Re: What cycle day is the best fertile day?

[Guest guest]

Years ago, when I was trying to get pregnant with my

second child, I came across a book that talked about

how to tell your fertile days. (So long ago, I don't

remember titles or phrases that were used.) It was

concerned with " natural " birth control (no devices or

medications--just avoiding sex on days you're likely

to get pregnant.) It discussed learning how to " read "

the mucous-like discharge your body puts out during

certain times of the month. I'd been trying to get

pregnant for two years at that time. When I started

using this system to pinpoint my peak fertility, I got

pregnant right away. Coincidence? Maybe. But it seemed

to me that the system worked. (I'd always had erratic

periods, and so had never been able to pinpoint where

I was in my cycle.) Good luck!

[Guest guest]

Sonja,

I recommend you go out and buy " Taking Charge of Your Fertility " by

Toni Weschler which is a fabulous book for learning the ins and outs

of our reproductive cycles and how to time intercourse to increase

your chance of success. The method taught is called Fertility

Awareness Method or FAM, based in part on the work of the Billings,

an documents outward biological markers such as temperature, cervical

fluid changes and cervical position.

Anyone else on the list that isn't trying to conceive might still

want to check out this book because it really is like a user's guide

to the human female reproductive tract. You can use FAM to avoid

pregnancy, recognize infections, document cycle events (or non-events

such as if you aren't ovulating). I think every woman should get a

copy of this book when she reaches menarche.

If you are like me and tend to blank out on your period start and end

dates (I like to put it behind me as quickly as possible) then you

might want to use a software application to track your cycles as

well. I use Ovusoft (www.ovusoft.com) which is relatively inexpensive

but runs on PC only, but there are other options out there as well.

Generally these type of applications makes it really easy to see what

your cycle pattern is, if you are timing correctly, etc.

Tracking temps might be helpful for a while (3-4 cycles) so that you

can be certain you are ovulating, learn about your cycle length

(including luteal phase), etc. I only temp periodically and just

started again since I was starting natural progesterone cream. I

mostly just track the start and end of my period and just keep an eye

on my cervical fluid changes.

You may also want to check out the discussion forums on the

Ovusoft.com site that are really helpful for asking questions, share

experience and learn about a range of reproductive issues although

mostly focused around fertility.

Congratulations on the green light and I hope babies come quickly for

you!

-Ann

> Can any of you direct me to an informational website that might

help me look

> at a woman's fertility? I am curious to know if I should be

counting my

> cycle days, tracking temperatures, or not worrying about all that

at all.

[Guest guest]

Babycenter.com has some good Web pages about trying to conceive. Here

are a few:

Ovulation calculator: You tell it the first day of your last

menstrual period and how long your menstrual cycle is, and it tells

you when you are the most likely to be fertile.

http://www.babycenter.com/calculators/ovulation/

Basal body temperature and cervical mucus: How to chart your basal

body temperature and monitor your cervical mucus to get a sense of

when you're ovulating.

http://www.babycenter.com/refcap/preconception/gettingpregnant/3195.ht

ml

Cheryl

> Can any of you direct me to an informational website that might

help me look

> at a woman's fertility? I am curious to know if I should be

counting my

> cycle days, tracking temperatures, or not worrying about all that

at all.

>

[Guest guest]

I used www.ovulation-calendar.com. It's pretty funny.

The first time you use it you plug in your last period

date and the number of days in your cycle. You can

download it onto your computer so that each time you

start up your computer the calendar tells you whether

or not you are fertile. I used this as a guide for

the days around the most fertile day. Some people say

you should skip a day during the fertile time but I

took my friend's advice and just tried all the time

around the highest fertility time. Something worked

b/c I got pg right after going off the pill. That

also makes you a bit more fertile so hopefully it will

happen very soon. Good luck!