Why can't we conceive.......?

Question

Here are the details - my husband and I have been trying to have a baby for 5 years. We are young, healthy, no obvious problems to speak of. My doctor recently did some tests for PCOS and that isn't the problem. My doctor is not very helpful, though, and doesn't seem to care so much whether we have a baby.
Does anyone have any ideas on other things I can research to see if it may apply to us? I'll be seeing a new doctor in a few weeks but would like to have some more ideas of what may be wrong.

Did you have trouble conceiving? What finally got you pregnant?

Answer 1

Have sex three times a week.

Having regular sex is the best way to get pregnant. Couples often try to time everything perfectly for ovulation but do not have sex when they think they are not ovulating. It is true that sex that is not within the time of ovulation will not result in pregnancy. However, because women do not always ovulate when they think they will, having sex three times a week will help to a woman cover her bases, so to speak, and not miss an opportunity to get pregnant.

2. Use an ovulation prediction kit or fertility monitor.

Using an ovulation kit to predict when you are ovulating will improve your chances of getting pregnant. For many women charting or other methods of ovulation prediction are too confusing. Ovulation prediction kits work by reading LH surges prior to ovulation. They are relatively easy to use and are generally accurate for predicting ovulation. Fertility monitors, such as the Clear Blue Easy monitor, are also a worthwhile investment if you would like to get pregnant faster. Fertility monitors are similar to ovulation prediction kits in that they read changes in LH but they also read changes in other hormones and don’t require any guesswork for couples. They are easy to use and will tell you when the best time to get pregnant is.

3. Have sex before ovulation (not after).

Sometimes couples get confused about the best time to have sex in relationship to ovulation. You have a small window of time each month to get pregnant. After a woman ovulates the egg will survive approximately 24 hours. Sperm, on the other hand, will live for up to three to five days. This is why having sex two to three days before ovulation will increase your chances of getting pregnant. Don’t wait until the day you ovulate to have sex. Your partner’s sperm will last longer than your egg and you don’t want to miss an opportunity by waiting.

4. Don’t rely on the Calendar method for predicting ovulation.

A lot of couples have heard to have sex around day fourteen of your cycle. This is based on the calendar method and assumes that you have a regular 28-day cycle and ovulate mid-cycle. Although this is better than just picking an arbitrary day to have sex, it is not a very accurate way to predict when you ovulate. Many women do not ovulate on day fourteen and knowing precisely when you ovulate will help you time intercourse better. Ovulation prediction kits, looking at previous months bbt charts, or watching for body cues will help you to determine when you ovulate.

5. Charting may not be the best way to predict ovulation.

Charting is great for tracking your cycle but it does have disadvantages. By the time you can see ovulation on a bbt chart, you have already ovulated. It is good to chart so you can track your cycles, see if you ovulate the same time each month, and also so you can look back on your cycle and see if you timed things right. But if this is your first cycle trying to get pregnant or if you are not ovulating at the same time each month, an ovulation prediction kit would be more helpful.

6. See a doctor before you start trying to get pregnant.
Make sure you are in good health and have had a regular check up from your OBGYN or medical provider. Untreated infections, sexually transmitted diseases, or poor health can affect your chances of getting pregnant. Its good to see a doctor as well as start taking prenatal vitamins prior to trying to conceive.

7. Don’t smoke, drink alcohol, or abuse drugs when trying to get pregnant.
This may seem like common sense but many women do try to get pregnant while smoking, drinking or using drugs. Smoking, drugs, and alcohol can affect your fertility. It will also affect your unborn child. It is important to stop smoking or using drugs and alcohol before getting pregnant and not wait until you find out you are pregnant.

8. Have enjoyable sex.

Sometimes when couples are trying to conceive, sex becomes a job or function of reproduction and is not as enjoyable. Plan a romantic evening or try something different to spice things up. How you are feeling sexually may factor into your chances of getting pregnant. Some researchers believe that having an orgasm during sex increases your chances of getting pregnant. For women, the spasmic movements of orgasm will help pull the sperm into the uterus and for men a better orgasm may increase the man’s sperm count.

