Technological advances in medicine have enabled women who otherwise have difficulty conceiving to successfully bear children. Still, these highly clinical and often life-disrupting methods aren't for everyone. Some women choose to take a more natural approach to conception, saving more clinical methods as a last resort. If you're one of these women, you can pay careful attention to your body to learn when you're most likely to get pregnant, then time intercourse or insemination accordingly. Natural conception takes place at home so you can involve your partner and make choices in comfort and with privacy.
Step 1
Purchase a calender for the purpose of tracking your menstrual cycle and fertility data.
Step 2
Start on the first day of your menstrual cycle. Circle this date on the calender and mark it as cycle day one. Number the days in your cycle, restarting with day one each time you get your period. This will give you an idea of your average menstrual cycle length.
Step 3
Use a basal body thermometer to begin recording your basal body temperature. Your body temperature drops 0.4 degrees to 1 degree below normal and then spikes 0.4 and 1 degree above normal once you ovulate, according to the American Pregnancy Association. Track long enough so that you'll be able to predict when your temperature will spike.
Step 4
Examine your cervical mucous. Pick a time each day to swipe your finger across the vaginal opening and write the type of mucous present on your calender. Note the three to four days after menstruation when there's little to no mucous and the increase that occurs daily until its peak at ovulation. Record your mucous changes on your calender.
Step 5
Compare the day when you have the most clear, egg-white mucous with your temperatures to help determine ovulation. The egg-white mucous and temperature spike should happen at around the same time. Plan to have intercourse just before and/or just after ovulation, recommends FamilyDoctor.org.
Things You'll Need
- Calender
- Basal thermometer
