Let's face it, getting pregnant is not always as easy as it sounds. As many
stories as you have heard about unplanned pregnancies, getting pregnant should
be easy right? You learned sex ed around the 5th grade, but what they didn't
tell you is approximately 1 in 10 couples will experience infertility for one
reason or another and that most couples do not get pregnant the first month
of trying. If you are finding it more difficult than you thought to get pregnant,
we have some suggestions for you.
1. Try a recipe for sex
There are quite a few of them out there. A recipe for sex is basically a list
of days to have sex on to try to get pregnant. My personal favorite is having
sex on days 9, 11, 12, 14, & 16 of your cycle. Of course if you don't have
a 28 day cycle this one probably won't work for you. Another plan is having
sex every other day starting about day 10 of your cycle.
2. Try fertility charting
Fertility charting involves taking your temperature at the same time every
morning before getting out of bed. You also observe for signs of ovulation and
chart your cervical mucous pattern. Charting can help determine if you are ovulating
and help you to pinpoint when ovulation is occurring.
3. Use ovulation prediction kits (OPKs)
You can buy ovulation prediction kits at your local pharmacy or you can find
them even cheaper if you purchase them online. A day or two before you ovulate,
your body produces a surge of luteinizing hormone, LH. OPKs work by detecting
this LH surge. Follow the directions that come with your kit to determine how
to read the test strips, what time of day to test, and also what day of your
cycle you should begin testing. OPKs cannot confirm ovulation, but they can
help you predict ovulation before it occurs. Used in combination with fertility
charting, they are very effective in determining ovulation.
4. Get to an ideal weight
Many women do not want to hear this one, but being overweight or underweight
can affect your fertility. Women who are significantly underweight or exercise
excessively often lose their period all together. It makes perfect sense then
that if you are significantly overweight your fertility would be affected as
well. Losing weight if you are overweight is one of the best things you can
do to improve your fertility. Sticking to a sensible diet and increasing your
weight if you are underweight will also help. Weight issues can also affect
your partner's sperm, so if your partner is over or underweight encourage him
to reach his ideal weight.
5. Check out your medicine cabinet
Certain medications can affect fertility. Talk with your doctor about the medications
that you and you partner take. Even over the counter medications can cause problems.
For example, medications such as tetracycline, erythromycin, and cimetidine
can reduce a man's fertility.
6. Try Instead Softcups®
Although no formal research has been done on it, many women have claimed success
from using them. Instead Softcups® are inserted and placed close to the
cervix after intercourse to help hold semen close to the cervix.
7. Try a supplement
There are many over the counter supplements now that may aid in fertility including
Vitex, FertiliAid, and FertiliTea. Vitamin B6 may also be helpful with improving
your chances of getting pregnant. Men should take a daily multivitamin and women
should start taking prenatal vitamins when they begin trying to conceive.
8. Check your position
The best sexual position for trying to conceive is with the woman on the bottom.
It may also be helpful for her to lay on her back after intercourse with her
knees to her chest for fifteen minutes.
9. Talk to your doctor
Although many doctors will not investigate infertility until you've been trying
for a full year, many will and even those that are more conservative with treatment
may be able to offer you valuable insight and suggestions. Your doctor can give
you and your partner a full workup to check for potential causes of infertility.
There are many treatments available including Clomid, IUI (Intrauterine Insemination),
and more. Your doctor can also look at related health issues that may be affecting
your fertility such as thyroid disorders and Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS).
Even infections and viral illnesses can cause problems getting pregnant. Your
doctor can work with you to come up with a plan for you to get pregnant.
Teresa Redmond is a wife and mother to 6 children. She is the co-owner of Justmommies.com. Stop by to find great articles including signs of pregnancy, http://www.justmommies.com/articles/signs_and_symptoms.shtml.
