As more and more couples are putting off family-planning until the woman has established her working career, the results have been an increased number of women who want to have children but are now struggling with issues of infertility. The process of having a baby seems to be natural and normal, and for some couples it happens at the drop of a hat. Others have to struggle through issues that may or may not impact their fertility but which are often too embarrassing to ask.
Here are several of the more common embarrassing fertility questions that both men and women have as they are seeking to achieve conception and a new little one in their lives.
Did you know that the cervical mucous that is secreted during the month can actually discolor or \”bleach\” the crotch of your underpants? Because this mucous is supposed to be acidic and hostile during the rest of the month to protect the cervix and uterus from bacteria, it also will stain or \’bleach\’ the underwear.
Did you know that it is not necessary to have an orgasm in order to achieve pregnancy? In theory experts believe it can help to propel the sperm through the reproductive tract, but in reality it isn\’t necessary. It is more important to time intercourse to correspond with the best fertile period of the month than it is to force an orgasm each time you have sex. This is only a recipe for disaster since it can stress you to the point of not wanting to have sex at all.
Did you know that sperm can make it to the Fallopian tubes in 15-20 minutes after ejaculation? So, while popping out of bed immediately after sex is not a great idea you also don\’t have to ly in bed with your feet in the air for 30 minutes either. The vagina normally slopes rearward naturally, helping the sperm on their journey. This means that a position for sex where the sperm is deposited next to the cervix is just fine. Spend 15 minutes in bed cuddling before running to the bathroom and you\’re covered.
Did you know that the quantity and quality of the sperm are affected by both the environment, the diet and the number of times a man ejaculates? In other words, the quality of the sperm takes up to 3 months to change based on dietary changes (get rid of the junk, alcohol, drugs and smoking to improve the health of the sperm 3 months before trying to conceive) and only 3 days to make a change in the amount, or quantity. Two days of ejaculation in a row does not usually have an effect but three can decrease the sperm count. This is another reason why specialists recommend sex every other day during the fertile period and no masturbation in between.
Women come in all shapes and sizes. There have been interesting studies which show that sociologically men are more attracted to women who have larger breasts and slimmer waists, who coincidentally also have higher levels of estrogen and progesterone. However, there are no studies that compare pregnancy rates. Instead, it is important to focus on a healthy diet, healthy lifestyle choices and recognizing your fertile period.
Did you know that having a regular menstrual period often signifies a normal ovulation history. Menstruation is tied to the hormonal changes in the body once an egg is not fertilized. When the cycle is regular, then ovulation is happening and menstruation occurs. In rare instances this may not be the case. But, even if you are ovulating it doesn\’t necessarily mean that the egg is of good quality and that you can get pregnant.
Reproductive specialists recommend that couples who are younger than 30 wait at least 12 months before seeking the advice and counsel of a doctor regarding their fertility. This is because of the incredibly complex process required to acheive pregnancy. In the meantime women can use some of the over the counter ovulation kits to determine when their most fertile period of the month is, and also confirm that they are indeed ovulatin