Timing Conception
Many women have an easy time getting pregnant. They are able to do so without charting their
basal body temperature, without buying an ovulation predictor and without
thinking each month about their cycle.
These women are, of course, very lucky.
For the rest of us, however, it's very important to understand
when ovulation occurs and to be aware of how you can create the best timing to
become pregnant. Timing conception is
not intended to be a scientific study - it certainly shouldn't take the
spontaneity and excitement out of your intimacy. It should, however, help you to understand
what your body is doing and to try to create optimal circumstances for
conception.
Understanding Ovulation
Each month, a woman has a narrow opportunity to conceive a
child. Only once during a woman's cycle
is an egg released, and this happens when ovulation occurs. The egg only lives for 12 to 24 hours - and
this is the only window in the course of the month when conception can take
place.
The good news, however, is that sperm can live as long as five
days in a cervix with good cervical fluid.
You shouldn't count on this, of course, since the strongest ovulation
and the best time to get pregnant will be right before the egg is
released. The best way to know when you
will be ovulating is to chart your basal body temperature and to check your
cervical fluid. There are many guide
books and articles, both online and in print, that can help you to learn how to
know when you are ovulating.
Timing Intimacy
So, when and how often should you have intercourse? A.J. Wilcox performed a study in 1995 which
suggests that the best time to have intercourse, with a regular 28 day cycle,
is on days 10, 12, 14 and 16. If the
cycle is not a 28 day cycle, then the intercourse should be on days -4, -2, 0,
and +2 in terms of the expected ovulation.
In general, he found that the chance of pregnancy was about 10% when
intercourse happened five days before ovulation and 33% when it happened on the
day of ovulation. Now, if you have intercourse
after the egg is released, you will not be able to become pregnant, even if
it's only a short while after the release of the egg.
Frequency of Intimacy
The frequency of intercourse depends on a number of
factors. If the man has a normal sperm count, then it's find to have intercourse every day to try to hit your
ovulation. If, however, he has a low
sperm count, then it's better to try every other day. Assuming you know when you ovulate, try to
have intercourse starting three days before your ovulation and going one to
three days after. This will help to make
sure that the sperm is present to fertilize the egg.
Finally, with all of this scientific talk and planning, try to
keep the excitement alive! Try not to
become stressed over the timing of ovulation and your attempted
conception. The more relaxed that you
can be, and the more regular your intimacy, the more likely your chances of
conception will be. Have fun trying to
create a beautiful baby and enjoy the process!
