Ideally, to conceive a baby you should have intercourse on the day and the day after you see the LH Surge on your ovulation test. On the day of ovulation a mature egg is released from the ovary and is drawn into the fallopian tube where it awaits to be fertilised by a sperm. Sperm can travel two to three millimetres per minutes but the speed depends on the acidity of their environment - if there is a high amount of acidity in the vagina they will swim a lot slower and may not survive. Sperm need a more alkaline environment so that they can swim freely and easily up to the egg. As mentioned above, if you suffer with a lack of clear eggwhite cervical mucus around ovulation time we recommend a product called Pre-seed which is available at our online store. If the egg becomes fertilised the cells within the egg divides in half and then continues to divide as it travels down the fallopian tube and into the uterus. By the time it reaches the uterus, the egg (zygote) contains approximately 100 cells. About 6-7 days after ovulation the zygote becomes a blastocyst. The blastocyst will produce a hormone which will help implant itself into the lining of the uterus. Once the blastocyst has been implanted it then starts to produce a hormone called Human Chorionic Gonadotophin (HCG). Implantation usually occurs between days 6-10 (post ovulation) but has been reported to take place as early as 4 days post ovulation.
Boy or Girl
It is believed that if you have intercourse closer to ovulation you will have an increased chance of conceiving a boy because the male sperm swims faster. However, if you have intercourse 3-4 days before ovulation your chances of conceiving a girl are increased because the female sperm is more durable and can survive longer. Having said that, occupation can play a huge part in determining the gender of your baby. For example, Pilots are more likely to have baby girls because the altitude affects the male sperm. There are some great books available that help guide you through gender selections process. Obviously nothing is ever 100% full proof but you can always give it a try.
Top 10 Conception Hints
1. Take Folic Acid (3 months prior to conception to reduce the chances of the baby having Neural tube defects)
2. The male partner should take Blackmore Mens performance Multi Vitamin (to increase sperm production and healthy sperm)
3. Keep track of your cycle dates
4. Chart your basal temp daily so you know what is happening in your cycle
5. Look for EWCM (this is a great indicator you are in your fertile period)
6. Studies have show that some lubricants can be toxic to sperm, if you currently require lubricant during intercourse try Pre-Seed "Sperm Friendly" Lubricant
7. Use ovulation tests to detect your surge
8. Have sex frequently around ovulation but particularly on the day you detect the surge and the day after the surge.
9. The best intercourse position for conception is the missionary position (man on top)
10. After intercourse it has been suggested that elevating the hips slightly by using a small pillow can assist. Please do not go overboard with this e.g the use of a large pillow (or several large pillows) or standing on your head may cause the sperm to swim right past the egg.
Most importantly - Have Fun!
Female Fertility
Menstrual Cycle
The usual ovarian cycle lasts for 28 days, however for some women this doesn't happen and they can go for months on end without having a period. As every woman is different and may not have a 28 day cycle, you may need to count back 14 days from your last menstrual period to determine when you ovulated. The last 14 days of your cycle is referred to as the luteal phase. Although women have different cycle lengths this luteal phase is usually 14 days standard. If you do not have periods you should consult your doctor as soon as possible.
FAM / EWCM
Fertility Awareness Method (FAM) is being used more frequently with couples trying to conceive. FAM pinpoints when a woman is most fertile, when ovulation has occurred, and when she might be pregnant. Due to its efficiency in predicting fertility, FAM can reduce the time it takes to successfully conceive from an average of 6 months to 2-3 months.
FAM is based upon the charting and analysis of certain simple body signs that change with changes in a woman's menstrual cycle. Specifically, waking temperature (also referred to as basal body temperature) and cervical fluid (sometimes referred to as cervical mucus) change predictably and identifiably with changes in the hormonal cycle that accompanies ovulation and menstruation.
For more information of FAM we recommend you take a look at a book called Taking Charge of Your Fertility.
