Fertility Guide

There is no way to predict exactly how long it will take for you to see a positive pregnancy test when you are ready to take a plunge into parenthood. If you are taking good care of your health and having regular sex without birth control, you should be able to conceive without trying, in the first year. About 70 to 80 percent of couples will get pregnant within a year, whereas, half of the couples get pregnant within 6 months. However, the odds of becoming parents can be boosted by knowing the dos and don’ts of fertility.

Learn to read the signs

All pregnancies begin when the egg meets the sperm. Therefore, it is important for both the egg and the sperm to be in the same place. To help this happen, you need to keep track of when your ovaries release an egg and have sex during this particular time frame. This is referred to as the ovulation phase.  If your cycle is regular and your periods are 26 to 32 days apart then it means you should have sex on from the 8^th to the 19^th day after your period. However, you may not be able to rely on the calendar of when you are ovulating alone if you have irregular periods.

Although, there are other ways you can rely on to know that it is time to go. For starters, keep track of your daily discharge. “Cervical mucus increases and becomes very thin, stretchy, and clear as you approach ovulation,” says Staci Pollack, MD. She’s an OB/GYN at the Montefiore Health System. In simpler words, look out for consistency like egg whites. You can also keep track of your basal body temperature, which is the temperature of your body when it is at rest, fully. If the temperature of your body rises 0.6 degrees, then it is a sign that you are ovulating. However, your fertile window in 2 to 3 days before the boost in temperature. You will get an idea of when you might ovulate next if you keep track of it for a few months. In addition to this, for an accurate measure, you can buy an ovulation predictor kit from a drugstore near for days before ovulation. The predictor tests for hormone levels in the urine which spike just a few days before ovulation.

Set a good schedule for sex

Once you have a hang on your fertile window, have the right amount of sex. “We recommend couples have sex about every other day from a few days prior to ovulation until a few days after,” McLennan says. Doing it more often will only increase the odds of getting pregnant, however, there are a few studies that show it may lower the sperm count of a man. Moreover, there is a myth that the position you have sex in affects your odds of conceiving. As far as you have sex, it does not matter if you keep your legs in the air afterward or do not. “Sperm are pretty fast swimmers, and after an act of intercourse, they can be in the tubes as soon as within 2 minutes,” Pollack says.

Watch how much you weight

If you are overweight, the chances of getting pregnant actually decrease compared to when you slim down. If you are overweight, there is an increased chance that you will have irregular menstrual cycles or even not ovulate at all. McLennan says. “Losing even a small percentage of body weight can increase fertility and decrease health risks during pregnancy.” However, being too thin also impacts fertility. When you are underweight, you are more likely to have irregular periods and are also at a risk of preterm birth. Moreover, your baby is also more likely to be born with a low birth weight.

Review your medications

It is advisable that you review your medicines with the doctor before considering childbirth. Be sure that the medications that you will be taking do not harm the baby or cause permanent damage, such as infertility. For instance, men who are taking testosterone need to stop it. However, women should also be cautious about testosterone and of the medicines that cause hormonal issues, thyroid issues, seizures, psychic disorders or those that have estrogen and progesterone in them.

Most of the birth control pills consist of these hormones to avoid pregnancy. Although if you have just started taking them, there is no need to worry about any post-pill wanting time. Your body should be ready to conceive right away. Even if taken for years.

Pollack says, “The length of time you used any form of birth control doesn’t affect your ability to get pregnant.” Furthermore, according to McLennan, your ability to get pregnant

“The length of time you used any form of birth control doesn’t affect your ability to get pregnant”. Furthermore, according to McLennan, if you are not already taking folic acid, now would be a good time to start. “Taking a daily folic acid supplement not only helps prevent birth defects, it may increase fertility as well,” McLennan says.

Facts about timing

 Ovulation is the time period when a mature egg releases from the ovary and moves down the fallopian tube where it can be fertilized. There is a good chance that the egg will be fertilized if there is a sperm in the fallopian tube when the egg is released. The fertilized egg then creates an embryo that grows into a baby. Technically, pregnancy is only possible if you have sex on the day of ovulation or within the first five days before ovulation. However, the most fertile days are leading up to and including ovulation. Having sex during this time increased your chances of getting pregnant. In addition to this, a woman is no longer able to get pregnant by 12 to 24 hours after ovulation because the egg is no longer in the fallopian tube. If you have sex before or after the fertile window, there is almost no chance for you to get pregnant. However, if you are not trying to get pregnant, contraception is your best option since relying on this is sometimes not enough.

How to know that you’re ovulating

Knowing that you are ovulating can help improve your chances of getting pregnant and plan for sex at the right time. You can keep track of your menstrual cycle either using a period tracker app on your smartphone, a diary or chart. Record the first day you start bleeding, to work the length of your menstrual cycle. This will be day one of your period and the last day of your cycle will be the day before your next cycle begins.

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