5 tips on predicting ovulation:

Although there are several days of the month in which a woman is fertile, you are most fertile during the days around ovulation.

1.   One method is simply counting the days of your menstrual cycle, although this method is often not very reliable.  Ovulation generally occurs on day 14 if your cycle is 28 days long.

2.   Another method involves using physical signs such as basal body temperature, cervical position and cervical mucus changes. The body temperature chart is a daily recording of body temperature, which is an indicator of ovulation (body temperature will rise after ovulation) but you will need to purchase a high accuracy thermometer. 

3.   After menstruation, the cervix undergoes a series of changes in position and texture.  During most of the menstrual cycle, the cervix remains firm, like the tip of the nose, and is positioned low and closed.  However, as a woman approaches ovulation, the cervix becomes softer, and rises and opens in response to the high levels of estrogen present at ovulation.  These changes, with the production of fertile types of cervical mucus, support the survival and movement of sperm.  You can examine your cervix by inserting a clean finger into your vagina.

4.   Cervical mucus monitoring involves examining the mucus that is secreted from the cervix, which enables a woman to tell where she is in her cycle and thereby predict the time of ovulation - see below pages for more detailed information.

5.   Using an ovulation test to predict when you are about to ovulate is also another method. When ovulation is about to occur a hormone is released which is called the Luteinizing hormone (LH) surge and can be detected using an ovulation test.  When the test is positive, ovulation will occur over the next 24 to 36 hours.

Stages of Cervical Fluid: Post Menses (after period)

Stage 1:         Lasting 2 - 3 days CM (cervical mucus) is sticky

Stage 2:         Lasting 2 - 4 days: CM is creamy or milky - Beginning of your fertile period
Stage 3:         Lasting 1 - 5 days: Egg white Cervical Fluid - very fertile!

Stage 4:         Dry, moist or sticky (Infertile)

Peak fertile cervical mucus is thin and stretchy. After ovulation, progesterone abruptly suppresses the peak mucus and the mucus pattern continues with sticky mucus for a day or two, and then returns to dryness.

Typically women in their mid twenties have egg white cervical mucus for approximately 5 days, by mid-thirties, only 1-2 days, but this is not the rule. Many women have several days of EWCM late into their thirties.

The Cervical Mucus will look and have the consistency of egg whites.  It is slippery to the touch and if pulled between the fingertips will stretch 1 - 10 inches. 

The color can be clear or iridescent and extremely wet. If your CM has an unusual odor, consult your physician; this may be a sign of infection. If your CM has the consistency of cottage cheese, this may be a sign of a yeast infection, also consult your physician.

Increasing Cervical Mucus

• Cut back on caffeine and don't smoke!
• Drinking at least ten 6oz glasses of water a day
• Evening Primrose Oil: 1,000 IU per day should be taken from Cycle Day 1 to Ovulation
• Flax Seed Oil: 2,000 mg per day from Ovulation to fertilization
• Red Raspberry: 1,000 mg daily: Start anytime in cycle
• Grapefruit Juice
• Guaifenesin: (cough syrup) 200mg per day from day 5 to day 10 of your menstrual cycle (only use 100% guaifenesin as other ingredients could have the opposite effect)

Boosting Fertility:

If you've been trying to start a family without success, making some simple lifestyle changes may increase your chance of conception and help to ensure a healthy pregnancy. However, there are some factors, such as age, ovulation problems, sperm disorders and damaged fallopian tubes, which you can't change.

Changes you can make

Eat well: if you're a woman, a nutritious, balanced diet will help improve your general health and well-being, and ensure your body is able to nourish a baby. If you're a man, healthy eating is also important for sperm production. Choose a varied diet containing fresh fruit and vegetables, bread, potatoes, rice and other cereals (wholegrain, where possible), low-fat milk and dairy products, lean meat, fish and other sources of protein.

Watch your weight: being overweight or very underweight can disrupt your periods and hinder conception. A woman with a body mass index (BMI) of more than 29 or less than 19 may find it more difficult to conceive. To work out your BMI, divide your weight in kilograms by your height in metres squared (your height in metres multiplied by itself).

Drink wisely: the government advises women trying to conceive to avoid alcohol completely. Men shouldn't drink more than three or four units a day, and should avoid binge drinking to prevent damage to sperm.

Stop smoking: smoking has been linked to infertility and early menopause in women, and sperm problems in men. It also reduces the success of fertility treatments.

Be active: regular moderate exercise (such as brisk walking) for at least 30 minutes a day will help to keep you fit for conception and help to control your weight.

