Understanding fertility

The decision of when a couple decides to start a family is a deeply personal one, and a host of professional and personal factors go into your family’s own ideal timetable. And even when a man and a woman agree that the time is right, there is no predicting how long the journey of trying to conceive might take.

If you are trying to conceive, you have probably heard many tips for getting pregnant and have a hard time discerning fertility fact from fiction. Which suggestions may actually help when you are trying for a baby?

When you're trying to conceive, you can't leave it up to chance. Your body runs on cycles with fertile windows. An ovulation predictor kit can help you identify the two days of the month when you're most likely to conceive.

The first phase of your cycle is called the follicular phase. This begins on Day one of your cycle, which is the first full day of menstrual bleeding when the lining of the uterus starts to shed.

First, determine the length of your normal cycle. It could be anywhere from 20 to 45 days long. Start counting on day one of your period (the first day of bleeding or spotting) — and stop counting on the first day of your next period. This is the length of your cycle.

If you have been trying to get pregnant for 1-2 years without success, you may decide it’s time to take things to the next level in your baby making journey. Fertility clinics can help by assessing your medical and sexual history, identify potential causes of infertility, and recommend treatment.

The guidelines state you should seek the advice of a specialist if you are under 35 and have had unprotected intercourse for 12 months without a pregnancy. However, if you are over 35, you should only wait 6 months to seek the advice of an infertility treatment specialist.