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 seizures (convulsions) in a pregnant woman that are not related to brain conditions. See also: Preeclampsia Reviewer: Peter Chen, M.D., Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, University of Pennsylvania Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 02/05/2008
Ectopic pregnancy (6 images)
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(Doctor-Reviewed information)
An ectopic pregnancy is an abnormal pregnancy that occurs outside the womb (uterus. The baby cannot survive. Reviewer: Peter Chen, MD, Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, University of Pennsylvania Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 02/05/2008
Pregnancy ultrasound (16 images)(Doctor-Reviewed information)
A pregnancy ultrasound is an imaging test that uses sound waves to see how a fetus is developing in the womb. It is also used to check the female pelvic organs during pregnancy. Reviewer: Benjamin Taragin, M.D., Adjunct Professor of Radiology, Columbia Presbyterian School of Medicine, New York, NY, and Attending Radiologist, St. Joseph's Hospital, Paterson, NJ. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 01/24/2008
Pregnancy care(Doctor-Reviewed information)
Prior to modern medicine, many mothers and their babies did not survive pregnancy and the birth process. Today, good prenatal care can significantly improve the quality of the pregnancy and the outcome for the infant and mother.Good prenatal care ...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, MHA, Greg Juhn, MTPW, David R. Eltz, Kelli A. Stacy, ELS. 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: 03/25/2008
Adolescent pregnancy (17 images)(Doctor-Reviewed information)
Adolescent pregnancy is pregnancy in girls age 19 or?younger. Reviewer: Peter Chen, M.D., Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Pennsylvania Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 11/09/2007
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 a herpes virus infection that an infant gets (acquires) at the time of birth. Reviewer: Rachel A. Lewis, M.D., F.A.A.P., Columbia University Pediatric Faculty Practice, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 11/12/2007
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: Peter Chen, MD, Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, University of Pennsylvania Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 02/19/2008
Folic acid and birth defect prevention (3 images)(Doctor-Reviewed information)
Prevention of birth defects with folic acid (folate)Question:Does folic acid use help prevent birth defects?Answer:There is good evidence that you can reduce the risk of certain birth defects (spina bifida and anencephaly) by taking a daily dose o...Reviewer: Peter Chen, M.D., Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Pennsylvania Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 11/09/2007
Fetal alcohol syndrome (1 image)(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 controllable (voluntary) muscle movement in an infant's face due to pressure on the facial nerves just before or at the time of delivery. Reviewer: Daniel Kantor, MD, Director of the Comprehensive MS Center, Neuroscience Institute, University of Florida Health Science Center, Jacksonville, FL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 02/06/2008
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