When is the Best Day to Get Pregnant?

When is the Best Day to Get Pregnant?

The whole maternity process is not easy. Even the simple act of getting pregnant is painfully difficult for some.  There are several factors which can lead to difficulty in conceiving including stress, diet, medication, infection and others. Some people choose to follow conservative but invasive treatments to address the problem of fertility. But for many, just knowing the best day to get conceive can solve the problem without spending much time and money or potentially undergoing painful medical procedures.

There are many natural ways to identify the best day for a woman to become pregnant. Each offers a different style of distinguishing the optimal time for conception.  They may be used independently or together to help increase your chances of becoming pregnant.

One of the easiest ways to get pregnant is by knowing the time period of ovulation that is part of your menstrual cycle.   Ovulation is the time when a mature ovum (or egg) is released in the uterus following a rise in the levels of Luteinizing Hormone (LH).  For a normal twenty eight-day cycle, this usually falls on the fourteenth day. For those who have a menstrual cycle other than the twenty-eight day series, divide the actual number of days in your cycle by two and then add in an allowance of one to two days to arrive at an estimated day of ovulation.  This is not an exact science however and the calculation doesn’t hold true for all women.                        

The mature ovum or egg that is released during ovulation is ripe for fertilization and ready for conception. It has a short lifespan though. It is viable for a total of twelve hours before it starts to disintegrate. The day of ovulation is the best day to get pregnant. There are other signs and symptoms associated with ovulation that are worth noting and tracking since the above calculation is really just a guideline.  

One of these other signs and symptoms is noted by noting and tracking the changes in your cervical mucus.  Cervical mucus is a substance that increases in volume as the menstrual cycle progresses. This secretion and its characteristics are representations of the rising levels of estrogen in the body. The day your cervical mucus turns clear, stretchy and slippery (often characterized as resembling egg whites) is the best day to get pregnant. The role of this mucus is to protect the sperm from harmful vaginal substances, nourish them and guide them through the uterus into the fallopian tubes until one of them gets in contact with the egg cell.

Another sign of ovulation occurs with a change in the body’s basal temperature.  A moderate rise in the body’s warmth or the basal body temperature usually happens after ovulation. This means that the production of progesterone is increased which is conducive for conception. The best day to get pregnant is two or three days before the hike in temperature. Charting your basal body temperature for a couple of months can help one identify the best time to get pregnant.

The best time for conception is individualized. Along with a great deal of preparation and a deep understanding of one’s menstrual cycle in relation to pregnancy, one can easily pinpoint the best time to get pregnant. A combination of the three is a formidable tool to achieve the highest possibility of pregnancy.

What Causes Infertility?

What Causes Infertility?

Infertility is the biological or psychological inability of a couple to conceive after repeatedly having unprotected sexual intercourse (while no other form of birth control is being used) for a period of time, usually twelve months or more.  Infertility also refers to a woman’s inability to carry a pregnancy to full term. There are many reasons for infertility.  Studies show that female conditions account for over two thirds of the cases of infertility. The rest are caused by sperm irregularity and other unidentifiable factors.

So what causes infertility in women? Most cases of infertility are caused by hormonal deficiencies or imbalances, structural problems in the reproductive organs and some illnesses. Mechanical trauma and chemical disturbances from surgeries and potent medications can also negatively affect a woman’s fertility.

Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) is probably the most common cause of female infertility in the world. It is an infection of the reproductive organs and the pelvis in general. The inflammation and trauma to the organs can affect their structural integrity, making conception difficult. Moreover, the prolonged exposure to microorganisms and the scarring that result after the infection may cause blood poisoning and ectopic pregnancy. 

Problems related to the adrenal gland and thyroid deficiencies may cause ovarian and hormonal problems. Any problem with the two organs can increase the production of prolactin. Prolactin is a hormone that stimulates the production of breast milk and prevents ovulation. High levels of prolactin in the body not only cause difficulty in conceiving but may also indicate a pituitary tumor.

Scarred tissues left after abdominal or vaginal surgeries may also impair conception. The traumatized areas may cause problems with regards to the movement of egg cells from the ovaries to the fallopian tubes and the uterus. Frequent abortions also leave scar tissues that can obstruct the uterus, leaving the egg cell and the sperm unable to meet.

