Fertility and Family Planning

Many women spend much of their lives trying not to get pregnant, so you'd think that when a woman is ready to conceive, it ought to be easy. However, this isn't always the case. If you're struggling to get pregnant, you can improve your odds of conception by learning more about fertility and family planning.

The basics of fertility and family planning include learning how to predict ovulation and, if you're trying to get pregnant, how to maximize fertility. For some women, predicting ovulation is as simple as keeping an eye on the calendar. For example, if you consistently menstruate every 28 days (lucky you!), your ovulation cycle is likely to start about two weeks (14 days) after the first day of your last period. With longer cycles, ovulation is more likely to start about 20 days after the first day of your last period.

Other physical signs can also help women recognize when they're ovulating. Vaginal discharge that resembles raw egg whites (slippery and clear) typically occurs right before ovulation, whereas discharge may disappear or become sticky and cloudy after ovulation (when chances of conceiving are slim). Tracking basal body temperature, or using an over-the-counter ovulation predictor kit, can also help some women recognize when they're ovulating. Your doctor can tell you more about both of these options.

A big part of maximizing fertility is basically having more sex, especially during ovulation. For women who want to maximize their chances of getting pregnant, there's no such thing as having too much sex. Some couples can conceive just by having more frequent sex, but you'll increase your odds by having daily sex during the days leading up to ovulation.

Staying healthy can also increase the chances of conception. Stress, caffeine, an unhealthy diet and a lack of physical activity can all inhibit conception to a certain degree. Practicing healthy habits may help you get pregnant, and this is also good practice for a healthy pregnancy. Your doctor can assess your health and identify necessary lifestyle changes through a process known as preconception planning. Some women also choose to take a daily prenatal vitamin when they are trying to get pregnant, because this can reduce the risk of neural tube defects like spina bifida.

If avoiding pregnancy is your goal, oral contraceptives or another contraceptive method is typically the most effective choice; but for those who prefer a more natural approach, the above fertility and family planning tips can also help prevent conception. In this case, you should avoid sex (or use an extra form of protection) during ovulation.