Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Trying to Get Pregnant?

Pregnancy
Getting pregnant and having a baby are effortless for some couples, but there are many other couples who need quite a bit of time and luck. The following article discusses the various aspects of pregnancy including how fertilization occurs, how to detect ovulation, and some do's and don'ts to follow while trying to get pregnant.

Every month, a mature egg is released from the ovaries -- this event is called ovulation, which is influenced by some specific hormones from the pituitary gland. The ovulation generally falls on or around the 14th day of the average 28 day menstrual cycle. However, in many women, this cycle may exceed from 28 days. If a woman is not having a cycle of 28 days or is irregular, the ovulation timing will vary significantly, but usually comes about 14 days before the first day of the next period.

When ovulation occurs, the egg travels through the fallopian tube. The egg then waits for about 24 hours to fuse with the sperm. Since sperm cells can survive in the reproductive tract for about 3 to 5 days, it is always advised to have intercourse during these days leading up to ovulation if one is trying to get pregnant. If the egg meets the sperm, it is fertilized and travels to the uterus in about 4 days. In the uterus, it implants in the uterine lining. Once this process occurs, congratulations, she is pregnant! Her body will begin supporting the embryo and the menstrual cycle ceases during pregnancy. However, if the egg is not fertilized, it will break down to come out of the body as menstrual fluid.

How to detect ovulation? Suppose a woman is having a menstrual period of 28 days. Mark the first day of her menstrual period as day one, the days between 10 and 18 should be her most probable ovulation date. However, if one is not having a 28 day menstrual cycle, it is best to calculate how long her average cycle is, and have intercourse between 12 and 18 days before she expects her next menstrual period to start because this is the probable time she is most likely to ovulate.

In addition, there are other methods used for determining the ovulation period such as cervical mucus method, basal body temperature method, and digital ovulation monitors, among others. In case of cervical mucus method, the thickness of the cervical mucus is determined, which has been found to be somewhat clear and slippery in nature when ovulation occurs. However, in case of basal body temperature method, the temperature of the basal body is slightly higher after ovulation, which is usually between 0.5 and 1.6 degree Fahrenheit. A woman is considered as most fertile between 2 and 3 days before her temperature rises. On the other hand, a digital monitor monitors the levels of hormones in the urine and predicts the ovulation date. Besides, online ovulation calculator is also readily being used for the same by many Internet users.

In order to increase the chance of becoming pregnant -- have sex regularly all through the month and at least once a day near the time of ovulation. Continue a healthy lifestyle -- take balanced diet, exercise regularly, and stay happy, always. Avoid tobacco, smoking, and alcohol drinking habit. And consult with a doctor for any kind of medication. Keep all these important points in mind for getting pregnant.

No comments:

Post a Comment