How to get pregnant

Methods I found to help you Get Pregnant Faster!

In my last post, I discussed some natural tips for helping you conceive.  My friend has kept to her exercise routine and she broke the news to her hubby that he has to give up the cycling.  He was a little annoyed at first, but realized why and switched to some other piece of equipment at the gym.

In this post, I will discuss some methods you can try to boost your chances of getting pregnant fast.   I will also introduce you to some new tools that can help you maximize your chances for conception.

Basal Body Temperature

Ok.  This is one that my friend tried at first.  It is a common method that people use to calculate ovulation.  You take your temperature every day to get a shift of at least 0.4 degrees.   She thought it was the best way to find out when she was ovulating.  Turns out, it is not as effective as she thought.  In fact, it something that she does not recommend to couples who are trying to conceive.   Why?

While it may help women to determine if they are ovulating, it does not predict when ovulation will occur in the future.   The shift in temperature can actually happen two to three days after ovulation, which is too late to have intercourse for conception.   There are other more accurate ovulation predictor kits that can make the process of finding your ovulation cycle much easier.

Methods for Quickly Calculating Ovulation

Online Ovulation Calculator

Websites such as WebMD and BabyCenter.com can do the math for you.  All you have to do is enter the first day of your last menstrual period and the length of your cycle.   Hit calculate and it will do the work for you.  This is where my friend started.  She then moved on to a predictor kit to get a more accurate date.

Urinary Ovulation Predictor Kits

This is the first kit my friend tried.  These kits will test your urine for hormones that signal that ovulation is about to happen.  These tests will detect levels of lutenizing hormone (LH).  This hormone is produced by the pituitary gland and triggers ovulation.  LH will usually rise 12 to 36 hours prior to ovulation.

What you will want to do is get a general idea of when you think you will be ovulating.  Consider using one of the online calculators like my friend did.  This will cut down on costs.   Once you get that day, start testing three days prior to get a clear negative reading. You will then be able to tell when you first get that positive sign.

Once you get the positive, you should ovulate about 36 hours later.   As soon as you get the positive, you will want to have intercourse that day and the next day.  These test come with five to seven test strips and costs approximately $25 to $40.

A more expensive test you can try is The Clearblue Easy Fertility Monitor.  It is an electronic system that tests levels of hormones in the urine.  It can tell you when you are at peak and low fertility.   Other test kits target the day of ovulation.  This test will give you more of a window because it monitors estrogen and LH.   It costs about $200.

Saliva Ovulation Predictor Kits

She then tried this test and decided to stick with it because it cost less and could be reused.  These tests look at the mineral content in your saliva after it dries.  It comes with a glass slide and microscope to look for a pattern that resembles a leaf.

If the pattern shows up, you could ovulate in the next several days because it is an indicator that your cervical mucus is thin and is prepared for the passage of sperm.  It the “leaf” pattern does not appear, your mucus will not allow for passage of the sperm.   These tests can be reused over and over and cost only $30 to $40.

Ovulation Wristwatch

This is a high-tech option that measures changes in sodium concentration.  They test the cervical mucus.  When you ovulate, cervical mucus increases and becomes more pliable and slippery.  This helps sperm enter the female productive tract.

The watch measures perspiration and looks for a rise in pre-ovulation estrogen that can last many days.   You will only wear the watch while you are sleeping.  It gives you a window of opportunity, so you can have intercourse for a few days, rather than within 24 hours.  The watch costs $189 for a starter kit and includes a three month supply of sensors.

Fertility Supplement

Try FertilityBlend for Women.    My friend definitely thought this supplement was worth a try.  I personally did some research on the reviews for this product, and it seems to be very effective.  Of course, it is not a miracle supplement; although, many tend to feel it is.  It is a supplement that contains Vitex (chasteberry), L-arginine (amino acid), antioxidants such as green tea and vitamin E, selenium plus other minerals, and B vitamins including folic acid.

It is unclear as to how it works; however, it appears that it makes the corpus luteum function better by secreting the hormone progesterone that thickens the uterine lining to prepare for receiving a fertilized egg.

While this may be a good supplement for helping you get pregnant faster, you need to be careful when using herbal remedies or supplements because some can actually inhibit sperm penetration and can have serious side effects.

Intercourse Tips

The best way to get pregnant right away is to have sex on a regular basis.  Too often, couples get wrapped up in timing everything.   While timing is important because you can only get pregnant during ovulation, you may not ovulate when you think you will.  If you have sex three times a week, you are less likely to miss an opportunity for conception. This is something that my friend’s husband liked to hear.

Don’t wait until the day you ovulate to have sex.  Your egg will only survive about 24 hours.  Sperm can live for 3 to 5 days.  Having sex two to three days before ovulation will increase your chances.  Waiting can result in a missed opportunity.

Choose sexual positions where the sperm will stay inside the vagina longer.  Stay away from positions where you are on top because the sperm can leak out.  Place a pillow under your hips to help tilt your pelvis to help keep the sperm in longer.  Lie down right after intercourse to allow the sperm to stay in the vagina longer.

Stay Positive

Negative emotions are a natural part of life; however, if they become overwhelming, they could hinder your efforts for conception.  While it can be frustrating during the baby conception process, you need to try to not let the feelings of hopelessness and powerlessness get the best of you.

Seeing my friend go through the stress of trying to conceive really broke my heart.  It was not only stressful on her, but their marriage seemed to be affected.  At one point, she was so depressed she just decided to give up.   After we were able to convince her to keep going, we found some ways to help her relax and reminded her about why she wanted to have a baby girl or boy.

Try to remember to relax and enjoy this time with your partner.  Remember why you decided to create a baby with this person in the first place.  Stop making the sex about tests and routines and bring back the passion.   This will decrease the stress and hopefully increase your chances for conceiving a baby.

I have given you a lot of information to consider throughout the previous posts.  However, I could not possibly cover everything you need to know about conceiving a baby, especially for those who are taking a lot longer to get pregnant.

In my next post, I will introduce you to an eBook that has a lot of great information.  It is one that I have recommended to my friends in the hopes that it will answer any questions they have and give them some new ideas to try.

Tags: basal body temperature, calculating ovulation, exercise routine, hormone lh, hormones, hubby, intercourse, menstrual period, ovulation calculator, ovulation cycle, ovulation predictor kits, webmd