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Quick Conception
Top Tips When You're Trying to Conceive
By Kim Seidel
Kate McCarthy of Oakland, Calif., took charge of her fertility in her early 30s. When it was time to try to get pregnant, it took her five cycles for success. She's expecting her first child later this winter in February.
McCarthy boosted her fertility with regular acupuncture treatments. The sessions smoothed out her irregular periods. She also exercised regularly, and made sure she was well rested before trying to conceive.
"Try to take time out – get away from a busy schedule," says McCarthy, who gave her own body a few months to recoup after she became a licensed acupuncturist herself. "I've seen it repeatedly. I know a hard-working lawyer who tried to get pregnant for two years. She decided to take one month off of work and got pregnant then."
From acupuncture to exercise to just plain resting, below are some of the best practices you can do when you're trying to conceive.
1. Track your cycles. Contrary to popular belief, the optimal time for conception for normal couples is the five days before ovulation, and including the release of the egg, says Dr. Shelley Binkley, an OB/GYN at Alpine Women's Care in Glenwood Springs, Colo. For most women, these are days nine through 14 from the start of their menstrual cycle. Consider the first day of full flow as "Day 1" of your cycle.
"The easiest way to determine your likely day of ovulation is to track your cycles for at least three months. Then, determine the average interval between consecutive first days of your menses, and subtract 14 days," Dr. Binkley says. "This will yield your most likely date of egg release."
For example, if you have 28-day cycles, subtract 14 and your egg should be released on Day 14.
2. Have sex at peak fertility. You may miss the most fertile time of your cycle if you time intercourse to occur just after your day of egg release, Dr. Binkley says. The egg can live in the female reproductive tract for about 36 hours. Sperm, on the other hand, can live there for up to five days.
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