Sperm-Friendly Fertility Lubricants

Needless to say, when it comes to choosing a lubricant when you are trying to get pregnant, the last thing that you want is a product that will harm sperm function. Because the stakes are so high for trying-to-conceive couples, the FDA brought attention to this issue by creating a special category, known as the PEB category, for fertility-friendly lubricants. To be cleared by the FDA as a fertility lubricant, the product must be tested extensively to ensure that is safe for sperm, eggs, and embryos. And, once the products are on the market, the manufacturer of the fertility lubricant is required to test each batch of product to verify that it does not harm sperm motility, survival, or integrity.

Unlike other commercially available sex lubricants, fertility lubricants are specifically tested to ensure that the lubricant has a similar pH and viscosity as semen and fertile quality cervical fluid so that it provides a protective environment for sperm and will allow sperm to swim into and through the lubricant. By matching the quality and consistency of cervical fluid, fertility lubricants supplement your body’s own natural lubrication.

Also, fertility lubricants are screened, both at time of production and throughout the shelf life of the lubricant, for endotoxins, which are toxins produced by bacteria that may harm sperm and eggs even at relatively low levels.

As is the case with most consumer products, making sense of labels and marketing information for lubricants can be a daunting task. To put it simply, the only sure way to know that your lubricant won’t harm sperm is to choose an FDA-cleared fertility lubricant.

Additionally, use the following tips to guide your selection so that your lubricant won’t cause your baby dancing efforts to be in vain.

• Avoid lubricants with a low pH
• Avoid lubricants that contain small penetrating chemicals (for example, glycerol) or paraben preservatives
• Avoid confusing a lubricant labeled as non-spermicidal with an FDA-cleared fertility lubricant
• Avoid lubricants that are labeled as organic or natural but are not FDA-cleared as fertility lubricants, as only the FDA-cleared lubricants are required to undergo testing that shows the product won’t harm sperm or eggs
• Avoid using household oils, as household oils often contain toxic peroxides and inflammatory chemicals that develop over time due to exposure to light, room temperature, and the purity of the oil.

You can check other sites for their reviews of sperm-friendly lubricants.

https://www.healthline.com/health/fertility/fertility-lubricant#1

Best Sperm Friendly Lubricant for Fertility

Our Ultimate Fertility Resource Guide provides the information you need on fertility, tips on how to get pregnant faster, and how to boost fertility through sometimes simple tweaks to your lifestyle and approach. The guide is easy to read and meant for anybody wanting to increase their ability to conceive. It’s a free download and includes coupon codes for essential products. Even free Nightfood Nighttime Ice Cream.

Want to Know More?

• Getting Pregnant
• Ovulation: Frequently Asked Questions

The post Fertility Lubricants appeared first on American Pregnancy Association.

To understand how to get pregnant, you need to understand the processes that take place before nidation. To get pregnant ovulation must take place. This occurs when a mature egg is released from the ovary, pushed through the fallopian tube, and is available to the sperm for fertilization. The lining of the uterus has thickened to prepare for a fertilized egg. If conception does not occur, the uterine lining will be shed during menstruation, aka your period.

What You Need to Know About Ovulation:

• An egg lives 12-24 hours after leaving the ovary.
• Normally only one egg is released each time of ovulation.
• Ovulation can be affected by stress, illness, hormonal imbalances, travel, or significant changes in weight, exercise, or sleeping patterns.
• Some women may experience light spotting around ovulation.
• Implantation of a fertilized egg normally takes place 6-12 days after ovulation.
• Each woman is born with millions of immature eggs that are waiting to be released during ovulation.
• A menstrual period can occur even if a woman has not ovulated.
• Ovulation can occur even if a woman has not had her menstrual period.
• Some women feel a bit of pain or aching near the ovaries during ovulation called mittelschmerz, which means “middle pain” in German.
• If an egg is not fertilized, it disintegrates and is absorbed into the uterine lining.

How to Get Pregnant Faster

Know when you’re ovulating and having sex during your fertility window will increase your chances of conceiving. Use our free Ovulation Calendar to determine your most fertile times.

