Using fertility awareness to get pregnant
Many women use fertility awareness as contraception because they're curious about their fertility or want to get pregnant in the next few years.
Fertility awareness is a great way to check your overall health, and to learn when you're most fertile. It's also less stressful, and cheaper, than the kind of fertility tests generally offered to women.
Fertility awareness is a great way to check your overall health, and to learn when you're most fertile. It's also less stressful, and cheaper, than the kind of fertility tests generally offered to women.
Have a 12 month pregnancy
Deciding to get pregnant can be alarming when we are told (endlessly) that sex without contraception means pregnancy, and it sometimes feels like “everyone” has fertility problems and the only solution is IVF.
Some people do need help from a fertility clinic, but for most of us fertility is more like a dimmer switch than an on/off switch.
And you might be able to turn that dial a little yourself, and make treatment more effective if you do end up at a clinic.
Improving your chances of pregnancy does not mean making yourselves miserable with unrealistic goals.
It does mean both of you looking after yourselves a little more.
It's also worth having a 12 month pregnancy, which means both of you doing all the good, sensible stuff for three months before you start trying to get pregnant.
You know the drill. Take a pregnancy supplement - or at least folic acid and vitamin D. Eat regular meals, make sure your BMI is in the normal range, give up smoking, go easy on alcohol, look after your teeth (sounds odd but can help), get enough sleep, and look after your mental health.
For more advice see the NHS guide to planning a pregnancy.
Some people do need help from a fertility clinic, but for most of us fertility is more like a dimmer switch than an on/off switch.
And you might be able to turn that dial a little yourself, and make treatment more effective if you do end up at a clinic.
Improving your chances of pregnancy does not mean making yourselves miserable with unrealistic goals.
It does mean both of you looking after yourselves a little more.
It's also worth having a 12 month pregnancy, which means both of you doing all the good, sensible stuff for three months before you start trying to get pregnant.
You know the drill. Take a pregnancy supplement - or at least folic acid and vitamin D. Eat regular meals, make sure your BMI is in the normal range, give up smoking, go easy on alcohol, look after your teeth (sounds odd but can help), get enough sleep, and look after your mental health.
For more advice see the NHS guide to planning a pregnancy.
Age
The impact of your age on fertility is probably the first thing on your mind. We've all heard about women's fertility "falling off a cliff" when we reach 30.
In reality, it might not be convenient to get pregnant before the age of 30. We usually want a decent partner, and housing, and work. Our fertility is not the only thing we need to think about. Life is not that simple.
The good news is your age might not be as big a deal as you think. There's a reason that official childbearing years go up to 45.
That said, Jean Twenge suggests you aim to complete your family by the time you're 40, so don't hang around too much.
In reality, it might not be convenient to get pregnant before the age of 30. We usually want a decent partner, and housing, and work. Our fertility is not the only thing we need to think about. Life is not that simple.
The good news is your age might not be as big a deal as you think. There's a reason that official childbearing years go up to 45.
That said, Jean Twenge suggests you aim to complete your family by the time you're 40, so don't hang around too much.
Sex
Too many folk think women can only get pregnant during ovulation, the one or two days when the egg or eggs (think twins) are released and fertilisation can occur. The iconic moment when sperm meets egg.
In reality, women are made to get pregnant - not that we have to, but you know what I mean.
We can store sperm for up to seven days before ovulation. Yes, seven days. And I suspect we're not just storing it, we're probably chucking out the duds and keeping the good stuff.
You could have sex on Saturday and get pregnant while you're brushing your teeth on Friday. Our bodies are amazing.
So have lots of sex. You could even forget about identifying your fertile time and just follow NICE Fertility guidance and "have vaginal sexual intercourse every two to three days".
But you're probably reading this because you want to know when your fertile days occur so here's some info on that...
In reality, women are made to get pregnant - not that we have to, but you know what I mean.
We can store sperm for up to seven days before ovulation. Yes, seven days. And I suspect we're not just storing it, we're probably chucking out the duds and keeping the good stuff.
You could have sex on Saturday and get pregnant while you're brushing your teeth on Friday. Our bodies are amazing.
So have lots of sex. You could even forget about identifying your fertile time and just follow NICE Fertility guidance and "have vaginal sexual intercourse every two to three days".
But you're probably reading this because you want to know when your fertile days occur so here's some info on that...