Keep cool: for optimum sperm production, the testicles need to be a couple of degrees cooler than the rest of the body. Avoid tight underwear and jeans, and excessively hot baths and saunas.

Think about your job: occupations that involve sitting for long periods, such as long-distance lorry driving, or exposure to environmental chemicals such as paints or pesticides, may affect sperm quality. If this is an issue, discuss it with your work supervisor.

Manage stress: stress doesn't cause infertility, but excessive anxiety can sometimes upset the menstrual cycle. Try to reduce stress levels and give yourself time to relax.

Take folic acid: all women trying for a baby should take a supplement of 400mcg of folic acid a day to help prevent birth defects such as spina bifida.

Check drugs: certain prescription drugs can reduce the chance of conception. If you're taking regular medication, talk to your doctor.

Marijuana and cocaine can affect sperm counts.

Things you can't change

Not all factors affecting fertility are within your control.

Women

For women, the following may affect conception:

Ovulation problems: sometimes, women don't ovulate (release an egg each month) or do so only occasionally.

Reasons include:

• Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), in which numerous small cysts develop on the ovaries and ovulation is erratic.
• The side effects of some medications, such as anti-inflammatory painkillers, chemotherapy and radiation treatment (for example, for cancer).
• Premature ovarian failure (early menopause).
• Hormonal imbalances.

Blocked fallopian tubes: below are the most common causes of inflamed and blocked tubes.

• Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) such as chlamydia and (more rarely) gonorrhoea.
• Endometriosis, in which cells from the lining of the womb implant elsewhere, such as the ovaries.
• Pelvic inflammatory disease, which can be caused by chlamydia and other STIs.
• Previous pelvic surgery - for example, for appendicitis or peritonitis.

Your age: the quantity and quality of your eggs decline with age. Women in their early 20s are about twice as likely to get pregnant as women in their late 30s.

Problems in the womb: problems with the lining of the womb, such as fibroids or physical abnormalities of the womb, can prevent the successful implantation of a fertilised egg.

Other medical conditions: conditions that can affect female fertility include diabetes, epilepsy, thyroid and bowel diseases, as well as gynaecological problems such as a previous ectopic pregnancy or more than one miscarriage.

Men

Male infertility is usually caused by sperm problems. These include:

• Low sperm count (not producing enough sperm), poor sperm quality or poor motility (slow-moving sperm).
• Previous inflammation of, or injury to, the testicles. This includes inflammation caused by mumps, drug treatment, and radiotherapy or sporting injuries.
• A previous bacterial infection.
• Previous surgery - for example, to correct a hernia - or undescended or twisted testicles, which can damage the tubes or impair blood flow to the testicles.
• Diabetes, medication or urinary tract surgery can cause retrograde ejaculation, when sperm travels backwards into the bladder.
• Sexual problems, such as the inability to have an erection.

If you have concerns on your partner’s fertility, it is best to get tested before spending months trying.  Affordable tests can be purchased from auction websites, or professional tests done by your local GP.

Sperm Donors

When using a sperm donor there are a lot of questions you need to ask yourself first.  Do you want them to be known or anonymous? Do you want them to have certain characteristics (blue eyes etc)? Do you want them to have any say in the upbringing of the child? Has he shown you all his medical history?, Do you know about his family medical history?, Does he want money for the donations? etc etc.  A lot of discussion should take place between you and the sperm donor before you start.  You have to make absolute certain that you both agree on everything so that you or he doesn't have any surprises.  I have seen some awful news reports siding with both sperm donors and recipients so be careful.  Most contracts aren't worth the paper they are written on, so don't pay a lot of money through lawyers when contracts can easily be disregarded. 

Couples, where the male has had a vasectomy or other sperm issues may have asked a family member on his side to provide sperm, prepare yourself the same way as above.

Finding a sperm donor is another matter.  The cheapest method is to ask friends and acquaintances, if no success advertise on a free site such as http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/FreeSpermDonors/ or http://www.rainbownetwork.com or a free local site for your area.  Using a sperm donor in your area is much more convenient than if you had to travel, as sperm can only survive a couple of hours outside the human body. 

Another method is paying a site to find a sperm donor.  There are a lot of choices of sites when you search the internet but that can be quite pricey.  The benefits are that there are available sperm donors already waiting for your email.  The downside is that you dont know how many times he has already provided his services.

Lastly, you can purchase frozen sperm from website or clinics.  You can also search the internet for these but again, this can be quite pricey.  Sperm is also very fragile and you have to be careful when defrosting the frozen sperm and ensure it is inserted as soon as it hits body temperature. Click here for more information.