Use an Ovulation Tracker

A woman’s monthly cycle is measured from the first day of her menstrual period until the first day of her next period. On average, a woman’s cycle is between 28-32 days, although some women may have much shorter or longer cycles.
Most women ovulate anywhere between Day 11 – Day 21 of their cycle, counting from the first day of their last period (LMP). This is what many refer to as the “fertile time” of a woman’s cycle because sexual intercourse during this time increases the chance of pregnancy. Ovulation can occur at any point during this window and may occur on a different day each month.
Signs You’re Ovulating:

• Change in vaginal secretions. Just before ovulation, you may see an increase in clear, wet and stretchy vaginal secretions. Just after ovulation, cervical mucus decreases and becomes thicker, cloudy and less noticeable.
• Change in basal body temperature. Your basal body temperature (body’s temperature at rest) increases slightly during ovulation. Using a thermometer specifically designed to measure basal body temperature, take your temperature every morning before you get out of bed. Record the results and look for a pattern to emerge. You’ll be most fertile during the two to three days before your temperature rises. This is the best time to have sex.

Ovulation is one of the most important processes a woman should understand about her body as it is the determining factor in both getting pregnant and preventing pregnancy. Nonetheless, it can be somewhat difficult to understand.

Increase Your Chances of Getting Pregnant

• Have sex near the time of ovulation. Have sex every two to three days per week starting soon after the end of your period. This can help ensure that you have sex when you are most fertile.
• Maintain a normal weight. Overweight and underweight women are at increased risk of ovulation disorders.
• Fertility-friendly lubricants. Use lubes that are sperm and egg-friendly.
• Consider a supplement
• Don’t smoke. Tobacco has multiple negative effects on fertility, not to mention your general health and the health of a fetus. If you smoke, ask your health care provider to help you quit before conception.
• Don’t drink alcohol. Heavy alcohol use can decrease fertility. Avoid alcohol if you’re hoping to conceive.
• Cut caffeine. Research suggests that fertility isn’t affected by caffeine consumption of less than 200 milligrams a day. That’s about one to two cups of 6 to 8 ounces of coffee per day.
• Don’t overdo strenuous exercise. Strenuous, intense exercise of more than five hours a week has been associated with decreased ovulation.

Our Ultimate Fertility Resource Guide provides the information you need on fertility, tips on how to get pregnant faster, and how to boost fertility through sometimes simple tweaks to your lifestyle and approach. The guide is easy to read and meant for anybody wanting to increase their ability to conceive. It’s a free download and includes coupon codes for essential products. Even free Nightfood Nighttime Ice Cream.

How Long Does It Take to Get Pregnant?

With frequent unprotected sex, most healthy couples conceive within one year. Of all couples trying to conceive:

• 30 percent get pregnant within the first cycle (about one month).
• 60 percent get pregnant within three cycles (about three months).
• 80 percent get pregnant within six cycles (about six months).
• 85 percent get pregnant within 12 cycles (about one year).
• 92 percent get pregnant within 48 cycles (about four years).

Your best chances for conceiving naturally are during your 20s. Your fertility begins to decline as you age. A healthy 30-year-old has about a 20 percent chance of getting pregnant each month, but by the time you’re 40, you have only about a 5 percent chance. By age 45, very few women get pregnant naturally.

How Long Should We Try Before Getting Help?

If you and your partner are struggling to get pregnant, it’s possible one of you may have an issue. Often it’s immediately assumed that the woman is infertile, but infertility affects both men and women.

It’s Easy to Check His Sperm Count

According to the Journal of Human Reproductive Sciences, up to 40-50% of infertility in couples is linked to the male. One of the most common problems contributing to male infertility is low sperm count. You can check if your sperm count meets the threshold for fertility quickly, easily, and privately at home with SpermCheck Fertility. This FDA-cleared kit is available online or at your local retailer and is a product of DNA Diagnostics Center (DDC), a corporate sponsor of the American Pregnancy Association. SpermCheck is simple—like a home pregnancy test— and results are ready in minutes. Keep in mind that other fertility factors like sperm mobility and morphology are also important and should be checked by a healthcare professional.

If you’re younger than 35 and haven’t gotten pregnant after trying for a year, or you’re older than 35 and you’ve been trying for six months, it may be time to see a fertility specialist.

