Fascinating Facts About Conception

When you’re trying for a baby it can seem like the simplest thing in the world… or the hardest. Here are the most fascinating facts about conception, writes Julia Boltt

- Julia Boltt

THE ODDS ARE…

Although everyone knows a story of someone who fell pregnant “by accident”, the odds are actually not nearly as high as you’d think. At 20 years old, it takes on average four months to conceive, by the time you’re 30, it will take up to eight months and after 35, it can take on average, up to 18 months to conceive, so a woman aged 20 has a 25 percent chance of conceiving every month, whereas a woman aged 40 has less than a 5 percent chance of conceiving monthly.

WEIGHT MATTERS

If you’re seriously underweight, you won’t be able to conceive – a minimum of 22 percent body fat is required for ovulation. On the other hand, being overweight or obese can also hamper your chances of ovulating.

THERE’S NOT JUST ONE DAY

Sperm can live in the woman’s reproductive tract for up to three days after sex, so waiting until the day you ovulate to have sex isn’t always the best strategy. According to scientists, having sex one to two days before you ovulate gives you the best chance of conceiving.

TIMING IS EVERYTHING