How do females get pregnant

One person may have a desire to be pregnant — while another may not. Or a couple might opt to use a surrogate or adopt a child. As previously noted, sperm is a necessary part of the baby-making equation. When selecting a sperm donor, you may look for someone with similarities to you or your partner. Or not. If two people with uteruses in a relationship wish to use donor sperm, one or both, if additional children are desired may opt to carry a pregnancy.

There are a few ways that the donor sperm can be used in order to achieve pregnancy, including insemination and in vitro fertilization. Artificial insemination allows couples to become pregnant by introducing sperm into the uterus without penis-in-vagina sex. Once you have secured your sperm, you may choose to inseminate in a clinic or at home.

Some couples prefer the less clinical aspect of trying for a pregnancy in the comfort of their own home. You can work with a clinic for some aspects of the process like finding sperm or supplies or opt to go it on your own. The overall cost will depend upon the source for your sperm and other supplies, but this is typically the most affordable option. One older study revealed that lesbian couples had a 57 percent success rate with getting pregnant using IUI.

This procedure can also be used if a transgender partner had sperm previously frozen. It involves fertilizing eggs in the lab and then introducing the resulting embryo s directly into the uterus for implantation. The first step is harvesting eggs from one partner or a donor and acquiring sperm from a donor. Then the partner who desires to be pregnant or a gestational carrier is primed with various medications to prepare for the transfer of the embryo s and — hopefully — successful implantation.

This process is the most invasive and the most costly of all options. You may opt to use a surrogate to carry the pregnancy or to build a family through adoption.

Can I get pregnant if I have sex without penetration? Getting pregnant Pregnancy happens when a sperm fertilises an egg, which can happen even if you've not had sexual intercourse penetration. The ovaries release 1 or more eggs ovulation days before a period starts. What if I did not have penetrative sex?

It is possible to get pregnant if sperm comes into contact with the vagina, if for example: your partner ejaculates very close to your vagina your partner's erect penis comes into contact with your genital area vagina or vulva The risk of getting pregnant in this way is very low because sperm can only live for a short time outside the body.

Preventing pregnancy If you do not want to get pregnant, you should use contraception. Read the answers to more questions about pregnancy Further information: Can I get pregnant just after my period has finished? How do I use a condom?

How effective is each contraceptive? But the most fertile days are the three days leading up to and including ovulation. Having sex during this time gives you the best chance of getting pregnant. By hours after ovulation, a woman is no longer able to get pregnant during that menstrual cycle because the egg is no longer in the fallopian tube. Knowing when you ovulate can help you plan for sex at the right time and improve your chance of getting pregnant.

You can keep track of your menstrual cycles on a chart, in a diary, or on a free period-tracker app on your smartphone. To work out the length of your menstrual cycle, record the first day you start bleeding first day of your period. This is day 1.

The last day of your cycle is the day before your next period begins. A menstrual cycle starts on the day when a period starts day 1 and ends the day before the next period. They can vary between women and from one cycle to the next. Periods are not always regular.

If you add the number of days in three cycles and divide the total number by three, it gives you your average cycle length. Sarah tracked her last three menstrual cycles by counting the time from the first day of one period, to the day before the next period. Your most fertile days are the three days leading up to and including the day of ovulation. Some women have very irregular cycles or find it difficult to work out an average cycle length.

This can make it hard to work out when ovulation happens. Eggs and sperm need to come together at the right time for fertilisation to happen to create an embryo.

If you're trying to get pregnant, timing is everything. Dr Karin Hammarberg explains how to work out when you are ovulating and the right time to have sex to improve your chance of pregnancy. If a woman has sex six or more days before she ovulates, the chance she will get pregnant is virtually zero. If she has sex on the day of ovulation, or the two days before, the chance of getting pregnant is around 30 percent.

Professor Sarah Robertson, Director of Robinson Research Institute, University of Adelaide, highlights the key time before pregnancy that your health is most important to ensure your child has the best start to life.

Kerry Hampton, a registered nurse and fertility specialist, discusses the importance of fertility awareness, and how to determine your fertile window to improve your chances of conceiving. What men and women can do to increase their chance of getting pregnant and having a healthy baby. Find out how a more healthy lifestyle increases your chance of pregnancy and having a healthy baby.

Share Back to Top. Apart from being healthy, what else can help you get pregnant? Sex of course - at the right time!

Your chance of getting pregnant is dramatically increased if you have sex on the day of ovulation, or two days before that.