Conception 101
Think you know how to get pregnant? There’s more to making a baby than making love.
Have you been charting your basal body temperature daily and checking for changes in your cervical mucus to determine your ovulation cycle?
Your basal body temperature (your temperature when you first wake up in the morning) probably ranges from 97.2 to about 97.7 degrees before ovulation. During the two or three days after you ovulate, hormonal changes trigger your BBT to rise between 0.4 and 1.0 degree. Plus, during the few days leading up to ovulation, you’ll have vaginal discharge that looks clear and slippery, with the consistency similar to raw egg white. Tracking these symptoms over several months can help you figure out when your ovulation each cycle.
Are you a healthy weight?
If you’re a healthy weight, you’ll likely have an easier time conceiving. Studies show that women whose body mass index (BMI) is below 20 or above 30 have a harder time getting pregnant, so it’s a good idea to try to get yourself into the 20 to 30 range before you start trying. If you’re not in a healthy range, losing or gaining weight may give you the boost you need to conceive. Talk to your healthcare provider about the best way to achieve your weight goals. Learn More.
Most of the time, who’s on top during sex?
Save the complicated moves for another day. Some experts say the man-on-top position allows for the deepest penetration and, as a result, places sperm closer to the egg.
Do you and your partner drink alcohol?
Studies have found that alcohol affects fertility. The risks increase with the amount of alcohol consumption. Alcohol can affect ovulation in women, and lead to lower sperm counts and slow motility in men.
Does he wear briefs or boxer shorts?
Boxers are less constricting than briefs, and that’s good news for testicles. For optimum functioning, testicles should stay a couple of degrees below normal body temperature. Boxers allow them to hang loose, away from the body—and keep them cool. For the same reason, men that are trying to make a baby should avoid hot tubs, saunas, and tight jeans or pants. Learn More
Are you keeping your stress level in check?
Stress can have a negative impact on getting pregnant by affecting the function of the hypothalamus—the gland in the brain that regulates appetite, emotions, and the hormones required to release the eggs. If you’re stressed out, you may ovulate later in your cycle or not at all.
Are you and your partner both non-smokers?
Smoking isn’t just bad for the lungs. Studies have found that it can reduce a woman’s chance of getting pregnant and lower a man’s sperm quality. In fact, it is suggested that even secondhand smoke may affect your chances of getting pregnant.
Your basal body temperature (your temperature when you first wake up in the morning) probably ranges from 97.2 to about 97.7 degrees before ovulation. During the two or three days after you ovulate, hormonal changes trigger your BBT to rise between 0.4 and 1.0 degree. Plus, during the few days leading up to ovulation, you’ll have vaginal discharge that looks clear and slippery, with the consistency similar to raw egg white. Tracking these symptoms over several months can help you figure out when your ovulation each cycle.
Are you a healthy weight?
If you’re a healthy weight, you’ll likely have an easier time conceiving. Studies show that women whose body mass index (BMI) is below 20 or above 30 have a harder time getting pregnant, so it’s a good idea to try to get yourself into the 20 to 30 range before you start trying. If you’re not in a healthy range, losing or gaining weight may give you the boost you need to conceive. Talk to your healthcare provider about the best way to achieve your weight goals. Learn More.
Most of the time, who’s on top during sex?
Save the complicated moves for another day. Some experts say the man-on-top position allows for the deepest penetration and, as a result, places sperm closer to the egg.
Do you and your partner drink alcohol?
Studies have found that alcohol affects fertility. The risks increase with the amount of alcohol consumption. Alcohol can affect ovulation in women, and lead to lower sperm counts and slow motility in men.
Does he wear briefs or boxer shorts?
Boxers are less constricting than briefs, and that’s good news for testicles. For optimum functioning, testicles should stay a couple of degrees below normal body temperature. Boxers allow them to hang loose, away from the body—and keep them cool. For the same reason, men that are trying to make a baby should avoid hot tubs, saunas, and tight jeans or pants. Learn More
Are you keeping your stress level in check?
Stress can have a negative impact on getting pregnant by affecting the function of the hypothalamus—the gland in the brain that regulates appetite, emotions, and the hormones required to release the eggs. If you’re stressed out, you may ovulate later in your cycle or not at all.
Are you and your partner both non-smokers?
Smoking isn’t just bad for the lungs. Studies have found that it can reduce a woman’s chance of getting pregnant and lower a man’s sperm quality. In fact, it is suggested that even secondhand smoke may affect your chances of getting pregnant.