9. Have sex in positions that keep sperm inside the vagina longer.

The missionary position is a good position to use when trying to get pregnant. Avoid positions where the woman is on top. Gravity will allow sperm to leak out with these positions. Also try placing a pillow under your hips to help tilt your pelvis and keep the sperm in longer. Don’t get up right after sex. Try to relax and allow the sperm to stay in the vagina as long as possible.

10. There is no such thing as trying too hard to get pregnant.
Most couples get pregnant within a year of trying. If you have not gotten pregnant within a year consult your doctor for advice.

Answer 2

Sorry about your problem...I'm going through the exact same thing, though for not that long (2 yrs)! Are you sure that you ovulate every month? Have you tried taking your BBT in the morning? If you don't have "Taking Charge of Your Fertility" by Toni Weschler...get it! It's really informative (and goes into detail about about your BBT) and it may help you more than it's helped me! Maybe your new doctor will be able to help you more than your current doctor has been! I wish you all the best!

Answer 3

First of all, you are doing the right thing by switching doctors. Many OBGYN's can diagnose and treat several fertility problems.

After 2 months ttc, I made an appointment with my OBGYN. He had me chart my basal body temperatures to find out if and when I'm ovulating. Turns out, I wasn't ovulating regularly and when I was, it was too late in my cycle to sustain a pregnancy. I was able to take Clomid and hcg injections to help me ovulate and Prometrium (progesterone) to help sustain my uterus lining to help prevent a miscarriage. It took 9 months for me to conceive my daughter. I am in my 5th month ttc again.

I suggest charting your bbt. You can buy a basal thermometer at most drug stores. Take your temp every morning before getting up. You can learn more about charting your bbt and chart for free at fertilityfriend.com. Learning when you are ovulating is very important.

It also doesn't hurt to have your husband's sperm analyzed.

Best of luck to you.

Answer 4

To get pregnant you must have sex on a day that your eggs are being released.

After the 3rd day from the day that menses started put a thermometer into your mouth and check your body temperature every morning before you start turning in bed. The best time is at about 4 a.m. Maintain a chart. You will find that on one day the body temperature drops from 1/2 degree to one degree. This is the day that your eggs are being released. If you want to get pregnant this is the day that you must have sex. Tell your husband to ejaculate on his inward thrust so that the sperms will shoot deep inside.

After having sex you must stay in bed for about 30 mins with your knees bent up with a pillow under your buttocks so that the sperms will not pour out - to enable them to travel up.

Get your husband to save his sperms in the testacles for at least 3 days before sex to enable them to mature well to do their job.

Answer 5

i have pcos so i had trouble conceiving my first son. i used clomid and metformin and had to lose like 15lbs. but 4 months later i found out i was pregnant!

i have a 4 year old son but i see a specialist in a few weeks because i want another one. get this for the past 4 years we used no birth control and i did not get pregnant.

maybe your husband should get his semen count.

Answer 6

Alot of times if you are under stress that can delay the process i was like that for 8 years before i concieved our second child. My MD told me that if your sick, understress,taking new mdications all this can prolong the natural process. I was also told to not try so hard an it would happen so i left fate in gods hands.

Answer 7

You are doing the right thing in going to another doctor, has you man had tests too, you know it takes you both to do this. I am MAN and it just happened to us, we did not plan and she had the pregnacy test done 3 times she could not believe it. Good Luck

Answer 8

First if you have a doctor who doesn't care about you, get another one, pronto. Secondly, click on infertility on www.newbabyjubilee.com for info on male and female infertility.
Also, this site also has preconception tips for both men and women as well as a blog on fertility help.

God bless!

Answer 9

Get a better doctor.

A friend of mine tried for 7 years, had $10,000 worth of treatments. Then they changed docs and were treated for macrophages(?) and got pregnant in a month.

Answer 10

there so much in this ..... well in short .. u go to these links ...
http://www.ihr.com/infertility/ and http://www.4woman.gov/faq/infertility.htm .

There are many other links .... that 4 doc to read ... for you the above 2 will suffice.

Hope u get the answer .... and / or atleast ur preg test positive !