Trying to conceive is an exciting time in the lives of any couple. However, after years of trying to prevent pregnancy, many couples become frustrated when they don't get pregnant as quickly or as easily as they expected. There are some helpful tools that all couples trying to conceive should be aware of to help improve their chances of conception.
Understanding Ovulation
Ovulation occurs when the pituitary gland stimulates the ovaries to release an egg. The mature egg travels through one of the Fallopian tubes to the uterus, where it remains intact for approximately 24 hours. If the egg encounters sperm during this period, there is an opportunity for fertilization. Unlike the quickly dissolving egg, sperm can survive in fertile cervical mucus for up to five days. For this reason, your best chances of conception occur when you have intercourse during the five days immediately preceding and including the day of ovulation. However, since the day of ovulation can vary, many conception techniques aim to pinpoint when ovulation will occur.
Basal Body Temperature Charting
One way to better understand your menstrual cycle and confirm ovulation is to track your basal body temperature, or BBT, on a chart. During the first half of your menstrual cycle, when estrogen is the dominant hormone, the morning waking temperature is generally low. However, immediately after ovulation, progesterone becomes the dominant hormone, and this causes a temperature spike. A temperature increase of 0.5 degree to 1 degree Farenheit occurs on the day of ovulation, followed by a sustained temperature shift throughout the second half of the cycle. However, because the temperature shift is only visible after ovulation has occurred, BBT charting can confirm ovulation but not predict it.
Fertile Cervical Mucus
In addition to charting temperature, you can chart cervical mucus, or CM. In the days preceding ovulation, CM changes from sticky or creamy in consistency to wet and stretchy. The presence of fertile CM is a good gauge of when to begin timed intercourse immediately preceding ovulation. After ovulation occurs, CM dries up or returns to a sticky or creamy consistency.
Ovulation Prediction Kits
Ovulation prediction kits test for the presence of luteinizing hormone, or LH, in the urine. An LH surge occurs immediately before ovulation, so ovulation prediction kits are valuable in predicting when ovulation is about to occur. Once you get a positive ovulation prediction test, you should begin timed intercourse.
Sperm-Friendly Lubricant
Many people are surprised to learn that normal water-based lubricants such as KY can reduce sperm motility by interfering with the natural pH level of the woman's cervix. Repeated timed intercourse often causes vaginal dryness, heightening the need for lubricant. When trying to conceive, it is best to use either no lubricant or a sperm-friendly lubricant, such as Preseed, that mimics natural cervical mucus and the pH of the cervix.
