soon after they conceive.
You can’t blame that puffy, ate-too-much feeling on your baby yet, but you can blame it on the hormone progesterone, which helps slow down digestion, giving the nutrients from foods you eat more time to enter your bloodstream and reach your baby.
Unfortunately, bloating is often accompanied by constipation. Getting the right amount of fiber in your diet can help keep you regular.
11. Heartburn and indigestion
For many women, heartburn is a frustrating symptom that can appear sometime around month 2 of pregnancy. It’s caused by the hormones progesterone and relaxin, which relax smooth muscle tissues throughout your body, resulting in food moving more slowly through your gastrointestinal (GI) tract.
Medications like Tums and Rolaids can help, as can chewing sugarless gum.
12. Morning sickness or nausea
That telltale, queasy feeling known as morning sickness can hit you at any time of day — and it typically begins when you’re about 6 weeks pregnant, though it can vary and strike even earlier. For most women, nausea starts by week 9.
Hormones, mainly increased levels of progesterone (though estrogen and hCG can also take some credit), can cause the stomach to empty more slowly, resulting in this early pregnancy symptom resembling seasickness.
13. Food aversions
Your extra-sensitive nose may be responsible for another early sign of pregnancy: food aversions, where the thought, sight or smell of certain foods you normally like can turn your stomach (or worse, contribute to your morning sickness).
This early pregnancy symptom can be triggered by anything from chicken (a common one) to something seemingly more benign, like salad.
Though this isn’t usually one of the very first signs of pregnancy, it does tend to pop up in the first trimester. Blame those pregnancy hormones again, especially early on when your body is flooded with them and still getting used to all the hormonal changes. Don’t worry: This early pregnancy symptom often passes by the second trimester, when things have settled down in there.
14. Excess saliva
Also called ptyalism gravidarum, some moms-to-be experience saliva build-up early in pregnancy. This symptom usually starts sometime in the first trimester, and is thought to be your body’s way of protecting your mouth, teeth and throat from the corrosive effects of stomach acid.
Early pregnancy symptoms vs. PMS: What’s the difference?
Most early pregnancy symptoms before your period are strikingly similar to the side effects of PMS. However, you’ll only notice changes in your areolas (they’ll look darker, wider and bumpy) if you’re pregnant. A consistently elevated BBT and creamy vaginal discharge post-ovulation are also both relatively reliable signs of conception, but they’re certainly not foolproof.
Otherwise, the only way to know if other early pregnancy symptoms (nausea, tender breasts, fatigue, bloating, sensitivity to smell, etc.) are due to a baby or PMS is to hold out until you can take a pregnancy test.
When can I take a home pregnancy test?
Although you may start to feel early pregnancy symptoms before your period, most women have to wait for an average of two weeks from the time they ovulate for a positive home pregnancy test result. Home pregnancy tests measure levels of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in your urine.
This placenta-produced hormone makes its way into your urine almost immediately after an embryo begins implanting in your uterus, between six to 12 days after fertilization. You can start using most home pregnancy tests as soon as hCG can be detected in your urine — and hCG levels usually aren’t high enough to be picked up by a home pregnancy test until your period’s expected.
Can’t wait until then? Some HPTs promise 60 to 75 percent accuracy four to five days before you expect your period. Wait until your period and the rate jumps to 90 percent; wait another week and the results are 99 percent accurate.
Know that false negatives are much more common than false positives, so if the time for your period comes and goes without your monthly flow, check in with your health care provider. Either way, you’ll want to get a blood test to confirm your pregnancy status.
No matter what symptoms you’re having, the only way to know for sure that you’re pregnant is to make an appointment with your OB/GYN.
Be sure to schedule your first prenatal visit as early as you can so you can get the best care possible right from the start if it does turn out that you’re experiencing early pregnancy symptoms. And if you are expecting a baby, congratulations! You’re embarking on the journey of a lifetime.
Frequently Asked Questions
How early do pregnancy symptoms start?
Very early pregnancy symptoms may show up before you miss your period.
What are the beginning pregnancy symptoms?
Sensitivity to smell, tender breasts, fatigue, and raised basal body temperature are often the earliest pregnancy symptoms.
What are the 10 signs of pregnancy?