Some medications such antibiotics, antidepressants and anti-inflammatory agents can impair infertility. Indirectly, these drugs can decrease estrogen and luteinizing hormones in the body which are needed for the maturation and release of mature egg cell.        

So, what causes infertility in males? The most common factors contributing to male infertility are associated with sperm and its characteristics. Either the sperm count is too low or the sperm is low quality. Sperm cells made of poor quality move slowly or swim in the wrong direction. The cells may be abnormally-shaped, making transportation difficult. There are a lot things that can contribute to the production of poor-quality sperm cells, such as the failure of the testes to develop and properly descend.  These two conditions may be congenital, meaning the testes remain within the body cavity. The chronic exposure to metals and medications can also impair the release of potent sperm cells from the body. The chemicals can alter the molecular and physical structure of the cells, making movement and conception difficult.
    

As to the question ’what causes infertility,’ there are many answers.  The problem cannot be pinned to either men or women as it is an issue than can affect both sexes.  If you or your partner are unfortunate enough to receive an infertility diagnosis, don’t lose heart.  There are many conservative and natural treatments to help remedy fertility issues today.        

Three Easy Ways to Answer the Question: ‘Are You Fertile?’

You can actually monitor and time your sexual intercourse to be in sync with the most fertile time of the month. There are three ways to identify the most fertile days of your menstrual cycle and increase the likelihood of successfully starting a pregnancy. These three methods are natural ways of predicting the time for conception and answering the question ‘Are you fertile?’ You can monitor your fertility easily through the three fertility markers - namely the cervical fluid test, the cervical position identification and the basal body temperature.

You may want to know more about your vaginal secretions, since they often signify fertility. One of those secretions is the cervical mucus, which is obviously secreted by the cervix. During menstrual cycles, the cervical linings produce this substance in large quantities. But after menstruation, production is kept to a minimum, so little production that a woman literally feels ‘dry.’

Normally, the mucus is cloudy and thick. But in the middle of the cycle, it becomes clear, slippery and stretchy. Its consistency resembles that of an egg white. This usually occurs a day before ovulation and signifies the point at which you are most fertile.

You can check the mucus yourself so that you can actually feel and see the difference when the change occurs. You can do this by wiping your vagina before urination. Making sure your hands are washed and clean, gently place your fingers into the opening of your vagina and collect a portion of the mucus. Note the consistency, color and elasticity of the mucus. If the mucus stretches by spreading the fingers without breaking and is clear in color, it is a sign that you are fertile.

Another way to check the state of your fertility is to know the position of your cervix. Many women do not realize this, but the cervix does change its placement during your cycle. Start by checking its position at the end of the period and do this daily at the same time to track your fertile periods.

Normally, the cervix is in a low position at the start of the cycle. However, the cervix transfers to a much higher position just before and during ovulation. You can check the position of the cervix yourself by inserting the middle finger into the vagina. Identifying the cervix is rather easy since it feels like a rounded cylindrical mass of tissue.

Another way to answer the question ‘are you fertile’ is by measuring the basal body temperature (BBT). BBT is the body’s baseline temperature. Any increase in the temperature, even by half a Fahrenheit can indicate something about your fertility. BBT is normally lower at the earlier part of the cycle. On the day of the ovulation, the temperature increases slightly. It will then stay at that level until the start of the next cycle or continue to stay slightly elevated if you become pregnant.

The basal body temperature should be taken first thing in the morning before doing any activity, even before getting out of bed. An oral thermometer can be used. This should be done with the utmost care to get the desired results. Taking a quick sip of water will clearly throw off your result. Chart your results and overtime you will begin to see the natural fluctuations of your body’s temperature as you go through your cycle and be better able to help determine when you are most fertile.

So now that you know three ways to help determine if you are fertile or not, using one alone can bring you success in getting pregnant, but using two or all three of the methods together may further increase your odds. The better in tune you are with your body and the changes that occur throughout your cycle, the more prepared you will be to answer that all-important question, "Am I fertile right now and can I get pregnant?"

Best of luck!