Couples who have struggled to get pregnant will give you one very important piece of advice: Be patient. Getting pregnant is a process that may take a little time. But how much time is too much time?
There’s a clear guideline: the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)\ define infertility as the inability to get pregnant after one year of having sex without protection. However, for those older than 35, this period decreases to six months. Statistically speaking, roughly 6 percent of women between the ages of 15 and 44 can’t conceive after a year.
Infertility can feel isolating. We see our friends having babies-- and WISH that we could do the same. But it’s important to remember that infertility is a common thing. In fact, the nonprofit group, the National Fertility Association, reports that one in eight couples either can’t conceive or can’t carry a baby to term. (In other words, you’re not alone.)
The good news is that infertility can be treated. In fact, 80 to 95 percent of infertility cases can be treated with either medication or surgical procedures.
If you’re struggling to conceive, take a look at these five factors that may play a role in your ability to get pregnant.
Stress
Trying to get pregnant and being unable to do so is stressful, but stress may affect the ability to get pregnant.
According to Today, studies have linked stress to infertility. One such study examined more than 400 women between the ages of 18 and 40 who had recently decided to try to have a child. The subjects, who had not reported prior issues conceiving, were observed for either a year or until they were expecting.