When trying to conceive a baby, many couples plan intercourse around days 11 to 14 of the woman's 28-day cycle. However, it is often difficult to know exactly when ovulation is going to occur. Doctors recommend that couples who are trying to have a baby have intercourse between days 10 and day 20 of a woman's menstrual cycle. Studies have shown that having intercourse every other day works just as well as having intercourse every day in order to become pregnant.
If you have an irregular menstrual cycle and are no sure when or if you are ovulating, ovulation predictor kit can help. These kits, which can be bought at most drug stores, check for LH (luteinizing hormone) in the urine.
There are other various methods to help detect when you are most likely to be able to conceive a baby.
Evaluating Your Cervical Fluid
Cervical fluid plays protects the sperm and helps it move through the cervix toward the uterus and fallopian tubes. Cervical fluid changes in preparation for ovulation. You will notice clear differences in how it looks and feels over the course of the cycle.
Menstrual period occurring (no cervical fluid is present)
Vagina is dry (no cervical fluid is present)
Sticky/rubbery fluid
Wet/creamy/white fluid -- FERTILE
Slippery/stretchy/clear "egg white" fluid -- VERY FERTILE
Dry (no cervical fluid)
The cervical fluid will be slippery and stretchy on your most fertile days. You can use your fingers to check the consistency of your cervical fluid. Find the fluid inside the lower end of the vagina. Tap your thumb and first finger together -- if the material stretches while you spread your thumb and finger apart, this could mean ovulation is near.
Pregnancy test (1 image)(Doctor-Reviewed information)
A pregnancy test measures a hormone called human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG. HCG is a hormone produced during pregnancy. It appears in the blood and urine of pregnant women as early as 10 days after conception. See also: HCG - urine; HCG - serum - qualitative; HCG - serum - quantitative. Reviewer: Audra Robertson, MD, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 11/30/2006
Preeclampsia (1 image)(Doctor-Reviewed information)
Preeclampsia is high blood pressure and protein in the urine that develops after the 20th week of pregnancy. Reviewer: Melanie N. Smith, M.D., Ph.D., Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 08/17/2007
Eclampsia (1 image)(Doctor-Reviewed information)
Eclampsia is the occurence of seizures (convulsions) in a pregnant woman. The seizures are unrelated to brain conditions andEclampsia is the occurence of seizures (convulsions) in a pregnant woman. The seizures are unrelated to brain conditions and¿usually¿happen after the 20th week of pregnancy. See also:¿Preeclampsia Reviewer: Melanie N. Smith, M.D., Ph.D., Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA. Review provided by VeriMedHealthcare Network.Date: 05/15/2006
Ectopic pregnancy (6 images)
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(Doctor-Reviewed information)
An ectopic pregnancy is an abnormal pregnancy that occurs outside the uterus (womb. The baby cannot survive. Reviewer: Melanie N. Smith, MD, PhD, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 05/15/2006
Pregnancy ultrasound (16 images)(Doctor-Reviewed information)
A pregnancy ultrasound is a method of seeing the fetus and female pelvic organs during pregnancy. The ultrasound machine sends out high-frequency sound waves. These waves bounce off body structures to create a picture. Reviewer: Neil Grossman, MD, MetroWest Radiology Associates, Framingham, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 05/03/2006
Pregnancy care(Doctor-Reviewed information) Reviewer: Rachel A. Lewis, MD, FAAP, Columbia University Pediatric Faculty Practice, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 05/06/2007
Birth control and family planning (9 images)(Doctor-Reviewed information)
Which form of birth control you choose depends on a number of different factors, including your¿health,¿how often you have sex,¿and whether or not you want children. Reviewer: A.D.A.M. Editorial Team: David Zieve, MD, Greg Juhn, M.T.P.W., David R. Eltz, Kelli A. Stacy. Previously reviewed by Rachel A. Lewis, MD, FAAP, Columbia University Pediatric Faculty Practice, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network (5/6/2007).Date: 09/28/2007
Adolescent pregnancy (17 images)(Doctor-Reviewed information)
Adolescent pregnancy is pregnancy in girls age 19 or¿younger. Reviewer: Melanie N. Smith, M.D., Ph.D., Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 02/27/2006
Premature infant(Doctor-Reviewed information)
A premature infant is a baby born before 37 weeks gestation. Reviewer: Deirdre OReilly, MD, MPH, Neonatologist, Division of Newborn Medicine, Childrens Hospital Boston and Instructor in Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts. Review Provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 10/11/2007
Melasma(Doctor-Reviewed information)
Melasma is a dark skin discoloration found on sun-exposed areas of the face. Reviewer: Kevin Berman, MD, PhD, Associate, Atlanta Center for Dermatologic Disease, Atlanta, GA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 12/25/2006
Birth-acquired herpes (1 image)(Doctor-Reviewed information)
Birth-acquired herpes is an infection with the herpes virus that an infant gets at the time of birth. Reviewer: John Goldenring, MD, MPH, Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital, San Diego, CA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 11/18/2005
Vaginal bleeding in pregnancy (5 images)(Doctor-Reviewed information)
Vaginal bleeding in pregnancy is bleeding coming through the vagina during pregnancy, for any reason. Reviewer: Audra Robertson, MD, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare NetworkDate: 05/23/2006
Fetal alcohol syndrome (2 images)(Doctor-Reviewed information)
Fetal alcohol syndrome refers to growth, mental, and physical problems that may occur in a baby when a mother drinks alcohol during pregnancy. Reviewer: Rachel A. Lewis, MD, FAAP, Columbia University Pediatric Faculty Practice, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 08/15/2007
Facial nerve palsy due to birth trauma(Doctor-Reviewed information)
Facial nerve palsy due to birth trauma is the loss of voluntary muscle movement in an infant's face due to pressure on the facial nerves just before or at the time of delivery. Reviewer: Deirdre OReilly, MD, MPH, Neonatologist, Division of Newborn Medicine, Childrens Hospital Boston and Instructor in Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts. Review Provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 10/11/2007
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