Getting Pregnant

Did you know that a woman’s chance of getting pregnant at any particular time is only about 20%? Most gynecologists say that women can still get pregnant within one year, but there are a few "tricks of the trade" that may help speed conception:

1. Track the monthly cycle. According to the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, a woman is most likely to conceive on the day of actual ovulation and the five days that precede ovulation. A woman usually ovulates on the fourteenth day of her cycle, so conception attempts are best tried between the 9th and 14th day. Her temperature will rise slightly during ovulation, so this is another point to check. Remember that the first day of the cycle is the first day of actual bleeding.

2. Don’t douche. Douching, or internally cleansing the vagina with liquid (usually in a vinegar-based solution), even occasionally, can cut a woman’s chance for conception by up to 50%, according to doctors at the University of Washington in Seattle. Good bacteria naturally cleanse the woman’s vaginal area, as does her monthly cycle.

3. Drink caffeinated tea. A study published in the American Journal of Public Health reported that women who drank 4 ounces or more of caffeinated tea each day increased their chances of conception by up to 200%!

4. Elevate your hips. After ejaculation, placing a fluffy pillow under the woman’s hips and having her hold this position for 30-40 minutes give the sperm a better chance of reaching the ovum (egg) with the help of gravity.

Though these methods do not guarantee conception, they have been known to help significantly increase your chances.