It's easy to get overwhelmed by all the do's and don'ts when trying to conceive, especially as concerns sex and when is the best time to get jiggy.
Even the most well-meaning advice can cause you unnecessary stress if you're struggling to get pregnant.
As we all know, where there's information there's 'fake news' and you can very easily find yourself getting distracted by the noise.
Unfortunately, we don't have a magic potion to help you conceive. But we do have some verified advice which can help you on your pregnancy journey.
How much sex is too much?
You should have sex every two to three days when trying to conceive. Of course this might not always be possible, and the last thing you want is for sex to become a chore.
But it's important to have regular intercourse to increase your chances of getting pregnant.
Ovulation and the best time to have sex
Your chances of getting pregnant massively increase if you have sex around the time of ovulation. Ovulation is when the ovary releases an egg which can be fertilised. This usually occurs 12 to 16 days before your next period.
It can be difficult to know exactly when you're ovulating, especially if you have irregular periods.
But since sperm can live for up to five days in a woman’s body, you could still get pregnant even if you have sex days before ovulation.
How to tell when you're ovulating
Cycle length
Ovulation usually occurs 12 to 16 days before your next period. If you have regular periods, you may be able to predict when this is. Or you could use smartphone apps like Flo to track your period.
Body temperature
Your body temperature usually rises when you ovulate and remains higher until your next period. So a popular way of tracking your cycle naturally is taking your temperature every morning before getting out of bed. Ideally you'll start to notice a pattern.
Cervical mucus
Something a lot of women don't realise is that the fluid from your cervix changes at different times throughout your cycle. Four days before ovulation, your discharge becomes wet, slippery and stretchy. Once you notice this, you're in your fertile period.
Ovulation prediction kits
You can buy ovulation prediction kits, just like pregnancy tests, from the pharmacy, but they're expensive. And just like with pregnancy tests, you pee on a stick and the test detects changes in hormone levels that show when you are ovulating.
