quick clicks

preconception articles

preconception q&a

message boards

research baby names

prepare a birth plan

content channels

ip channel rss feeds

read birth stories

read parenting stories

recommended books

e-newsletters

safety recalls

ip diaries

ip store

mom of the month

dad of the month

editor's letter

letters to the editor

Fertile Signs

Scientific and Subtle Ways to Know You're Ready to Conceive

By Kelly Burgess

2. Cervical Fluid: This is an important sign of fertility and is the equivalent of a man's seminal fluid. However, because women are only fertile for a few days around ovulation, they only produce the type of cervical fluid that encourages sperm mobility on those days. At the beginning of the cycle, the vagina usually seems very dry. As the length of the cycle progresses, the fluid becomes increasingly sticky and then creamy. When it is at the consistency of egg white and can stretch between your fingers, that is when you're at the most fertile. This stage is hard to miss since most women have a sensation of being very wet. It's often mistaken, by uninformed women, for a vaginal infection. After ovulation, the fluid quickly becomes much drier.

3. Cervical Position: As indicated by the changes in cervical fluid, the cervix goes through many changes in a cycle. These can be difficult to detect, but with patience and practice, you can learn to use this sign. Begin by washing hands with soap and water. Find a comfortable place/position to check the cervix, either with the leg elevated, on the toilet, in the tub or in a squatting position. Use the same position each time and always check at the same time of day. Insert middle finger into the vagina and note the softness of the cervix, its height in the vagina, how far open or closed the opening is and its wetness. When it's at its highest, most open and softest, that's the most fertile time.

Julia Kennedy of Austin, Texas, didn't realize how little she knew until she lost her first baby late in pregnancy. Instead of giving herself over to grieving, she became extremely focused on getting pregnant again. She bought Weschler's book and was surprised at how little she knew about the signals her body was sending her. "I remember being in the supermarket and feeling so much cervical mucous I thought something was wrong," Kennedy says. "After I read her book, I realized it was because I was ovulating. It was something so basic, and I just didn't realize it."

Kennedy also has noticed for years that she's much more interested in sex around the time of ovulation. According to Weschler, this is a common secondary sign of fertility. Here are some others:

Want to see more?

• Check out our Article Library.
• Fertility Awareness: What You Should Know and Why You Probably Don't
• It's About Time! Knowing the Best Time to Conceive
• The Right Timing: The Art of Tracking Your Fertility
• Talk about it!