What is the best way to get pregnant?

Question

We have 1 daughter who is 5 now and we have been trying for 3 years. I have been on Provera to make my cycle regular but as of yet....nothing. Any tips, hints, etc that helped someone get pregnant whom had an irregular cycle?

Answer 1

I recommend the book, "Taking Charge of your Fertility" by Toni Weschler

Pay attention to your cervical fluid. That was easier for me than tracking my temperature.

She and others I have read say to try to improve your cervical fluid around ovulation by taking an expectorant with guaifenesin (without an antihistamine) such as Robatussin (again, without antihistamine or other ingredients such as a cough supressent that will dry you out) and stay away from personal lubricants such as astro glide. It is toxic to sperm.

Also, see a doctor who is a Endocrinologist specializing in fertility. Not just a doctor who says he or she specializes in fertility.

Generally, progesterone when you are trying to get pregnant should only be taken three or so days after you ovulate through the time you get your period (or through a bit into a new pregnancy). Check with a doctory though. They may recommend a different plan. I've been doing the progesterone in the way I describe above.

Answer 2

Even on a regular cycle, it can be surprisingly difficult to get pregnant - our last kid took about 3 months of pretty enthusiastic working on it, and there were no obvious reasons for the delay. I hear that being relaxed and relatively unscheduled helps, but it's been long enough now that you might want to both get checked for anything unusual. It can happen that if both partners have even just a bit lowered fertility, together they can have a significantly lower chance of conception. Have you been to an infertility clinic for a checkup? Age, stress, lack of sleep (ie having kids already) can all lower the odds. Don't give up! Take the positive view that you don't have to mess around with birth control!

Answer 3

You will probably just have to wait until your cycles are normal and you are not taking provera, which is the hormone progesterone. You are not supposed to take provera while you are pregnant or if you are planning to get pregnant ... so that probably means you will have a hard time getting pregnant while taking it.

Answer 4

As long as you have a cycle you have a chance of pregnancy irregular or not keep an eye on your cervical mucas and fertile mucas is clear and strtchy this means you are ovulating and once you are ovulating you have 24hrs to get busy....good luck baby dust to you

Answer 5

Well for starters in order to get pregnant you cant be taking hormones or birth control. you should be off of it for 6 months before getting pregnant. Also, start taking prenatals before getting pregnant instead. sometimes irregular periods are due to lack of certain nutrients. My friends was due to lack of iron. She began to eat foods with iron and took prenatals then got pregnant. Sometimes, just taking prenatal vitamins is all you need to get your body back on track. Your ob can recommend a good prenatal. Mine told me that 3 flinstones vitamins is all you need.

Answer 6

track your cycles! U aremost fertile 14 days from the first day of your last period. So, when your period starts, mark that day on your calendar count 14 days from that day, and do it lots for like 2-3 days.

Answer 7

http://www.ovulation-calendar.com/ Try this website.. I have heard that taking vitamin B6 will help with fertility..

Answer 8

Baby-making basics
Conception is based on an intricate series of events.

Every month, hormones from your pituitary gland stimulate your ovaries to release an egg, or ovulate. This often happens around day 14 of the menstrual cycle, although the exact timing may vary among women or even from month to month.

Once the egg is released, it travels to the fallopian tube. If you want to conceive, now's the time. The egg has about 24 hours to unite with a sperm. Since sperm cells can survive in your reproductive tract for two to three days, it's best to have regular sex during the days leading up to ovulation.

If the egg is fertilized, it'll travel to the uterus two to four days later. There it'll attach to the uterine lining. You're pregnant! Your periods will stop as your body begins to support the embryo.

If the egg isn't fertilized, it'll break down and you'll have your next period as usual.

Understanding when you're most fertile
Learning how ovulation works is one thing. Determining when it's actually happening is something else. For many women, it's like hitting a moving target.

Keep an eye on the calendar
Use your day planner or another simple calendar to mark the day your period begins each month. Also track the number of days each period lasts. If you have a consistent 28-day cycle, ovulation is likely to begin about 14 days after the day your last period began.

If your cycles are somewhat long, subtract 18 from the number of days in your shortest cycle. When your next period begins, count ahead this many days. The next week is a reasonable guess for your most fertile days.