If you still have further questions regarding ovulation, we encourage you to talk with your healthcare provider or contact the American Pregnancy Association for more information. Being informed about how your body works can help you feel more in charge of your health.

Want to Know More? Read the Following Articles:

• Symptoms of Pregnancy
• Understanding Ovulation
• Determining  Your Fertility Window

The post How to Get Pregnant – Best Tips to Help You Conceive appeared first on American Pregnancy Association.

If you have been sexually active and are experiencing any symptoms of pregnancy, it is recommended that you take one of the many different over the counter pregnancy tests. The American Pregnancy Association is available to help you in locating a pregnancy test location.

Check out these articles for related information:

• Symptoms of Pregnancy
• Understanding Ovulation
• Ovulation Calendar

Whether your potential pregnancy is planned or unplanned, you may have many questions regarding a positive pregnancy test. The good news is the majority of tests carry similar accuracy allowing you to choose between the type of test and the cost.

There are thousands of pregnancy centers across the country that offer to test. If you would like to leverage the free tests offered by one of these nonprofit centers, you can contact the APA at 1-800-672-2296.

Our Ultimate Fertility Resource Guide provides the information you need on fertility, tips on how to get pregnant faster, and how to boost fertility through sometimes simple tweaks to your lifestyle and approach. The guide is easy to read and meant for anybody wanting to increase their ability to conceive. It’s a free download and includes coupon codes for essential products. Even free Nightfood Nighttime Ice Cream.

Want to Know More?

• Understanding Pregnancy Tests
• Pregnant Teen

The post Positive Pregnancy Test appeared first on American Pregnancy Association.

If no conception occurs, the uterine lining, as well as blood, will be shed. The shedding of an unfertilized egg and the uterine wall is the time of menstruation.

Key Facts:

• An egg lives 12-24 hours after leaving the ovary
• Normally only one egg is released each time of ovulation
• Ovulation can be affected by stress, illness or disruption of normal
• Some women may experience some light blood or spotting during ovulation
• Implantation of a fertilized egg normally takes place 6-12 days after ovulation
• Each woman is born with millions of immature eggs that are awaiting ovulation to begin
• A menstrual period can occur even if ovulation has not occurred
• Ovulation can occur even if a menstrual period has not occurred
• Some women experience pain/aching near ovaries during ovulation called ‘middle pain’
• If an egg is not fertilized, it disintegrates and is absorbed into the uterine lining

How to Track Your Ovulation Cycle:

A woman’s monthly cycle is measured from the first day of her menstrual period until the first day of her next period. On average, a woman’s cycle normally is between 28-32 days, but some women may have much shorter or much longer cycles. Ovulation can be calculated by starting with the first day of the last menstrual period (LMP) or by calculating 12-16 days from the next expected period. Most women ovulate anywhere between Day 11 – Day 21 of their cycle, counting from the first day of the LMP. This is what many refer to as the “fertile time” of a woman’s cycle because sexual intercourse during this time increases the chance of pregnancy. Ovulation can occur at various times during a cycle and may occur on a different day each month. It is important to track your cycle and fortunately, there are a number of free fertility charting tools available to help women identify their peak fertile days.

The Ovulation Cycle Divided Into Two Parts:

• The first part of the cycle is called the follicular phase. This phase starts the first day of the last menstrual period (LMP) and continues until ovulation.

This first half of the cycle can differ greatly for each woman lasting anywhere from 7 days to 40 days.

• The second half of the cycle is called the luteal phase and is from the day of ovulation until the next period begins. The luteal phase has a more precise timeline and usually is only 12-16 days from the day of ovulation.

This ultimately means that the day of ovulation will determine how long your cycle is. This also means that outside factors like stress, illness, and disruption of normal routine can throw off your cycle which then results in changing the time your period will come. So the old thought that stress can affect your period is only partly true. Stress can affect your ovulation which ultimately determines when your period will come, but stress around the time of an expected period will not make it late—it was already determined when it would come 12-16 days earlier!

Fertility Awareness is one way to track when ovulation occurs, and it includes noticing the changes in cervical mucus and using a basal thermometer. Cervical fluid will change to a wet, slippery substance that resembles “egg whites” just before ovulation occurs and until it is over. A basal thermometer helps track a body temperature rise, which signals that ovulation has just occurred.

