Once you have made the decision to try for a baby, chances are you don't want it to take forever and would like to know how to get pregnant fast. Fortunately, there are a number of simple steps you can take which will maximize your chances and get you on the right track not only to conceive quickly, but healthily too.

Body Weight

Being outside the normal healthy weight range for your height (whether underweight or overweight) can have an adverse effect on ovulation, with both groups displaying disruption. Steps should therefore be taken to get within the healthy weight range. If you are overweight, even slightly reducing body fat can help and if underweight, just a little gain can trigger ovulation.

Alcohol and Drugs

If both parties regularly drink, fertility can decline by around 50%. Alcohol is know to have an adverse effect on an early pregnancy so it makes complete sense to avoid it throughout pregnancy. It goes without saying that illegal drugs should be avoided. With regard to over the counter and prescription drugs, always mention to the pharmacist that you are trying to conceive and check that the drugs are safe. Less considered is the potential effect of caffeine. It is known that caffeine (as found in coffee, tea, chocolate and some fizzy drinks) can reduce the chances of conception so keep consumption to a minimum.

Smoking

For couples wanting to know how to get pregnant fast, smoking is best avoided. Men who smoke have a sperm count which is 17% less than their non-smoking counterparts. In women, fertility is reduced by around 30%. Therefore, if becoming pregnant is your priority, it is sensible to avoid smoking altogether.

Taking Exercise

Regular exercise is the key to good overall health and an active couple are much more likely to achieve conception. However, it should be noted that overexercising in women can adversely affect fertility as it can cause ovulation to stop.

Diet

Eating a well-balanced diet containing all essential nutrients, including trace elements, is important for both parties. Taking a good multivitamin supplement recommended for pregnant women can prove beneficial. Try to avoid foods with artificial additives, processed meats and always wash fruit and vegetables to clean off pesticides.

Ovulation

Knowing when ovulation is likely to occur will massively help couples wanting to know how to get pregnant fast. The best way to determine this is to use an ovulation predictor as it takes away the guesswork of using the cervical mucous method or taking basal body temperature. Once you know which days of the cycle you are likely to ovulate, ensure that you have intercourse a couple of days before the day, on the day itself, and for a day afterward.

There is no doubt that although these tips will not guarantee a quick conception, they should certainly improve the odds of this happening. Despite researching and putting into practice tips on how to become pregnant quickly, naturally, some couples still do not conceive after several months. Rather than leaving matters completely to chance, it makes sense to implement a tried and tested method which is guaranteed to work.