There are quite a few of them out
there. A recipe for sex is basically a list of days
to have sex on to try to get pregnant. My personal
favorite is having sex on days 9, 11, 12, 14, &
16 of your cycle. Of course if you don't have a 28
day cycle this one probably won't work for you. Another
plan is having sex every other day starting about
day 10 of your cycle.
2. Try fertility charting
Fertility
charting involves taking your temperature
at the same time every
morning before getting out of bed. You
also observe for signs
of ovulation and chart
your cervical mucous pattern. Charting
can help determine if you are ovulating and help you
to pinpoint when ovulation is occurring.
3. Use ovulation prediction
kits (OPKs)
You can buy ovulation
prediction kits at your local pharmacy
or you can find them even cheaper if you purchase
them online. A day or two before you
ovulate, your body produces a surge of luteinizing
hormone, LH. OPKs work by detecting this LH surge.
Follow the directions that come with your kit to determine
how to read the test strips, what time of day to test,
and also what day of your cycle you should begin testing.
OPKs cannot confirm ovulation, but they can help you
predict ovulation before it occurs. Used in combination
with fertility charting, they are very effective in
determining ovulation.
4. Get to an ideal weight
Many women do not want to hear this
one, but being overweight or underweight can affect
your fertility. Women who are significantly underweight
or exercise excessively often lose their period all
together. It makes perfect sense then that if you
are significantly overweight your fertility would
be affected as well. Losing weight if you are overweight
is one of the best things you can do to improve your
fertility. Sticking to a sensible diet and increasing
your weight if you are underweight will also help.
Weight issues can also affect your partner's sperm,
so if your partner is over or underweight encourage
him to reach his ideal weight.
5. Check out your medicine
cabinet
Certain medications can affect fertility.
Talk with your doctor about the medications that you
and you partner take. Even over the counter medications
can cause problems. For example, medications such
as tetracycline, erythromycin, and cimetidine can
reduce a man's fertility.
6. Try Instead Softcups®
Although no formal research has been
done on it, many women have claimed success from using
them. Instead Softcups® are inserted and placed
close to the cervix after intercourse to help hold
semen close to the cervix.
7. Try a supplement
There are many over the counter supplements
now that may aid in fertility including Vitex, FertiliAid,
and FertiliTea. Vitamin B6 may also be helpful with
improving your chances of getting pregnant. Men should
take a daily multivitamin and women should start taking
prenatal vitamins when they begin trying to conceive.
8. Check your position
The best sexual position for trying
to conceive is with the woman on the bottom. It may
also be helpful for her to lay on her back after intercourse
with her knees to her chest for fifteen minutes.
9. Talk to your doctor
Although many doctors will not investigate
infertility until you've been trying for a full year,
many will and even those that are more conservative
with treatment may be able to offer you valuable insight
and suggestions. Your doctor can give you and your
partner a full workup to check for potential causes
of infertility. There are many treatments available
including Clomid,
IUI (Intrauterine Insemination), and more. Your doctor
can also look at related health issues that may be
affecting your fertility such as thyroid disorders
and Polycystic
Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS). Even infections
and viral illnesses can cause problems getting pregnant.
Your doctor can work with you to come up with a plan
for you to get pregnant.