Another way to track your cycle is through ovulation kits and fertility monitors. Tracking can help a woman get a better idea of when pregnancy can and cannot occur during her monthly cycle. Once ovulation has occurred, there is nothing you can do to increase your chances of pregnancy. Your next step is to begin watching for early pregnancy symptoms. View and print an Ovulation Calendar to better understand your cycle.

From the Menstrual Period to Ovulation (the details you may not know!)

When your menstrual cycle begins, your estrogen levels are low. Your hypothalamus (which is in charge of maintaining your hormone levels) sends out a message to your pituitary gland which then sends out the follicle stimulating hormone (FSH). This FSH triggers a few of your follicles to develop into mature eggs. One of these will develop into the dominant follicle, which will release a mature egg and the others will disintegrate.

As the follicles mature they send out another hormone, estrogen. The high levels of estrogen will tell the hypothalamus and pituitary gland that there is a mature egg. A luteinizing hormone (LH) is then released, referred to as your LH surge. The LH surge causes the egg to burst through the ovary wall within 24-36 hours and begin its journey down the fallopian tube for fertilization. Ovulation Predictor Kits (OPKs) work by detecting this LH surge. The follicle from which the egg was released is called the corpus luteum, and it will release progesterone that helps thicken and prepare the uterine lining for implantation. The corpus luteum will produce progesterone for about 12-16 days (the luteal phase of your cycle.)

If an egg is fertilized, the corpus luteum will continue to produce progesterone for a developing pregnancy until the placenta takes over. You can begin looking for pregnancy symptoms as early as a week after fertilization. You can also begin testing for pregnancy as early as 7-10 days past your ovulation date with an Early Detection Pregnancy Test.

If fertilization does not occur the egg dissolves after 24 hours. At this time your hormone levels will decrease and your uterine lining will begin to shed about 12-16 days from ovulation. This is menstruation (menstrual period) and brings us back to day 1 of your cycle. The journey then begins all over again.

The timing of ovulation is one of the most important things a woman should understand about her body since it is the determining factor in getting pregnant and preventing pregnancy.

Help Achieving Conception

Our Ultimate Fertility Resource Guide provides the information you need on fertility, tips on how to get pregnant faster, and how to boost fertility through sometimes simple tweaks to your lifestyle and approach. The guide is easy to read and meant for anybody wanting to increase their ability to conceive. It’s a free download and includes coupon codes for essential products. Even free Nightfood Nighttime Ice Cream.

Want to Know More?

• Fertility Charting – The Basics
• Ovulation Frequently Asked Questions
• Boost Your Fertility With Antioxidant Supplements

The post What is Ovulation? appeared first on American Pregnancy Association.

Some fertility issues are caused by physical problems and nutritional or health issues. Other interrelated issues may be tied to the quality, number, and production of sperm. Your first step is to consult with your doctor and get tested. You can also use SpermCheck, the home test from our sponsor DNA Diagnotics Center to check whether you have normal or low sperm counts.

Preconception Health Tips for Men

Clean out the medicine cabinet

Eliminate as many medications from your routine as possible. Talk to your physician about your prescription medications. You may need to discontinue use or try something new.

The following medications have been known to impact male fertility:

• Tagamet (cimetidine), sulfasalazine, and nitrofurantoin are used to treat ulcers, gastrointestinal problems, and urinary tract infections. These medications may impact sperm production and sperm count.
• Steroids, such as prednisone and cortisone, which are used to treat asthma, arthritis and skin conditions, impact male fertility.
• Chemotherapy and radiation could cause sterility or a significant change in sperm quality and quantity.

Take a good look at your work environment

Your work environment may be a contributing factor to your fertility. According to the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, ongoing exposure to certain agents such as pesticides, chemical fertilizers, lead, nickel, mercury, chromium, ethylene glycol ethers, petrochemicals, benzene, perchloroethylene, and radiation can lower sperm quality, quantity and possibly lead to infertility or miscarriage.

