Timing Is Everything
Ok - so timing isn't everything when you are trying to get pregnant, but it certainly does matter. While some women get pregnant without even being aware of their cycle, or having to do any intervention whatsoever, others of us do not.
For those of us who need to put in a bit more effort to become pregnant, it's very important to understand the issue of timing. Knowing when you are ovulating and being aware of the best time to try to conceive should help to increase your chances of conception. Be careful, however, while you're charting your temperature and worrying about timing, not to take the spontaneity and fun out of your intimacy. You can be careful about your timing, and still enjoy yourself as a couple.
Understanding Timing
Each month, a woman has a narrow window of opportunity to become pregnant. Why is it narrow? A woman only releases an egg once a month. The egg is released when ovulation occurs, and this is the time when the egg can become fertilized by the sperm. If the couple misses this change, then they will have to wait for this to occur again the following month.
How To Know When You Are Ovulating
In order to try to conceive, you time your intercourse to coincide with your ovulation. You can keep track of your ovulation through a basal thermometer or through on ovulation kit. You can also learn to check your cervical fluid. There are many guidebooks and articles that will teach you how to use each of these devices and how to decide which one is right for you.
When Should You Have Intercourse?
Once you start to monitor your ovulation, this still doesn't mean that you have perfected your timing. The question now is when you should have intercourse. In 1995, A.J. Wilcox performed a study that shows that the best time to have sex within a regular 28 day cycle is on days 10, 12, 14, and 16. Now, of course, if your cycle is not regular or you are ovulating at an unusual time, this advice may not work for you. In general, what the study showed was that intercourse should be on days -4, -2, - and +2 in relation to your ovulation. He discovered that the chance of becoming pregnant was about 10% five days before ovulation and 33% on the day of ovulation.
How Often Should You Have Intercourse?
People often say that you should only have intercourse every other day during the time that you are trying to conceive. Others say every day. Which should you go by? The frequency of your intercourse depends on a number of factors. If the man has a normal sperm count, then it's generally fine to have sex every day during the time when you are trying to conceive. If, however, his sperm count is low and the sperm health is not as great, then you should stay with every other day. If you know when you ovulate, try to plan intercourse three days before you ovulate and going until three days after.
Relax and Enjoy
Remember, with all of this scientific talk, to try to enjoy yourself as well! It's often very hard, when you are methodically trying to conceive, to remember the larger goal. You are hoping to show your love for each other by bringing another person into the world. Try to keep your love making spontaneous and enjoyable and to banish stress from this process. Good luck!
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