5 Bizarre Reasons You're Not Pregnant Yet

If you’re having trouble getting pregnant, it's hard not to wonder, “What’s wrong with me?” but try not to overthink it, as stress can harm your fertility, according to a study of 500 women published Monday in the journal Human Reproduction. “This is the first time that stress has been scientifically proven to affect fertility,” lead study author Courtney Lynch, PhD, assistant professor of epidemiology at Ohio State University, tells Yahoo Shine. “Until now, the stress-fertility link has only been anecdotal.”

The study found that women with high levels of a stress indicator called “alpha-amylase” are 29 percent less likely to get pregnant each month and more than twice as likely to meet the clinical definition of “infertile” (the inability to conceive after one year of unprotected sex.) “It’s important to pay attention to the signs; if you’ve been trying for five or six months and are worried, talk to your doctor about relaxation techniques,” says Lynch. But stress is just one fertility factor — here are four more possible reasons you’re not pregnant yet.

You’re lax about taking care of your teeth: Some nights you're probably tempted to fall into bed without a full brushing and flossing, but gum disease as a result of poor oral hygiene can lengthen the time it takes to get pregnant. One study presented at the annual meeting of the 2010 European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology found that women with gum disease took more than seven months to conceive, compared to the average five months. Researchers say inflammation of the mouth can cause organ damage throughout the body, including to the reproductive system.

You drink low-fat milk: One Harvard study found that women who consumed two or more daily servings of low-fat dairy were 85 percent more likely to be infertile due to ovulatory disorders than those who ate it less than once a week. On the other hand, women who consumed full-fat dairy products (including ice cream) had a 25 percent reduced risk of infertility compared to those who only seldomly indulged. “These findings were extremely surprising,” Jorge Chavarro, an assistant professor of medicine at Harvard University, told The Daily Beast in 2011. Bring on the Haagen Dazs!

You have an sexually transmitted infection: As common and treatable as they are, there are certain types of STIs which pose a threat to your fertility. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), women with chlamydia (a virtually symptomless condition) and gonorrhea (often detected by a burning sensation during urination), can develop pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) which can cause permanent damage to the fallopian tubes and uterus. Your best bet at prevention: Have protected sex and get tested regularly. 

You hit the gym too much:
It’s great to be fit, but overdoing your workout regimen can cause problems in the baby department. Research published in the journal Fertility and Sterility found that normal-weight women with a body mass index (BMI) under 25 who exercise a lot (five or more hours per week) were 42 percent less likely to get pregnant than non-exercisers. That's because such workouts signal the body to avoid further stress such as reproduction. One exception: Study authors say that obese women can boost their odds of conceiving with more exercise.