How to Conceive

Get Off Your Hormonal Birth Control Now

If you are still taking your daily birth control pill, it's time to stop. Likewise, if you have an IUD implanted, have it removed by your doctor, of if you're using the patch, stop wearing it. For those who have received the Depo-Provera shot within the last 3 months, there's nothing you can do but wait it out. For the rest, be aware that even after you stop taking your birth control, it can take up to an entire year for conception to happen naturally. For some women, it takes that long for the reproductive system to return to its normal working self to allow for pregnancy to happen. The longer you were on birth control, the longer it will take to return to normal. A good rule of thumb is to start trying after your period has returned and has been regular for three solid months.

Start Tracking Your Periods

There are days during every woman's menstrual cycle where she is most fertile, and least fertile. Obviously, when you are most fertile, you have the highest chance of conceiving. Having sex during the days where you are most fertile will increase your chances of getting pregnant.

If you have a "typical" menstrual cycle that last 28 days, then ovulation occurs on the 14 day. You are at your most fertile period during the five days leading up to ovulation, and the actual day of ovulation. That leaves you a window of six days to try, so for best results, try and have sex all six of those days (if your husband doesn't mind, of course).

If you have an atypical menstrual cycle that lasts more or less than 28 days, then you will need to track your Basal body temperature to figure out your most fertile days. For women with irregular cycles, this would also be the best option, although an irregular cycle can signal that something is wrong with your reproductive system - like PCOS - and you should consult your gynecologist to see if there is something internal that is preventing conception from occurring.

Keep Track of Your Basal Body Temperature

Your Basal body temperature - also called a BBT - is your body's lowest temperature recorded while your body is in a state of rest. When your BBT is anywhere from a half to a whole degree higher, this indicates ovulation. You will likely need to track your BBT for a month or two before you can pinpoint what day ovulation occurs; then, you can track how long your cycle is with this information. You'll be able to figure out where the five days leading up to ovulation falls on the calendar, so you have a better chance at getting pregnant when having sex on those days.

To take your BBT, you will need to purchase a special Basal temperature thermometer - regular thermometers are not able to properly take your BBT. The best time to take your BBT is early in the morning when you first wake up before doing anything else, or late at night after you have been relaxing in bed for awhile and your body is rested from no activity. For best results, keep a Basal temperature thermometer, a pen, and a pad of paper by your bed. When you wake up in the morning, immediately take your BBT, and record it for that day on the pad. This way, you don't have to move before taking your temperature, which can mess with your results.

Pay Attention to Your Cervical Mucus

Your cervical mucus - which naturally occurs in your vagina - becomes thick and slightly more acidic when your period ends. The purpose of mucus is to prevent conception, by blocking sperm from entering the vagina. But during ovulation, the cervical mucus is thinner, less acidic, and actually helps assist sperm in finding its way to the cervix to encourage pregnancy to occur.

You can track the change in your cervical mucus to determine when ovulation occurs and when you are most fertile. When your mucus is thin and watery, you'll know it's time to try for a baby. When it's thick and sticky, you can use this as a way to track the days to ovulation, if you know how many days are in your cycle, to predict when ovulation will happen again.