Are you hoping to hold your own little bundle of joy soon?
Trying to get pregnant can be a lot of fun, but for many couples it
can be frustrating too.
Fertility is the result of many factors coming together at one time. Knowing the basics can help you make changes that could increase your chances of conceiving.
During ovulation, an egg is released into the fallopian tube. Sperm must come in contact with the egg within 24-48 hours for pregnancy to take place. If the egg is not fertilized, menstruation will usually occur in about 2 weeks. Tracking your menstrual cycle will help you determine your best chance for pregnancy.
A woman's menstrual cycle starts from the first day of her period to the first day of her next period. It is usually 23-35 days long. Although ovulation can be irregular, it typically occurs 12-16 days before the start of your next menstrual period. For example, in a 28-day cycle, ovulation often occurs on the 14th day.
Because ovulations may be irregular a calendar tracking may not work for you. The following methods can also help you determine when you are fertile:
Right after ovulation, many women have an increase in basal (early morning) body temperature. It may increase about 0.5°F-1.6°F. By taking and recording your temperature every morning before rising, you should note a pattern over the next few cycles. Plan to have intercourse during the 2-3 days before your temperature normally rises. The downside of this method is that you must be vigilant in taking and recording your temperature every day for several months.
Keep in mind that drinking or smoking and poor sleep patterns can have an effect on your basal body temperature.
You may be able to determine ovulation by observing changes in your body. One change is that your cervical mucus becomes clear, slippery, stretchy, (similar to raw egg whites) on the days before ovulation. This mucus helps to increase the movement of the sperm through the uterus to the fallopian tubes where it meets the egg.
Some women also experience discomfort, achiness, or twinges of pain in the lower abdomen during ovulation. The discomfort may last for a few minutes or several hours.
Easy-to-use kits for determining ovulation are available in many stores. They involve urinating on test strips which change color when you are ovulating. The changes are caused by hormones specific to ovulation. Accuracy varies depending on the product, so try different ones to see which one is more accurate for you.
Understanding ovulation is just one factor in pregnancy. If you are trying to get pregnant, keep these factors in mind:
Remember that even if conceiving your previous child was easy, it does not mean that future pregnancies will be easy to achieve. Knowing your how your body responds to hormonal changes can increase the chances putting you on the road to a healthy pregnancy. Talk to your healthcare provider if you are planning on becoming pregnant.
American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
http://www.acog.org
Women's Health—Department of Health and Human Services
http://www.womenshealth.gov
Health Canada
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca
Women's Health Matters
http://www.womenshealthmatters.ca
Agarwal A, Deepinder F, et al. Effects of vaginal lubricants on sperm motility and chromatin integrity: A prospective comparative study. Fertil Steril. 2008;89(2):375-379.
Infertility in women. EBSCO DynaMed Plus website. Available at:http://www.dynamed.com/topics/dmp~AN~T116334/Infertility-in-women. Updated July 12, 2016. Accessed October 25, 2016.
Kutteh WH, Chao CH, et al. Vaginal lubricants for the infertile couple: Effect on sperm activity. Int J Fertil Menopausal Stud. 1996;41(4):400-404.
Menstruation and the menstrual cycle fact sheet. Office on Women's Health website. Available at: http://womenshealth.gov/publications/our-publications/fact-sheet/menstruation.pdf. Updated October 21, 2009. Accessed October 25, 2016.
Natural family planning. The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists website. Available at: http://www.acog.org/~/media/For%20Patients/faq024.pdf?dmc=1&ts=20121205T1356158818. Updated April 2015. Accessed October 25, 2016.
Treatment of infertility in women. EBSCO DynaMed Plus website. Available at:http://www.dynamed.com/topics/dmp~AN~T903044/Treatment-of-infertility-in-women. Updated September 26, 2016. Accessed October 25, 2016.
Trying to conceive. Office on Women's Health website. Available at: http://www.womenshealth.gov/pregnancy/before-you-get-pregnant/trying-to-conceive.html. Updated September 27, 2010. Accessed October 25, 2016.
Last reviewed October 2016 by Michael Woods, MD Last Updated: 12/9/2014
