important figures for when you want to (not) get pregnant

As a young, healthy couple, you have about a 20 percent chance of hitting the mark each cycle. For some, it only takes a month, while others may take a bit longer to get used to the idea.

For us, it went surprisingly quickly, and that's quite nice. It's a gift. But well, we are apparently very fertile, because having twins naturally (without IVF) doesn't happen very often. About 30 percent of women become pregnant within three months. So that's not too crazy either. We fall into that category. Within a year, 80 percent of women become pregnant. The remaining 10 percent takes a bit longer.

That can also bring a lot of misery: suddenly you don't know if it will ever work out. After a year, you go to the doctor for a first examination. Age also plays an important role: after your 35th, the chance of getting pregnant decreases more and more. At 35, you only have an 8 percent chance per cycle, instead of that 20 percent.

In any case, wanting to get pregnant is a bit of a thing of ‘having sex because it's useful’. Fortunately, it happened so quickly for us that we never had to set alarms on our phones. It makes it so... Static.

And what about a fraternal twin, in my case?There are also figures known about that, and honestly? I feel special right away. Especially considering my age (28 at the time of getting pregnant). The chance of having twins for a 25-year-old woman is about 1 in 90, and for a 40-year-old woman, it's 1 in 60. The older you get, the more chance you have of that double jump. The chance of having multiples is generally greatest after a fertility treatment. Of all successful IVF attempts, 25% result in twins. And regarding gender, there isn't much sensible to say about a fraternal twin. The chance is just as great that you will have two boys, two girls, or one boy and one girl.

And if you find yourself trying longer than hoped: don't lose hope. Over 90 percent of women become pregnant in the first two years of trying. Those are beautiful figures, right?