Increase Your Chances of Conceiving

Every month, thousands of women toss aside birth control in an effort to conceive a child. For many of these women, they quickly discover that conception is not as easy as they had first figured. While some women can become pregnant on their first try, a larger percentage of women find that conception can take months and even years.

Fertility issues affect millions of women. If you feel you are alone, you can rest assured that a high percentage of couples trying to conceive find the process takes nine to twelve months on average. For some, the period goes beyond a year and can leave them feeling hopeless.

The best way to become pregnant is by reducing stress. Couples report that the woman in the mix suddenly became pregnant when they stopped "trying." Beyond this, any woman should begin her quest for a baby by paying attention to her fertile cycle. There are a number of ways to do this.

v Basal Body Temperature Mapping: Women's base body temperature increases slightly after the ovulation cycle has begun. For an entire month, you should record your temperature at the same time of the day. During a three-day period, you should find your temperature spikes slightly. Usually, this spike occurs about ten days after your last period. It does vary from woman to woman. It is during this spiked temperature zone that you are most fertile. Do not rely on this measurement alone, as it is not reliable in every woman. Instead, look for other signs along with the change in body temperature.

v Cervical Fluid: Typically, ten days after the start of your last period, your vaginal discharge becomes clear and slick. This change in cervical fluid allows for the egg you produce to journey from the ovaries through the fallopian tubes and into the uterus. This is a sure sign of ovulation. You should chart how many days from the start of your last period it takes for the cervical fluid to change. It is during this time that you will want to attempt to conceive.

v Egg Release: A small percentage of women actually feel the egg release from their ovary. It feels like a sudden, short burst of pain that comes and goes in an instant. If you are among the lucky ones, you can use this as a guide to having sexual intercourse. Remember that the best sperm travel quickly. Sperm with defects take longer to reach the egg. These sperms are likely to fail at any attempt to conceive or produce a zygote that will only lead to an early miscarriage. You want to time sexual intercourse with your fertile period so that the strongest sperm impregnate the egg.

v Menstruation Cycle: Part of tracking your fertile zone involves keeping close tabs on your menstrual cycle. Often, your most fertile timeframe occurs between eight and twelve days from your last period. You should spend a few months getting a time frame down following your period's cessation every cycle.

v Ovulation Predictor Kits: Many companies (EPT is one) now sell over-the-counter ovulation predictor kits. These kits include a stick similar to a pregnancy test. The strip in the stick tests your urine for LH (Luteinizing Hormone) that is released in the bloodstream right before an egg is released. Typically, your LH levels increase around noon, so having an adjustable schedule can be helpful. Once the test is positive for LH, you should have sexual intercourse within the next 12 to 24 hours.

Trying to conceive unsuccessfully can be a trying time on any woman, but don't give up hope. If these methods do not work, seek help from your physician or a fertility specialist.