Diet and sleep

What you eat can make a difference. Find out what your proper weight range should be and make the necessary dietary and exercise changes to get there. Studies suggest that some men with low sperm count also have a zinc deficiency.
The following foods are high in zinc and could increase your fertility: 

• Meat
• Wholegrain cereals
• Seafood
• Eggs
• Selenium, which is found in Brazil nuts
• Mushrooms

Adding more vitamin E may also help the process along. There are Male Fertility Supplements available containing vitamins, minerals and other ingredients designed to help improve overall reproductive health, some even have clinical studies validating their efficacy.
Also, keep in mind getting plenty of rest is good for everything that ails you, even low sperm count and sperm quality.

Avoid alcohol and other substances

Eliminate alcohol, tobacco, marijuana and any illicit drugs. Too much alcohol may reduce zinc levels, and drugs decrease sperm quality. There is some research that may link smoking and certain rare heart defects, but further studies must be done to make an accurate conclusion. Marijuana has been proven to affect sperm quality and sperm count, but there is no evidence that shows that marijuana causes birth defects.

Keep your testicles cool

The heat from hot tubs, saunas, long showers (more than 30 minutes), heating pads, electric blankets, and tight clothing like briefs and spandex could cause your testicles to become too hot, which decreases sperm quantity.

Stay away from cycling

Cycling can cause a lot of friction and jostling, which increases the temperature of your testicles. The rise in temperature and possibility of injury may cause a low sperm count.

Preconception Health “Do’s” for Men

The above may sound like a long list of “don’ts.”  Here’s a list of “do’s” that you may find helpful during this time:

• Do keep in mind that you are getting healthy along the way and preventing many other major medical complications.
• Do take a multivitamin, male fertility supplement or even a prenatal vitamin!
• Consider taking an at-home fertility test to give you more peace of mind.
• Do enjoy sex and romance like you used to. It’s easy to think of sex as a chore while trying to get pregnant. Remember there is more to it than just making a baby.
• Do be romantic. Life will change (in a good way) after a baby comes. But it will never be just like it is now. Enjoy every moment together.
• Ask your doctor about taking a CoQ10 supplement (Coenzyme Q10). Healthy levels of CoQ10 have been linked to increased male fertility and could have positive effects on sperm function. You can check your CoQ10 levels at home with an easy test to get clarity before starting supplementation.

Our Ultimate Fertility Resource Guide provides the information you need on fertility, tips on how to get pregnant faster, and how to boost fertility through sometimes simple tweaks to your lifestyle and approach. The guide is easy to read and meant for anybody wanting to increase their ability to conceive. It’s a free download and includes coupon codes for essential products. Even free Nightfood Nighttime Ice Cream.

Want to Know More?

• Male Fertility Testing
• Male Infertility: Causes, Treatment and Prevention
• SpermCheck Home Test for Men

The post Preconception Health For Men appeared first on American Pregnancy Association.

The post Early Signs of Pregnancy appeared first on American Pregnancy Association.

Implantation Bleeding Symptoms

Implantation bleeding is considered one of the early pregnancy symptoms (at least one of the first easily identifiable signs for a mother). Because implantation bleeding occurs near the time of her next period, many women are confused whether it is a possible pregnancy or a period. Here are other signs of implantation bleeding

• Light or faint cramping (less than a normal period cramp)
• Mood swings
• Headaches
• Nausea
• Breast tenderness
• Lower backaches

(These can also be PMS symptoms or ovulation symptoms, so having these along with pinkish/brownish spotting does not guarantee that it has to do with pregnancy.)

What Does Implantation Bleeding Look Like?

Implantation bleeding looks a bit different from the average woman’s period. It is important to remember that not all women have the same kind of blood flow during their menstrual period. Some will have a heavier flow during their period while others may experience a bit more unpredictability.

These Are the Key Differences Between Implantation Bleeding and a Period:

1. Color: Whether heavy or light, most women are familiar with the color of their period (usually a bright to dark red). Implantation bleeding, however, is typically light pink to dark brown (rust-colored) in color.
2. Clotting: Some women experience a great deal of clotting during their menstruation, while some do not see much at all. Implantation bleeding, however, should not present any clots.
3. Amount: Most women are able to fill pads and tampons during their periods, but with implantation bleeding, it is different. The descriptor “bleeding” can be misleading – implantation bleeding is usually only spotting or a light flow rather than a full flow. Typically, implantation bleeding is a little pink or brown discharge only when a woman wipes or just enough to get on a pantyliner. It may be either intermittent or a more constant light flow.