We would also like to note the importance of Egg White Cervical Mucus (also known as EWCM). It looks just like egg white (clear) and will be really stretchy, may stretch between 5-10cm. If you do not have reasonable amounts of EWCM present during ovulation then you may need to use additional lubricant. The sperm needs something to swim in and unfortunately regular water based lubricants can kill the sperm and also interfere with the DNA of the sperm. We recommend a product called Pre-Seed. It is the only clinically tested "Sperm Friendly" Lubricant available in Australia. Pre-Seed can be purchased by clicking here
Ovulation
Ovulation is when an egg is released from one of the the ovaries. It will usually occur once per cycle but sometimes it is possible to release two eggs (but it will happen within 24hours of the first eggs release). Its important to note that ovulation may not occur in all cycles. At the start of each ovarian cycle, approximately 20 ova (follicals) begin to ripen. Prior to ovulation taking place the body will release surge of Lutenising Hormone (LH) which tells the body to release an egg. The largest, mature follical will then rupture and be released.
Lutneal Phase
The Lutneal Phase (LP) is the second half of the cycle from Ovulation to period. This is usually at a set 14 days and will not vary each cycle. Some women may have a 15 day LP and other's may have a 9 or 7 day etc LP. If your LP is too short then it may be a reason you are not falling pregnant as the fertilised blastocycst does not get a chance to embed itself into the lining of the uterus before the lining is shed (period). If you do have a short LP then we recommend that you speak to your doctor to discuss options available.
Female Infertility
Conditions such as Hormonal problems, Blocked Tubes, Hyperprolactinaema, Fibrods, Endometriosis & PCOS may all result in Female infertility. The good news is that many of the conditions above can be treated with medication or surgery. For more information on these conditions I recommend that you take a look at the book "Conception, Pregnancy & Birth" by Dr Miriam Stoppard.
The IVF Australia website has a helpful information page describing infertility issues and the various treatment options available. If you have been trying for over a year then this information might be useful. http://www.ivf.com.au
The Male Anatomy - Close Up!
A male starts producing sperm at puberty through the the influence of the hormone testosterone, Lutenizing Hormone and Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH). Yes, that's right Men product Lutenizing Hormone too! Men produce sperm approximately 90 days in advance.
A Sperm kind of looks like a tadpole & is so tiny that it cannot be seen by the naked eye. The sperm has a head and a tail that helps it "swim". When a man ejaculates the sperm is released within a fluid called semen.
Sperm Count / Motility / Infertility
According to Dr Miriam Stoppard and her book "Conception Pregnancy & Birth' Certain occupations may affect sperm count / motility such as working with pesticides, X-ray equipment, paint solvents & heavy metals.
If a low sperm count is evident it does not mean that it is impossible to father a child. It just means that it may take a little longer to conceive and further assistance may be required.
Other problems that may contribute to male infertility are poor motility (when the sperm is less active & sluggish) and defective sperm or abnormalities (when sperm is not correctly formed. eg if there is no tale, split head, abnormal acrosomal head etc) these problems may mean the sperm can have problems reaching or penetrating the egg.
There are many procedures available to assist with the problems listed above and in particular a procedure called Sub-Zonal Insemination where the sperm is injected into the outer layer of the egg.
Tests Available
1. Clinic Semen Analysis - You will need to get a referral from your Doctor to get this particular test. It is usually performed at a specialist clinic. Sometimes you can provide a specimen within the clinic facilities or if you live close to the facility you may be able to collect the specimen at home and drive it to the clinic.
2. FertilitySCORE - New to Australia this is the first male sperm test which allows men to be able to test their fertility in the privacy of their own home. This test measure both Motility & Sperm Count and only measure live and active sperm. FertilitySCORE is available exclusively from www.lullabyconceptions.com and selected pharmamcies.
Video Resources
What is Severe Male Infertility and what options are available?
Semen Analysis and why it makes men uncomfortable
Please Note: Lullaby Conceptions and its employees are not trained medical professionals. When taking any medications or seeking medical advise you should do so under the guidance of a trained medical practitioner.