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Lifestyle and home remedies
By Mayo Clinic staffThere are a few steps you can take at home to increase your chances of achieving pregnancy:
- Increase frequency of intercourse. Having intercourse two to three times a week may improve fertility. However, ejaculating more than a few times a week can reduce fertility. Sperm survive in the female reproductive tract for up to 72 hours, and an egg can be fertilized for up to 24 hours after ovulation.
- Have intercourse when fertilization is possible. A woman can only become pregnant during ovulation — which occurs in the middle of the menstrual cycle, between periods. Experts generally recommend having intercourse every two days near the time of ovulation. This will ensure that sperm, which can live several days, are present when conception is possible.
- Avoid the use of lubricants. Products such as Astroglide or K-Y jelly, lotions, and saliva have been shown to impair sperm motility. If lubrication is needed, use a minimal amount of vegetable oil, which is less likely to impair sperm motility.
