Trying to get pregnant naturally isn’t always easy. If you think that it will happen as soon as you ditch that diaphragm or chuck those condoms, then you may be in for a surprise. If you’re just starting to try for a baby, there are a number of things you can do to help with fertility.
You probably already know when to try to conceive and that the best time for this is during your ‘fertile window’ – that 6-day period ending on the day of ovulation. If you don’t know when you ovulate, you can determine it by keeping track of your body temperature. If you have an average 28-day menstrual cycle, monitor your body temperature about 14 days after you start your period. A rise in body temperature of half a degree is indicative of your ovulation date.
It is important to have a healthy body when getting ready to conceive. There’s no point looking after a little one if you can’t look after yourself. It’s vital to have a balanced diet and to cut out those naughty but nice vices. Coffee, sugar, alcohol and cigarettes all take their toll on your fertility and decrease your chances of getting pregnant. A man’s sperm may take months to develop before ejaculation and therefore a toxin-free lifestyle is essential. Stress can also have an impact on a couple’s relationship and affect fertility. Look for ways to reduce stress in your life. Maybe try meditation or yoga? Most of all, try to create an environment where both of you are relaxed and comfortable, so that sex is always fun and never a chore.
No-one enjoys enforced entertainment. Scheduling intercourse can be psychologically stressful and put a strain on your relationship. The more relaxed both parties are, the more successful your chances of becoming pregnant. There is, of course, another way of ensuring you hit those patterns regularly: have more sex more often! Intercourse every 1–2 days yields the highest pregnancy rates compared with less frequent intercourse (2–3 times per week).1
Having sex ‘on demand’ can take the fun out of it, which may lead to vaginal dryness. Most vaginal lubricants have been found to inhibit the conception process or have no positive effect at all. Conceive Plus® is different. Sperm-friendly, non-irritant with a balanced pH range, Conceive Plus™ actively promotes egg fertilisation and increases your chances of getting pregnant. Try it today and see the results for yourself.
1 Optimizing Natural Fertility. Fertil Steril 2008;90:S1-6