Are you attempting a quick pregnancy? If you are able to become pregnant on your first attempt, you may be considered fortunate. More likely, though, the magic won't happen until a few months from now.

In their 20s and early 30s, healthy individuals with ovaries have a 25% chance of becoming pregnant per menstrual cycle (assuming they're having frequent, unprotected intercourse). This information comes from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG). The odds drop to 10% every menstrual cycle by the age of 40.

In spite of these figures, there are things you may do to promote a quick conception. This can include watching your window of opportunity for having sex and quitting birth control (preferably a few months before you start trying). Discover the quickest method of getting pregnant by reading on for advice and strategies supported by experts.

14 Things to Know If You're Having Sex to Get Pregnant

Step 1: Stop Taking Birth Control

It might be beneficial to quit using birth control pills a few months before attempting to conceive if you're wanting to get pregnant quickly. Christopher Williams, MD, a reproductive endocrinologist in private practice in Charlottesville, Virginia, and author of The Fastest Way to Get Pregnant Naturally, advises switching to a non-hormonal method of contraception instead.

The same advise applies to intrauterine devices, implants, patches, and vaginal rings, among other birth control methods. But since the birth control shot takes some time to exit your system, you should cease taking it around nine months in advance if you are using Depo-Provera.

It could take your body a few cycles to begin ovulating consistently and become ready for conception after using birth control for a period. In order to time conception, it is essential that you have enough time to monitor your cycle and determine when you ovulate.

However, keep in mind that getting pregnant again is theoretically feasible as soon as you stop taking hormonal birth control. Research has indicated that using contraceptives does not always have a negative effect on one's capacity to conceive, and that stopping use does not frequently result in a major delay in fertility.

So if you're not quite ready to conceive, be prepared to use another form of contraception like condoms. This is also a good time to start taking folic acid—at least 400 mcg daily—to lower the odds of some birth defects.

Step 2: Find Your Fertile Window

You may be thinking, "When is the best time to try to get pregnant?" after quitting birth control. Your "fertile window," or the days immediately before and after ovulation, is the answer.

You won't become pregnant no matter how frequently you have sex if you avoid the most fertile days of the month."The most common error made by my patients is not knowing their exact ovulation date.

To identify ovulation, several medical professionals advise utilizing ovulation prediction kits (OPKs). The way these at-home tests function is by looking for a spike in luteinizing hormone (LH) in your urine, which happens 36–48 hours prior to your period. Optimal Prostate Health (OPH) helps you schedule sex for when you're most fertile.

Other ways to track ovulation include charting your basal body temperature (BBT), monitoring your cervical mucus, and tracking your menstrual cycle. You can also use an online ovulation calculator.

Step 3: Have Sex Before You Ovulate

Having intercourse before to ovulation increases the likelihood that sperm will be present to welcome the egg once it exits the ovary, which is vital information to know if you want to become pregnant quickly. An egg only survives for 12 to 24 hours after it is released, however sperm can live in your reproductive system for up to five days in the correct circumstances.

When utilizing OPKs, doctors advise taking advantage of the pre-ovulation window by having intercourse as soon as possible after receiving a good result and again during the next several days.

When you begin to observe mucus of viable quality, time your next sexual encounter if you are monitoring your cervical mucus. It will resemble raw egg white in consistency and appear transparent and pliable. As soon as your menstruation stops, you can begin having sex at least a couple times a week (every other day is even better), if you're not one to closely monitor fertility symptoms. If the length of your cycle fluctuates from month to month, scheduling regular activities following your period will help you make sure you don't miss your most fertile time.

Step 4: Try Some Recommended Positions

When it comes to the best penis-in-vagina position to get pregnant fast, it can be hard to separate real advice from myths. But Dr. Williams says the following tips may be worth a try (but keep in mind there's no evidence they actually work):

Post-sex, lie on your back. Sperm can collect in your vagina after sex because it naturally slopes downward, giving them an advantage as they travel toward your egg.

