The odds of a young
fertile couple conceiving by having sexual
intercourse around the time of
ovulation are approximately one in five every month. Around nine out of 10 couples achieve a pregnancy after one year of unprotected sex.
Pre-pregnancy tests
make sure you are physically fit and healthy for an impending pregnancy. Some of the tests which could be done are :
General examination.
Pap smear.
Tests for any sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), such as chlamydia, which can
interfere with
fertility.
Blood tests to check for anaemia, your Rhesus factor and your immunity against rubella (German measles).
Urine tests to check for diabetes.
If you have a cat, or eat very rare red meat, a test for toxoplasmosis infection.
Timing sexual intercourse
The most important factor when trying to conceive is to have sexual intercourse during the woman’s fertile phase - that is, the five days leading up to ovulation and the day of ovulation itself. Ovulation occurs around 14 days before the start of the menstrual period, when an egg is released from one of the ovaries.
The ‘fertile window’ calendar calculations of the fertile ‘window’ may be unreliable.. Having intercourse on the days of the slippery sensation at the vulva increases the odds of pregnancy.
Ovulation mucus
The mucus, which produces a slippery sensation, is vital for sperm to survive. Other signs of fertility include a softening and swelling of the woman’s external genitals (vulva). Instruction by trained teachers of the Billings method of natural family planning can help a couple to learn to identify the woman’s fertile phases.
Factors which interfere with ovulation
A woman who is underweight may ovulate erratically, or not at all. Ovulation can be disrupted by other lifestyle factors, including:
Excessive exercise - too much exertion releases hormones that interfere with the female sex hormones oestrogen and progesterone.
Emotional stress - stress affects the hypothalamus, which is the brain structure that oversees the menstrual cycle.
Disordered eating - such as crash dieting and skipping meals.
Diet
There is no special diet that improves the odds of conception, but now is the time to start eating a healthier range of foods including fresh fruits, vegetables and lean meats. It is recommended that women increase their intake of folate for a few months prior to conceiving and throughout the first few weeks of pregnancy, since this B-group vitamin has been found to reduce the risk of certain birth defects. Good sources of folate include leafy green vegetables. Folate supplements are also recommended.
Cigarettes and alcohol
Cigarettes, marijuana use and alcohol are not only harmful to a developing baby, but can interfere with fertility.
Fertility problems
A couple isn’t suspected of fertility problems until they have tried and failed to conceive for one year. Around 40 per cent of fertility problems are female and 40 per cent are male. The remaining difficulties are caused by unknown factors.
Things to remember Knowing when you ovulate increases your chance of pregnancy.
Having sex in the days prior to ovulation, when the slippery mucus is present, and on the day of ovulation itself increases the odds of pregnancy.
Keeping a chart of the woman’s cycle according to the Billings ovulation method may help to alert her doctor to any potential problems which may be affecting her fertility.
More abstracts about the Infertility: when trying to conceive