TRYING TO CONCEIVE

 There is a lot of pressure on women who are trying to conceive. Usually, there is a flicker of hope when they miss their period for a few days, and the hopes and dreams shatter when the period comes. This means the uterine lining gets thickened and becomes secretary with all the Estrogen and Progesterone, but the egg and the sperm do not get together to fertilize, therefor the endometrial lining sheds and menstruation occurs.

To work out the best time to fall pregnant we need to know how the menstrual cycle works. This starts from the first day of the last menstrual period (LMP) until the first day of your next period. On average this cycle takes 28-32 days. Based on a 28-day cycle, and counting from the first day of your LMP, the date of ovulation can be anywhere between days 11-21. This is when women are most fertile. There is usually an increase in cervical mucous, which is the perfect medium as it helps to protect and nourish the sperm as it proceeds towards the egg.

The egg only lives for a short time (12-48) after leaving the ovary, but the sperm can survive between 3-5 days in the female reproductive system. Millions of sperm are ejaculated by the male partner during sexual intercourse, but only a few reach the fallopian tubes. There needs to be at least one healthy and vigorous sperm already waiting in the fallopian tube when the egg is released during ovulation.

The best chance of conception occurring is when intercourse takes place during the 5 days before ovulation, there is a 33% chance of falling pregnant if the intercourse takes place on the day of ovulation. We are not the most fertile species but approximately 99% of humans do fall pregnant after having intercourse with no contraception for 12 months.

 

 

 That is me, heavily pregnant on the last day of work, before my maternity leave. 



 

 

 

 

 

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