If you are already having some difficulty or just want to maximize your chances of conception by learning about how to become pregnant, the following information about ovulation and fertility should help you along the way
Predicting Ovulation
Predicting ovulation is not always an exact science, but some women find it is the key to getting pregnant quickly. Various factors, including stress and overall health, can affect your hormones and your ovulation. Learning about ovulation and the methods for predicting it can make a huge difference in the time you spend trying to get pregnant.
The Calendar Method
Many women have learned to use the calendar method to predict the optimal time of conception, but because ovulation can be erratic at times, using the days in your cycle to determine it can be inaccurate. While you should make a note that you ovulate around fourteen days into your cycle, you should also be aware that this isn’t always precise.
Signs of Ovulation
Learning to recognize the signs of ovulation is the next step in precision above using the calendar method. The most commonly recognized sign that your body is ovulating is found by recording your basal body temperature. This method requires commitment (you have to record your basal body temperature every day), but it can be very accurate as a result. Essentially, a history of your basal body temperature will show slight increases during your most fertile days, helping you identify your ovulation pattern.
Ovulation Prediction Kits
Using an ovulation prediction kit will probably help you achieve the highest level of accuracy the most optimum times for conception. These kits help you avoid guessing or using other sometimes inaccurate methods, and most women find them to be much less confusing. They are especially appealing to some because they seem to be more accurate in predicting ovulation further ahead of time, providing you more notice that the best time to conceive is approaching.
Once you’ve got a handle on predicting ovulation, you will want to use your predictions to have sex just before that time. This ensures that the longer lifespan of the sperm has a greater chance of crossing with the shorter lifespan of the egg.
Maximizing Fertility…
The first hurdle of conception may be predicting ovulation, but you will also want to focus on fertility to maximize your chances of becoming pregnant. You can maximize fertility by planning and maintaining a healthy lifestyle and relationship with your partner.
Plan Pregnancy
When possible, it’s a great idea to plan a trip to your doctor prior to attempting to conceive. Because he holds a better understanding of your overall health, your general physician or OBGYN should be able to provide ways to maximize fertility that are unique to you. Further, your doctor can advise you on making lifestyle changes, help you plan a regimen of pre-natal vitamins, and recommend alternatives to any current medications that might not be conducive to you becoming pregnant.
Make Healthy Choices
Don’t underestimate the importance of your health overall during this time. Things like keeping yourself at a healthy weight, eating a nutritious diet, maintaining exercise and taking vitamins will all add to your health as well as the health of your future baby. Perhaps more importantly, avoid smoking, drinking and abusing drugs of any kind during this time. All of these activities can harm your child before you are aware of your pregnancy, so it is best to avoid them while you are trying to conceive.
Increase Intimacy
Since ovulation and sex are required together to conceive, you can avoid the guessing game by having sex more regularly; most recommend around three times per week at least. Further, evidence has shown that the act of a woman having an orgasm just before or during sex can actually help the uterus move the sperm to the egg. Overall, increasing your intimacy can’t hurt, and it’s a great way to decrease stress, which is a good thing for women trying to get pregnant as well.
If you are having a difficult time getting pregnant, it’s important to do what you can and simply be patient with the process. Too much stress about becoming pregnant can actually diminish your chances of conceiving quickly and easily. Couples that feel they are abnormal in their struggles to conceive may benefit from a trip to the doctor, who can discuss any fertility issues that may be present with either person.