Ten signs of pregnancy are:
Sensitivity to smell
Tender breasts
Fatigue
Raised basal body temperature
Implantation bleeding
Changes in cervical mucus
Frequent urination
Mood swings
A missed period
Morning sickness or nausea
What does early pregnancy feel like?
You may feel very tired and have nausea, breasts that feel tender or sore, and heightened sensitivity to smell. You may also notice light spotting (from implantation bleeding). Other common early pregnancy symptoms include mood swings, frequent urination, bloating, food aversions, and excess saliva.
Romance. You would think sex and conception go hand in hand, but lovemaking can begin to feel like a chore when getting pregnant becomes your priority. Here are seven ways to restore the heat.
Ovulation calendars. Sperm counts. Urinating on a test strip. Aren’t you having fun baby-making? Not! Trying for a baby can be very trying if you’re, well, trying.
Although you and your partner may be physically closer than ever, your emotional connection may take a hit with all that pressure on both of you to perform. Chances are, you’ll hit that sex-on-demand rut that many hopeful parents-to-be find themselves in when sex becomes a means towards an end (in this case, a baby) rather than a means towards a “happy ending.”
But baby-making doesn’t have to feel like a chore, even with ovulation and pregnancy kits lining the bathroom counter. Here’s how to nurture your twosome as you work to make your family a threesome.
Take a mini vacation
When you’re trying to get pregnant, sex can start to feel routine. Spice it up by switching up the location. If you’re able, sneak off to a hotel for the night. Add in a spa treatment (or give each other a massage at home) to de-stress and get in the mood.
If you can’t get away, change the scenery by taking your lovemaking out of the bedroom — something that’ll be much harder once you have a little one around! Try the living room or the kitchen.
Watch a sexy movie
It won’t just get you both in the mood — it may actually help you conceive faster! In one study, when researchers had men watch a scene with sexual content right before doing the deed, they found that the sperm they produced was of higher quality. (Yes, really!)
Other research has found that it can increase levels of progesterone, a sex hormone thought to increase romantic behavior.
Set the scene
Get yourself a sexy nightie, light some candles, crank up some get-in-the-mood music and let the hanky-panky begin! Or make things a little more playful with a game like strip poker or nude Twister or your favorite R-rated board game. When the lovemaking is over, spend some time cuddling. (It might increase your odds of getting pregnant — it gives the sperm time to get through your cervix!)
Spice it up
Surprise him (and maybe yourself) by doing something out of the ordinary: Invest in some sex toys, crank up the passion with something sweet (chocolate syrup, anyone?) or try a new position. Although you may have heard fertility myths that the missionary position or penetration from behind are best for babymaking, any sex position will do for conception — so try them all!
Steer clear of lubricants and oral sex when trying to get pregnant, though — saliva and lubricants can damage sperm.
Laugh a little
There’s no question that babymaking is serious business. But if you loosen up a little, it’s not only good for your relationship — it’s one of the best ways to relax, too.
Stream that silly comedy you were embarrassed about actually going to see in a movie theater, or catch up on old episodes of Saturday Night Live. Look for the humor in trying to conceive wherever you can, including frantic temperature checks and dashes to the bedroom. Remember, laughter’s the best medicine, and it can help you get through those first months or years after your baby finally arrives, too.
Sex up your phones
Spice up your normal texts with some suggestive messages or alluring pictures to whet his appetite for what’s on the menu tonight (hint: you). Spell out exactly what you will — and will not — be wearing, and what you want to happen. You’ll keep him in anticipation and on edge for the rest of the day.
Up the romance
Think moonlit strolls holding hands, dinner by candlelight, cuddling in front of the fireplace. Focus on the romance and see what happens next. But whatever you do, make sure you keep talking. The physical is only part of it. Stay connected emotionally by sharing your feelings about sex, conception and your future life as parents. This will take both your romance and your relationship a long way.
You’ve decided to take the plunge into the trying-to-conceive pool. Good for you! But as you come up for air, you might start feeling a little worried. What if I can’t get pregnant? What if something goes wrong? How long will this take?
Despite what you might have been told in your middle school health class, pregnancy doesn’t happen automatically after having unprotected sex. There are several key steps to getting that bun into the oven, and each one has to go just right.
