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Getting Pregnant
My wife (26) and i have been trying to get pregnant for about 3 months to no avail. We just started using an ovulation kit during her march cycle and it properly indicated her ovulation, but alas still no pregnancy. Is this something we should be concerned about given our ages and health history (both young, healthy, non smokers, non drug users with no history of serious illness)? I did some googling around but didn't seem to find much info that applied to our situation, but maybe i didn't look hard enough. It's frustrating and heart breaking all at the same time. Any insight?
I would strongly suggest reading "Taking Charge of your Fertility" by Toni Weschler. it is a fantastic book.
Tracking her cervical mucus is helpful too...heres some info from the net.
Basal body temperature and cervical mucus
Reviewed by the BabyCenter Medical Advisory Board
If you're trying to get pregnant, it's helpful to know when you're ovulating so you can time intercourse accordingly. Many women have had success using ovulation predictor kits, which are handy because they tip you off before you ovulate. But the natural way to get a sense of your ovulation cycle is to chart your basal body temperature (BBT) and monitor your cervical mucus.
What is basal body temperature?
Basal body temperature (BBT) is your temperature when you first wake up in the morning. Before you even get out of bed to brush your teeth or start your day, pop a basal thermometer (available at drugstores) into your mouth. (It's important to try to wake up and take this reading at about the same time each morning.) This thermometer shows the minute incremental degree changes that a regular one can't. Most basal thermometers come with a temperature plotting chart. (For instructions on how to fill one in and a sample you can download, click here.) Make some extra copies of the chart in case it takes you a few months to get pregnant.
Your BBT probably ranges from 97.2 to about 97.7 degrees before ovulation. During the two or three days after you ovulate, hormonal changes have caused a rise in your BBT of between 0.5 and 1.6 degrees, which lasts at least until your next period. You'll probably notice your temperature spiking on other days, but unless it stays that way, you probably haven't yet ovulated. If you become pregnant, your temperature will stay elevated throughout your pregnancy.
It's helpful to chart your temperature for a few months so you can see whether there's a pattern to your cycle. If you're sick or fail to take your temperature immediately upon awakening, any pattern you find may be inaccurate.
What is cervical mucus?
There are many different types of vaginal discharge, one of which is cervical mucus. The type of mucus your body produces provides clues to your fertility. You can check your cervical mucus using either your fingers or toilet paper. On days when you're not fertile, the mucus from your cervix is either light or sticky (about the same texture as sticky rice). During the few days leading up to ovulation, when you're most fertile, you'll have more discharge — clear and slippery with the consistency of raw egg white. You are most fertile on the last day you notice cervical mucus of this kind. It usually happens either the day before, or the day of, ovulation. The change in volume and texture of your cervical mucus is due to the increase in estrogen levels that accompanies ovulation.
Which one should I chart?
Both, say many fertility experts. A combined approach will give you the clearest picture of your cycle, so you can more accurately predict ovulation.
Basal body temperature and cervical mucus
Reviewed by the BabyCenter Medical Advisory Board
If you're trying to get pregnant, it's helpful to know when you're ovulating so you can time intercourse accordingly. Many women have had success using ovulation predictor kits, which are handy because they tip you off before you ovulate. But the natural way to get a sense of your ovulation cycle is to chart your basal body temperature (BBT) and monitor your cervical mucus.
What is basal body temperature?
Basal body temperature (BBT) is your temperature when you first wake up in the morning. Before you even get out of bed to brush your teeth or start your day, pop a basal thermometer (available at drugstores) into your mouth. (It's important to try to wake up and take this reading at about the same time each morning.) This thermometer shows the minute incremental degree changes that a regular one can't. Most basal thermometers come with a temperature plotting chart. (For instructions on how to fill one in and a sample you can download, click here.) Make some extra copies of the chart in case it takes you a few months to get pregnant.
Your BBT probably ranges from 97.2 to about 97.7 degrees before ovulation. During the two or three days after you ovulate, hormonal changes have caused a rise in your BBT of between 0.5 and 1.6 degrees, which lasts at least until your next period. You'll probably notice your temperature spiking on other days, but unless it stays that way, you probably haven't yet ovulated. If you become pregnant, your temperature will stay elevated throughout your pregnancy.
It's helpful to chart your temperature for a few months so you can see whether there's a pattern to your cycle. If you're sick or fail to take your temperature immediately upon awakening, any pattern you find may be inaccurate.
What is cervical mucus?
There are many different types of vaginal discharge, one of which is cervical mucus. The type of mucus your body produces provides clues to your fertility. You can check your cervical mucus using either your fingers or toilet paper. On days when you're not fertile, the mucus from your cervix is either light or sticky (about the same texture as sticky rice). During the few days leading up to ovulation, when you're most fertile, you'll have more discharge — clear and slippery with the consistency of raw egg white. You are most fertile on the last day you notice cervical mucus of this kind. It usually happens either the day before, or the day of, ovulation. The change in volume and texture of your cervical mucus is due to the increase in estrogen levels that accompanies ovulation.
Which one should I chart?
Both, say many fertility experts. A combined approach will give you the clearest picture of your cycle, so you can more accurately predict ovulation.
It does the same thing..it charts her temperature which has to do with ovulation. Temperature taken every morning before getting out of bed at teh same time can predict when a woman ovulates. Its just another tool to use when trying to conceive during ovulation.
There is a great book too if you and your wife are interested..it is talked about alot in these forums.... "Taking Charge of Your Fertility". I hear its wonderful. I have never personally read it myself..but it may not hurt to look into it.
There is a great book too if you and your wife are interested..it is talked about alot in these forums.... "Taking Charge of Your Fertility". I hear its wonderful. I have never personally read it myself..but it may not hurt to look into it.
I completely understand your frustration and hurt by this.....Trust me..My sister had 2 abortions because she had unprotected sex with a guy (both from the same guy) while we were trying to conceive. She then fell pregnant again (was going to abort), I fell pregnant, our first ended in miscarriage...and then it was even harder for me to hear her talk about abortion after losing mine we had waited to long for!! Thankfully she chose to keep her son.....but trust me..its frustrating and upsetting to say the least....but it will happen! Have faith.
stupid husband here that didn't pay attention in health class, what does the basal body temperature do that the kit doesn't?
thanks for that. i know its tough on both of us, but tougher on her for sure. She keeps asking what's wrong with her since a lot of women around her are having oops babies seemingly at will (even the 49 year old lady she works with that thought she was going through menopause when her period stopped and she started gaining weight - only to find out that she was 7 months pregnant, no joke).
Continue to use ovulation kits and she should chart her basal body temperature (which you can google and read up on) which also predicts ovulation. They say to try for a year and if after a year you have no luck, look into a fertility clinic to see if there are other underlying issues such as blocked tubes, low sperm count, sperm motility, etc.
There are plenty of test they can do to find out whats up..if anything.
My husband and I tried for 3 years....both healthy people.....with nothing wrong.
Hang in there. I know its frustrating.....but give it time....and then seek outside assistance!
There are plenty of test they can do to find out whats up..if anything.
My husband and I tried for 3 years....both healthy people.....with nothing wrong.
Hang in there. I know its frustrating.....but give it time....and then seek outside assistance!
at the best, your wife has a 25% chance of conceiving in any given cycle. It's normal to take up to a year to get pregnant when trying to conceive. Be patient, it'll happen.
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