Preconception 101

Lesson 3: Tried and True Tips on Pregnancy Achievement

1. Timing, Positions and the Mechanics of Conception – Discussing hints and tips on pregnancy achievement. 2. Proper Health Habits – Discussing healthy habits to insure a healthy baby. 3. Help in Pregnancy Achievement – Discussing products such as ovulation kits and fertility monitors and their help in pregnancy achievement.

Timing, Positions and the Mechanics of Conception

Is it really important to time intercourse in order to conceive a baby? Well, the answer is yes and no. In a typical woman’s cycle, the window of opportunity for conception each month is indeed very narrow. Every woman’s cycle is as different and unique as she is. Let’s look at what happens during the cycle.

First, the body begins to prepare for ovulation on the first day of the menstrual cycle. This is known as day one of your cycle. It is during this time that the ovaries start preparing a few follicles to be the potential egg. After your bleeding period is over, your body starts producing estrogen, and the ovaries are being primed for ovulation. Ovulation can occur at different times of the month for different women. It is during this time that the cervical fluid becomes more “fertile”. If the cervical fluid becomes fertile up to five days prior to ovulation and you have sexual intercourse, the sperm can live inside your fallopian tube during this time.

An egg is released each cycle when ovulation occurs. The egg only lives from 12 to 24 hours. Rarely, another egg will be released from the other ovary within 24 hours of the first egg. It is important to time intercourse to make sure that there are sperm present when the egg is released from the ovary. It is also important to chart your cycle, that way you will know exactly when ovulation occurs and can benefit from having intercourse at the right time.

Ovulation can occur as early as day 6 (or earlier) or much later than on day 14. There are many factors involved when ovulation occurs. The hormones estrogen, follicle-stimulating hormone, luetenizing hormone, and progesterone all play key roles as well as the mental status and physical well-being.

How often you should actually have intercourse depends upon a few things. If it has been determined that the man has low sperm count, it would be best to practice the every other day intercourse or to wait until the day before the expected ovulation. If there are no problems with sperm count, it would be perfectly okay to have intercourse every day. This depends on your stamina, preferences and determination. At the very least, if you know when ovulation should occur, have intercourse starting three days prior to ovulation until one to three days after. This will insure that there are sperm present when the egg(s) is released.

As for positions during intercourse, much has been said about this subject. But the best answer here is what has been successful. I can honestly say that I’ve conceived (I have four children) in all different positions. To that end, I will say that it *may* help to have intercourse while on your back, and to stay in that position for at least twenty minutes, but it’s not necessary. Bottom line when trying to conceive, have fun!

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