It all starts with ovulation, when your ovaries release a mature egg that’s available for fertilization by sperm. Having sex when you’re ovulating — which happens around halfway through your menstrual cycle — gives you the best chance of getting pregnant, so it’s worth getting the timing right.
Once a sperm fertilizes the egg, it slowly but surely makes its way into the uterus, all the while growing and dividing. After several days, the fertilized egg implants on the uterus wall, resulting in pregnancy.
This whole process — from sex to implantation — takes between two and three weeks. Still, as most people who are trying to conceive quickly learn, the road to getting pregnant often takes a little longer than that. Here’s a look at what you can expect.
How long does it take to get pregnant?
In general, healthy couples have a 20 percent to 25 percent chance of getting pregnant during each monthly cycle, assuming you’re having sex regularly and without contraception. (“Regularly” is considered two to three times a week.) Over the course of year, 85 percent of couples who are actively trying to get pregnant will conceive.
That’s an across-the-board estimate though, and not every individual couple’s timeline is exactly the same. Your age, overall health, reproductive health and how often you have sex all factor in to how long it will take you to get pregnant. A man’s age and health matter too, along with other factors.
How long does it take to get pregnant after going off birth control?
Wondering if your body needs time to adjust to being off the pill before you’ll be able to conceive? The answer isn’t exactly clear-cut, but in most cases, going off hormonal birth control shouldn’t throw too much of a wrench in your pregnancy plans.
Hormonal birth control methods like the pill, patch, ring or hormonal IUD all work by turning off hormone signals, mainly to stop ovulation (the release of an egg from one of the ovaries). Once you stop using this form of contraception, those hormones turn back on and you go back to ovulating.
Most women start getting regular periods again — a sign of ovulation — within a few weeks after stopping birth control. But for others it can take up to three months, and that’s completely normal. (Good to know: Birth control shots like Depo-Provera often have a longer timeline. Most women won’t get pregnant for at least 12 to 14 weeks after their last shot, but it could take as long as a year or two.)
Just like there’s some variation in when your period will come back after stopping birth control, some women take a little longer than others to conceive. Some research shows that having taken oral contraceptives doesn’t affect a woman’s ability to get pregnant in the short- or long-term. But other research found that going off the pill is tied to a slight delay when compared with barrier methods.
What are my odds of conceiving by age?
Overall, you’ll very likely become pregnant within several months of enjoyable effort. It may happen faster if you know your cycle and learn to identify when you’re ovulating. Eating well and staying healthy can play a role, too.
That said, age does affect your chances of getting pregnant. Healthy couples in their 20s have around a 1 in 4 chance of conceiving during any monthly cycle, while the chances for those in their early 30s are around 1 in 5.
And while fertility does decline quickly starting in your mid-30s, your odds of having a baby are still far from nil. But the odds drop to around 1 in 10 by age 40.
How can you improve your fertility and increase your chances of getting pregnant each month?
The best way to give your body a boost in the baby-making department is to focus on your health. So make an effort to get in the best shape possible by doing things like:
If you smoke, quit. It’ll improve your odds of conceiving, and give your baby the best start in life when you do become pregnant.
Eat right. Some research suggests that certain dietary patterns can reduce the risk for infertility. Aim to eat more plant-based sources of protein and iron and fewer animal-based ones (like lentils instead of beef), choose whole grains and other sources of fiber, look for healthy sources of fat like avocado and nuts.
Aim for a healthy weight. Being overweight or underweight can both affect hormones involved in fertility.
Take a prenatal vitamin. Not only will it protect your baby’s health when you become pregnant, it could increase your odds for conceiving in the first place.
Make time for stress relief. Unchecked tension and anxiety can impair fertility. Try yoga, meditation or any other practice that helps you unwind.
Test out couples’ acupuncture. Some research has found it may improve both male and female infertility.
Have sex often. Try to get busy every one to two days if you can. More sex when you’re fertile means more chances of getting pregnant.
How long to try to get pregnant before seeing a specialist
Talk with your doctor if you’re under 35 and haven’t conceived after a year of actively trying, or if you’re over 35 and haven’t conceived within six months. At least half of couples who are evaluated for suspected infertility will end up, after treatment, with a successful pregnancy. A reproductive endocrinologist or other specialist can help determine where the problem lies and how to fix it or get around it.
