The joy of parenthood is one of the best feelings in the world. The first kick of the baby, the first cry of the baby, and the first giggle make the world buckle down on its toe and grant happiness like nothing else. That said, sometimes, things don't work out as we plan and becoming a parent is easier said than done. Sometimes getting pregnant becomes just a dream. During these trying times, you may question yourself: why are you not pregnant? Well, the answer to this question is varied and depends on many circumstances.
In this blog, we discuss some of the key reasons why you are not pregnant. So, without any further ado, let's get started!
There are many reasons why you are not pregnant. While the specifics behind why one cannot get pregnant vary, the top 10 reasons why you are not getting pregnant are as follows:
One of the key reasons why you are not pregnant may be the timing of your intercourse. If you wish to get pregnant, understanding the timing of sexual intercourse is the key. The specifics of the menstrual period vary from women to women. However, in general, it starts on the first day of the period and ends the day before the next period begins. The ovulation typically occurs around the middle of the cycle which is typically between the 11th and 21st day of a 28 day cycle. During the ovulation period, an egg is released from the ovary and is viable for about 12 to 24 hours. The sperm can live on the reproductive tract for five days. Therefore, you can have sex in the few days leading up to ovulation. This increases the chances of the sperm being present when the egg is released,
Along with timing, the health condition of both you and your partner is another one of the key aspects that affect your pregnancy. The female partner may face hormonal disorders such as Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS). Disorders such as this can cause infrequent or prolonged menstrual periods or excess male hormone levels in your body. Another common disorder is known as Endometriosis and it is a painful disorder in which tissues, similar to those found inside the uterus, grow outside it. This can affect the ovaries, fallopian tubes, and other areas, causing inflammation, scarring, and adhesions, which can interfere with ovulation and fertilization. These are two of the common health conditions that may contribute to pregnancy failure.
It is not just specific health conditions that decrease the chances of your pregnancy. If you live an overall unhealthy lifestyle, it can contribute to pregnancy failures as well. Some of the common unhealthy lifestyle choices that can contribute to unhealthy lifestyle are as follows:
These are some of the key lifestyle factors that contribute to pregnancy failure.
As mentioned prior, being overweight and underweight can also affect the chances of pregnancy. Regardless if you are obese or underweight, both affect the production of hormones and menstrual cycles. This indirectly affects the success rates of conception. Furthermore, being overweight and underweight also reduces egg quality as well. All of this contributes to lower chances of pregnancy. If you want further insights into the relationship between weight and pregnancy, we covered this in detail in our article about Can Fertility be Affected by Obesity or Underweight in Women?
Along with lifestyle and weight, irregular menstrual cycles also affect pregnancy as well. Irregular periods can indicate underlying hormonal imbalances or conditions such as PCOS or thyroid disorders. Tracking menstrual cycles and seeking medical advice if irregularities persist can help identify and address these issues.
Besides the menstrual cycle, sometimes the cause of pregnancy failure is not yours. Sometimes the reason why you are not pregnant is because of male factor infertility. Male infertility can result from issues with sperm production, sperm motility, or sperm quality. Causes can include genetic factors, hormonal imbalances, infections, environmental factors (such as exposure to toxins or radiation), lifestyle factors (such as smoking or excessive alcohol consumption), and certain medications.
After talking about the causes specific to males and females, let's talk about a factor that affects both males and females; Age. The older you get, the lower your fertility and this goes for both genders. The quality and quantity of sperm decreases for males and the females lose their egg reserve and their quality decreases with age. Therefore if you or your partner is above the prime parenthood, it might be the reason why you are not getting pregnant. For those wondering, the prime age is before 35 for females and 40 for females.
Along with age and factors affecting stress can also be the cause of infertility. Chronic stress can disrupt the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, leading to imbalances in hormone levels, including those involved in the menstrual cycle and sperm production. Furthermore, stress can also lead to unhealthy lifestyles like the ones we mentioned earlier, which can further lead to pregnancy failure. Stress-reduction techniques such as mindfulness meditation, yoga, and deep-breathing exercises can help mitigate these effects.
Stress is a factor that affects chances of being pregnant and so is sexually transmitted infections. The thing here is that it does not matter who has the infection. The one with STI can be both you or your partner. STIs such as chlamydia and gonorrhea can cause pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) if left untreated. PID can lead to scarring and damage to the reproductive organs, increasing the risk of infertility or ectopic pregnancy.
Besides the physical and mental factors, another key factor that affects the chances of being pregnant is the environmental factor. Exposure to environmental toxins such as pesticides, heavy metals, and certain chemicals found in plastics and personal care products can disrupt hormone levels and impair fertility. Limiting exposure to these toxins and adopting a more natural lifestyle can help reduce their impact.
These are just 10 of the reasons why you are not pregnant. As mentioned before, the specific reason why you are not pregnant varies depending on your circumstances.
Parenthood is a joy that many dream of feeling. However, sometimes things do not happen as we wish and you may have a hard time getting pregnant. In these circumstances, you may wonder why you are not pregnant. While the specifics may vary depending on the specifics of your circumstances, some of the key reasons include health conditions, age, stress, irregular menstrual cycle, unhealthy weight, and other environmental factors.
In this blog, we talked about 10 reasons why you are not pregnant. If you want further details on various other aspects of infertility and pregnancy, do check out some of our other blogs. And if you want the best IVF and fertility services in Nepal, look no further than Hardik IVF and Fertility Center, IVF center in Nepal. Thank you for reading till the end.
Some of the most common reasons for not getting pregnant are as follows:
Some of the reasons why you may not be getting pregnant may include the following reasons:
The best time to get pregnant is between 12 to 14 days before the start of the next period.
Some of the signs that you can get pregnant include the following:
The seven signs of ovulation include the following:
Although the likelihood of getting pregnant on a period is low, you can get pregnant on your period.