Pros. Calendar calculations can be done simply on paper. And they're free!
Cons. Many factors may affect the exact timing of ovulation, including illness, stress and exercise. Counting days is often inaccurate, especially for women who have irregular cycles.
Watch for changes in cervical mucus
Just before ovulation, you might notice an increase in clear, slippery vaginal secretions — if you look for it. These secretions typically resemble raw egg whites. After ovulation, when the odds of becoming pregnant are slim, the discharge will become cloudy and sticky or disappear entirely.

Pros. Changes in vaginal secretions are often an accurate sign of impending fertility. Simple observation is all that's needed, particularly inside the vagina.
Cons. You have to check your vagina for the secretions. And judging the texture or appearance of vaginal secretions can be somewhat subjective.
Track your basal body temperature
This is your body's temperature when you're fully at rest. Ovulation may cause a gradual rise in temperature or even a sudden jump — typically between 0.5 and 1.6 degrees Fahrenheit. You'll be most fertile during the two to three days before your temperature rises. You can assume ovulation has occurred when the slightly higher temperature remains steady for three days or more.

Use an oral thermometer to monitor your basal body temperature. Try the digital variety or one specifically designed to measure basal body temperature. Simply take your temperature every morning before you get out of bed. Plot the readings on graph paper and look for a pattern to emerge.

Pros. It's simple. The only cost is the thermometer. It's often most helpful to determine when you've ovulated and judge if the timing is consistent from month to month.
Cons. The temperature change may be subtle, and the increase comes too late — after ovulation has already happened. It can be inconvenient to take your temperature at the same time every day, especially if you have irregular sleeping hours.
Try an ovulation monitoring kit
Over-the-counter ovulation kits test your urine for the surge in hormones that takes place before ovulation. For the most accurate results, follow the instructions on the label to the letter.

Pros. Ovulation kits can identify the most likely time of ovulation. They can even provide a signal before ovulation actually happens. They're available without a prescription in most pharmacies.
Cons. Ovulation kits often lead to excessively targeted sex — and timing sex so precisely can invite being too late. The tests can also be expensive, often ranging from $20 to $50 each.
Maximizing fertility
When you're trying to conceive, consider these simple do's and don'ts.

Do:

Have sex regularly. If you consistently have sex two or three times a week, you're almost certain to hit a fertile period at some point. For healthy couples who want to conceive, there's no such thing as too much sex. For many couples, this may be all it takes.
Have sex once a day near the time of ovulation. Daily intercourse during the days leading up to ovulation may increase the odds of conception. Although your partner's sperm concentration will drop slightly each time you have sex, the reduction isn't usually an issue for healthy men.
Make healthy lifestyle choices. Maintain a healthy weight, exercise regularly, eat healthy foods and keep stress under control. The same good habits will serve you and your baby well during pregnancy.
Consider preconception planning. Your doctor can assess your overall health and help you identify lifestyle changes that may improve your chances for a healthy pregnancy. Preconception planning is especially helpful if you or your partner have any health issues.
Take your vitamins. Folic acid (vitamin B-9) plays an essential role in a baby's development. Taking a prenatal vitamin or folic acid supplement beginning at least one month before conception through the first trimester of pregnancy can reduce the risk of spina bifida and other neural tube defects by up to 70 percent.
Don't:

Smoke. Tobacco changes the cervical mucus, which may keep sperm from reaching the egg. Smoking may also increase the risk of miscarriage and deprive your developing baby of oxygen and nutrients. If you smoke, ask your doctor to help you quit before conception. For your family's sake, vow to quit for good.
Drink alcohol. Alcohol is off-limits if you're pregnant — or hope to be.
Take medication without your doctor's OK. Certain medications — even those available without a prescription — can make it difficult to conceive. Others may not be safe once you're pregnant. When to see your doctor
With frequent unprotected sex, most healthy couples conceive within one year. Others need a bit of help.

If you're in your early 30s or younger and you and your partner are in good health, try it on your own for one year before consulting a doctor. You may want to seek help sooner if you're age 35 or older, your periods are more than 35 days apart, or you or your partner has known or suspected fertility issues.

Infertility affects men and women equally — and treatment is available. Depending on the source of the problem, your gynecologist, your partner's urologist or your family doctor may be able to help. In some cases, a fertility specialist may offer the best hope.