TTC-Checklist:
Tips for Enhancing Pregnancy Health and Fertility

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The TTC-Checklist is designed to improved fertility and increase your chances of becoming pregnant - with a healthy baby, a healthy body, a healthy mind and a healthy spirit. The TTC-checklist is based on two principles: understanding your own body - its cycles and fertility rhythms - and maximizing your fertility health.

Get Healthy! Health and Diet are Critical to Fertility

Sound health is the foundation of the fertility checklist. Excess body fat can lead to an overproduction of certain hormones - causing irregularities in your cycle, decreased ovulation, and decreased chances for successful conception. Too little body fat, on the other hand, can lead to the same problems - and in some cases, ovulation can be disrupted.

Eating properly, of course, will enhance fertility. Exercise, eat healthy, and consider organic foods and foods free from added hormones, preservatives, or artificial ingredients. During pregnancy, eating organic is even more important. Protein, iron, zinc, and vitamin C are essential to a regular, healthy menstrual cycle - and more frequent ovulation (a shorter, regular cycle).

Understanding Your Body's Menstrual Cycle

Understanding how the menstrual cycle functions - and what happens during ovulation - is key to enhancing fertility. During your menstrual cycle, there are far more infertile days than fertile days. The fertile days are days when there is a possibility for conceiving. However, within your fertile period - the window of opportunity for conception - there are days of "peak fertility". Identifying these peak times - and planning accordingly - can help maximize your chances for becoming pregnant. To read more about your menstrual cycle, click here.

A normal menstrual cycle lasts 22 to 35 days - and if your menstrual cycle is much longer (over 42-45 days), then you may want to consult your doctor. When you're ready to conceive, plan to have intercourse during the most fertile days of your cycle. Here, the better you can predict ovulation, the better your chances for conception...

Predicting Ovulation

There are a number of ways to predict ovulation - and many women use different methods in concert to increase predictive accuracy. Below you will find a list of popular methods to predict ovulation. All of these topics are covered in detail throughout Ovulation-Calculator.com (see Fertility Charting).

Charting your Basal Body Temperature (BBT). BBT charting measures the rise in body temperature just following ovulation. By charting BBT, you can begin to understand your cycle and predict your most fertile times.

OPKs - or Ovulation Tests - can anticipate ovulation, predicting your most fertile times. OPKs are a reliable and increasingly inexpensive way to predict ovulation accurately. Better yet, ovulation tests also provide a day or more latitude to plan for intercourse.

Examining changes in your cervical mucus can tell you a great deal about where you are in your cycle. Directly prior to ovulation, changes in the consistency and color of your cervical mucus can alert you to impending ovulation.

Decreasing Alcohol Consumption and Quitting Smoking

Of course, decreasing alcohol consumption and quitting cigarette smoking is very important to enhanced fertility. Cigarettes contain countless toxins that can age and damage a woman's reproductive system. Smoking can undermine the health of a woman's eggs, can interfere with healthy implantation , and can also cause 'aging' of the ovaries.

Research also indicates that alcohol consumption can decrease chances for successful conception and implantation. Even more importantly, it can harm a developing fetus. More than one drink a day may alter estrogen levels, which can interfere with egg implantation. If you are considering having a baby - and would like to enhance fertility - then doctors suggest that you decrease alcohol intake, quit smoking, and consult your own doctor regarding the impact of any other prescription or nonprescription drugs.

Though research indicates that coffee does not interfere with fertility or the dynamics of conception, it's probably a good idea to exercise moderation when it comes to caffeine as well. If coffee causes added stress, sleeplessness, or nervousness, there may be indirect effects on fertility.

Look at Male Fertility Issues

Having difficulty conceiving? Then make sure that your male partner is following similar health guidelines. Also, diagnostic evaluation of male semen is an option. A semen analysis can determine if the sperm count is low (oligospermia) or sperm motility is an issue (asthenospermia). Motility of the sperm is important to successful conception.

Decrease Stress and Think Positive

Stress can certainly be a problem. Stress, insomnia, worry, and focusing on "negative thoughts" can all lead to cycle irregularities - and decrease your overall health - making successful conception that much more difficult. Many couples experience a great deal of frustration when trying to conceive. Stay positive, decrease stress in your life - whether it be from worry, travel, coffee, or overwork - and focus on positive thoughts. Finding someone to talk to (even through an online community) can bring a great deal of solace and lessen stress.

Sex

With so much to consider, you may forget that intercourse is also a necessary part of conceiving a baby! Studies indicate that regular sex may help maintain regularity of the menstrual cycle. During the days just prior to ovulation, frequent sex also increases the chances of conception - and intercourse every 36 to 48 hours is sound fertility practice at ovulation. Following a positive result on an OPK, it is recommended that you have sex - using the missionary position - over the next three days.

Getting a Fertility Work-Up

Only after prolonged difficulty in conceiving a baby, it may be wise to visit your doctor - or a fertility specialist. There are a number of tests that can determine if you have a fertility issue or fertility problem - and there are also medications to help increase fertility.

Of course, visiting an infertility specialist may be expensive and time-consuming, and involve medical procedures. Before labeling yourself with a fertility problem, make sure you've maximized your chances to conceive naturally by following this simple checklist.

See Also

> Fertility Charting & Ovulation Prediction
> Ovulation Calculator
> Chinese Gender Chart
> Pregnancy Health Tips