What Are My Chances of Getting Pregnant?
QUESTION
Dear Midwife,
My husband and I have decided that we would like to start a family. I haven't been on any form of birth control in 2 years other that we have been using condoms. The first day of my last period was on July 5. I've done the ovulation calendar and it stated that my most fertile dates were from July 15 - 21, with July 19th being my ovulation date.
I read that you should have sex every other day during the fertile days as well as your ovulation date, and we have. I guess I wanting to know if we have done the necessary things?
Also what are my chances for getting pregnant due to the fact that no birth control has been in my system in 2 years. Thank you for your time.
Nancy
ANSWER
Hi Nancy,
Statistically, you have an 85% chance of conceiving within the first year. If you are not successful by then, you may want to have some tests run to make sure everything is ok.
-- Cynthia, CNM. PhD.
Cynthia Flynn
Cynthia Flynn, CNM. PhD, is the General Director of the Family Health and Birth Center which provides prenatal, birth, postnatal, gynecological and primary health care to underserved women and their families in Washington, D.C. Recently Cynthia served as Associate Professor of Nursing at Seattle University. There she not only taught, but remained in full scope clinical midwifery practice at Valley Medical Center where she cared for pregnant and birthing women, and practices well-woman gynecology, family planning, and treatment of sexually transmitted diseases.
Cynthia founded Columbia Women's Clinic and Birth Center, where she took care of pregnant women and infants up to two weeks of age and attended both birth center and hospital births. Before Cynthia earned her CNM, she worked as a registered nurse in labor and delivery and postpartum and is a certified Doula and Doula trainer.