Go to bed after having sex. There is no ideal time of day to have intercourse in terms of sperm count, despite claims from certain sources that the count is highest in the morning. But one easy technique to make sure you're still on your back afterward is to have sex before you go to bed.

Keep it vanilla(ish). While there's no single sex position that's best for conceiving, try sticking to one where you'll be on your back when it's over.

Step 5: Avoid Baby-Making Mistakes

To increase your odds of getting pregnant fast naturally, you'll want to avoid these things:

Smoking. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), tobacco negatively impacts fertility for both men and women.6

Alcohol. You already know to avoid alcohol during pregnancy, but it also pays to stop drinking before conception, because chronic and prolonged intake may adversely impair your fertility. 7 Also, by saying "no" to alcohol, you won't accidentally drink before knowing you're pregnant.

Caffeine. While you don't need to completely eliminate caffeine, excessive amounts (more than 200 milligrams per day) can make it harder to conceive—though it's important to note that research isn't conclusive. 8

Excess stress. Your menstrual cycle could be thrown off by too much stress, which impacts ovulation. But again, the research linking stress and infertility is conflicting, and you should talk to your health care provider for more information. Strenuous exercise. Experts recommend maintaining a moderate exercise regime while trying to conceive. That said, long-term extreme exercise habits (like those of professional athletes) can increase the risk of anovulation and irregular menstruation.

Unhealthy diet. Along with exercise, a nutritious diet can help you maintain a healthy weight while trying to conceive. This is important because obesity has been linked to diminished reproductive health and delayed conception. 10

Lube, according to some experts. When it comes to baby-making sex and strategies for getting pregnant fast, some experts recommend avoiding certain personal lubricants. Couples may think lube helps sperm move more quickly, but some research suggests lubricants might actually hinder your pregnancy efforts.11 That's because many formulas can alter the pH balance in the vagina and decrease sperm mobility. Even so, conception sex should be as stress-free as possible, so reach for the lubricant if it makes things more pleasurable for you!

Douching. When you douche, you disrupt the vagina's natural pH balance, wash away cervical mucus (which keeps sperm moving), and partially eliminate good bacteria.

Unhealthy sperm environments. For healthy sperm, keep the testicles away from heat. Hot tubs, laptops placed directly on the lap, and sitting too long with the legs close together can all increase the scrotal temperatures.13 This can negatively impact sperm counts.

Step 6: Take a Pregnancy Test

You might be wondering how soon you can take a pregnancy test if you're hoping to become pregnant quickly. Human chorionic gonadotropin, or hCG, is what home pregnancy tests measure in your urine. Early in pregnancy, the placenta's production of this pregnancy hormone causes levels to rise.

Tests that are sold under the names "early response" or "early result" may be more adept at identifying hCG levels that are lower, typically a few days before to a missed period. Remember that getting tested too soon can result in a "false negative" result, meaning that even though the test indicates you are not pregnant, you actually are.

In these situations, your body isn't yet making enough hCG for the test to pick it up. More accurate results will come from waiting and testing again a few days after your missed menstruation. You can see a doctor and begin prenatal care sooner if you can confirm your pregnancy.

Step 7: Try Again

As much as you might want, there isn't a miracle cure for becoming pregnant quickly. Numerous factors influence the length of time it takes to become pregnant, including your age, health history, menstrual cycle, and lifestyle choices. Although it is possible to become pregnant on your first attempt, most women attempt for multiple cycles before receiving a positive pregnancy test result.

Actually, research indicates that over 75% of couples in their early thirties conceive within a year, and over half of healthy couples conceive within six months of attempting to get pregnant.

You are not alone if your pregnancy test results are negative this time around. If, as most experts recommend, you are under 35 and have no health or fertility issues and you have not conceived after 12 months of trying (or after 6 months if you are over 35), you should contact a fertility specialist. However, that does not exclude you from speaking with a medical professional sooner.

Don't hesitate to schedule a preconception appointment with your healthcare practitioner if you have any worries or if you just want to give yourself the best chance of becoming pregnant as soon as possible.