Fluid
One of the main reasons women's bodies can store sperm for up to 7 days is cervical fluid. It also transports it to the egg/s when the time comes.
Notice it when you use the bathroom, or in the shower.
Storage fluid might not be that obvious, but transport fluid usually is - there's lots of it and it's clear and stretchy, a bit like raw egg white.
Transport fluid usually appears when you're ovulating or about to ovulate (release an egg), so if you notice it get busy.
You might also hear cervical fluid described as mucus, discharge or secretions. For pretty obvious reasons I avoid using those words. Men have seminal fluid and so it seems very reasonable for women to have cervical fluid.
Notice it when you use the bathroom, or in the shower.
Storage fluid might not be that obvious, but transport fluid usually is - there's lots of it and it's clear and stretchy, a bit like raw egg white.
Transport fluid usually appears when you're ovulating or about to ovulate (release an egg), so if you notice it get busy.
You might also hear cervical fluid described as mucus, discharge or secretions. For pretty obvious reasons I avoid using those words. Men have seminal fluid and so it seems very reasonable for women to have cervical fluid.
Ovulation tests
If your fluid isn't obvious, you could try ovulation prediction tests.
The cheap ones are fine, they just have more complicated instructions and usually involve peeing in a pot, rather than straight on the stick.
Start testing from the day the test recommends and base this on your shortest cycle length, not your average cycle. It's usually best to test in the early evening, after you've not peed for a few hours (time to practice those Kegels).
Remember these are ovulation prediction tests - they tell you that ovulation is about to occur.
The cheap ones are fine, they just have more complicated instructions and usually involve peeing in a pot, rather than straight on the stick.
Start testing from the day the test recommends and base this on your shortest cycle length, not your average cycle. It's usually best to test in the early evening, after you've not peed for a few hours (time to practice those Kegels).
Remember these are ovulation prediction tests - they tell you that ovulation is about to occur.
Waking temperature (AKA basal body temperature)
If ovulation tests don't work (they're not always reliable), you could take your waking temperature.
This works as an ovulation confirmation test. It doesn't help you predict ovulation but helps you know if it happened, and when it happened.
Most women who are ovulating will see their waking temperature rise after ovulation, and stay up for around 10 to 14 days.
Your temperature usually drops when your period is due. If it stays high you could be pregnant.
This works as an ovulation confirmation test. It doesn't help you predict ovulation but helps you know if it happened, and when it happened.
Most women who are ovulating will see their waking temperature rise after ovulation, and stay up for around 10 to 14 days.
Your temperature usually drops when your period is due. If it stays high you could be pregnant.
Breastfeeding and fertility
If you're breastfeeding, you might struggle to get pregnant. Prolactin, the breastfeeding hormone, lowers oestrogen which is the egg ripening and release hormone.
For more about the practical and emotional side of reducing feeds read this blog from Emma Pickett.
For more about the practical and emotional side of reducing feeds read this blog from Emma Pickett.
Considering fertility treatment or egg freezing?
You might do all this and still not get pregnant.
Of course fertility treatment has helped many people have babies, but it can be expensive - financially, physically and emotionally. And it doesn't work as often as you might think. Visit the HFEA website for some sobering facts.
Freezing your eggs is sold as an insurance policy, and you might decide it's the best option for you, but please read Is egg freezing worth the money by Victoria Spratt before you go ahead.
Of course fertility treatment has helped many people have babies, but it can be expensive - financially, physically and emotionally. And it doesn't work as often as you might think. Visit the HFEA website for some sobering facts.
Freezing your eggs is sold as an insurance policy, and you might decide it's the best option for you, but please read Is egg freezing worth the money by Victoria Spratt before you go ahead.
Want some support?
My fertility awareness support is mainly for those who want to avoid pregnancy, and fertility clinics.
I have helped a number of clients improve their overall health, and get pregnant when they want, but I stay firmly on the low-tech side of fertility awareness. I don't offer AMH testing or any other tests.
If you also want support with the more high-tech side of things, including IVF and egg freezing, I suggest either Jane Knight at the Zita West Clinic, or Kate Davies at Your Fertility Journey.
I have helped a number of clients improve their overall health, and get pregnant when they want, but I stay firmly on the low-tech side of fertility awareness. I don't offer AMH testing or any other tests.
If you also want support with the more high-tech side of things, including IVF and egg freezing, I suggest either Jane Knight at the Zita West Clinic, or Kate Davies at Your Fertility Journey.