Introduction
For many women and couples, having a child is an integral part of their life planning, but getting pregnant is not always easy. A lack of pregnancy can put an enormous strain on the psyche of the woman and the partnership. Before women consult a doctor and possibly consider drug and/or hormonal treatment, you can try to increase your chances of getting pregnant by changing your diet and lifestyle. In this context there are a lot of tips, some of which can be very helpful and useful.
General measures
First and foremost, it is always useful to learn more about your own body, because knowing exactly how your female body changes during your cycle can greatly increase the probability of conception. In addition, it is assumed that sufficient sleep, exercise and a vitamin-rich diet are conducive to pregnancy. Finally, one should not let oneself be put under too much pressure by a still unfulfilled desire for a child.
Very few women become pregnant at the first attempt. In each menstrual cycle the probability of getting pregnant is about 15-25%. On average it takes about 4 months to become pregnant; after one year 90% of women are pregnant. A good pregnancy preparation can help to increase the chances of pregnancy.
Determination of ovulation
In principle, conception is most likely to occur shortly before or after ovulation. Knowing the exact time of ovulation helps to increase the chances of getting pregnant. On average, every 28 days an egg cell matures sufficiently far for ovulation to occur.
Sperm can survive in the woman’s body for up to 72 hours, resulting in a maximum of seven fertile days per cycle. Ovulation always takes place about 14 days before the next period. With a regular cycle, the time of the fertile days can thus be determined approximately.
These can be easily determined using the temperature method. It is important to take a woman’s morning temperature every day and write it down (if possible always at the same time). Shortly after the monthly ovulation, the temperature rises for a few days and after several months, the day of ovulation can be determined exactly by means of a temperature curve.
The quality of the discharge can also be a help in child planning and, with daily assessment, can increase the chances of getting pregnant. A few days before and after ovulation, the discharge (cervical mucus) is thin, light and draws threads. The cervix (more precisely, the outer cervix) also offers a way of tracing the female cycle, as it can be easily palpated with one or two fingers.
Usually the opening of the cervix is very narrow and tight, but during the course of the female cycle, the degree of opening can vary quite a lot. Shortly after menstruation, the outer cervix is narrow and also feels very hard. At about the same time as ovulation, it becomes softer and begins to open, which means that the woman’s body is in the fertile phase at this time and the probability of conception is particularly high.
A fertility calculator or calendar is also used to determine the fertile days. For this purpose, the exact length of the cycle (first day of the last menstruation until the next menstruation) must be known. Based on the first day of the last period and the average cycle length, the fertile days of the next cycles can be calculated.
An ovulation test can also be used for determination. For this purpose, the level of the so-called luteinizing hormone (LH) is determined; this rises 24 to 36 hours before ovulation and thus triggers it. Similar to a pregnancy test, the urine can be used to determine the best days for conception.
However, the length of the cycle should first be determined, at best over a period of several months. In this way, the correct period for an ovulation test can be determined. The test can be performed at any time of day, but you should always test at the same time.
Since you should not urinate for four hours before the test, it is best to perform the test in the morning. Fertility is indicated by a change in color or a specific sign. If the test is positive, you should have sexual intercourse with your partner within 48 hours.