How Long Does Implantation Bleeding Last?

Implantation bleeding should last only between a couple of hours to three full days. If the bleeding you are experiencing is bright or dark red blood, lasts more than three days, and is a full flow in that you are filling up pads/tampons, it it very unlikely you are experiencing implantation bleeding.

Women who are going through their first pregnancy will likely spot or bleed a little bit more than women who are used to the egg attachment. (It is similar to dental flossing of the gums as the first time the gum line is aggravated, it will bleed more, while subsequent times bleeding is lessened.)

However, if your menstruation cycle is shorter than normal (< 3 days), you did not fill up pads or tampons, it was more pinkish/brownish than red, and you had less cramping than normal, it is possible that you are having implantation bleeding.

Why Does Implantation Bleeding Happen?

About 10-14 days after conception (when the sperm joins with the egg), the embryo will implant itself into the wall of the uterus. This movement may break down some blood vessels within the uterus wall and cause some bleeding.

Menstruation occurs around 11-14 days after ovulation (when an egg is released & conception is possible), which is another reason why the two are often confused with one another. Some women may simply believe their period is a few days early. Implantation bleeding typically happens within the week before the expected period.

For example, if you are sexually active and expect your period on January 25th, then you might question any spotting you have between Jan. 18th – Jan. 25th as possible implantation bleeding. It is not common that implantation bleeding would occur before this time or after a period is expected or missed. However, if one experiences ovulation early in the fertility window and the implantation process is quick, or one experiences ovulation late in the fertility window and the implantation process is slow, it is possible.

Women know what their normal menstrual flow looks like, and as long as they are not on any kind of new medication (including birth control and emergency contraceptives) or have a change in stress level, then their menstrual blood flow, color, and consistency are usually the same. So, when this lighter, pink spotting occurs, it will appear a bit out of place.

Implantation Bleeding Concerns

Implantation bleeding should not be a cause for concern and should pose no real risk to the developing baby. If you experience bleeding or spotting more than a few days after your missed period, it is not likely to be implantation bleeding. True pregnancy concerns rarely come from implantation and usually occur after the missed period.

Though this post-implantation light bleeding during pregnancy is not considered normal, there are a few main reasons it may occur:

• Irritation of the cervix (especially following OBGYN exams)
• Irritation or small tears from intercourse
• Heavy or excessive lifting or exercise/exertion
• Vaginal infection.

At least 50% of women that experience spotting/bleeding (other than implantation bleeding) will go on to have a normal, healthy pregnancy.
Extended bleeding can be a sign of something more serious, especially further on during the pregnancy. Molar pregnancy or miscarriage are two concerns, which is why whenever visiting the OBGYN or other doctors, it is necessary to inform them of current or recent bleeding (especially if it is heavy), as well as any other symptoms you are experiencing.

In your first trimester, be sure to let your healthcare provider know about any spotting.
Let your healthcare provider know immediately about any spotting in your second or third trimesters.
If at any point during your pregnancy you experience heavy bleeding, contact your healthcare provider immediately or consider seeking emergency care.

For women going through nausea/vomiting, dizziness, abdominal pain (especially one-sided pain), it is possible you are experiencing an ectopic pregnancy, so inform your doctor right away. Cramping is normal during pregnancy, yet if the level of pain during cramping increases, it is recommended to contact a doctor.

Still Not Sure?

If you are not sure which type of bleeding you are having, we recommend waiting three days after the bleeding/spotting stops before taking a pregnancy test. You are welcome to contact our toll-free helpline at 1-800-672-2296 to speak with a pregnancy educator.

Often, taking a pregnancy test before the missed period or during implantation bleeding is just too soon for tests to offer conclusive results. Ideally, waiting a week after the spotting or missed period is most desirable as the results should prove more accurate.

Next Steps

Implantation bleeding is a sign of a potential pregnancy. If you have waited until after your period was due and taken a pregnancy test that delivered a negative result, there is a good chance you are not pregnant. Watching for implantation bleeding while trying to get pregnant is fine, but many women do not experience nor notice implantation spotting even when it does occur.

Want to Know More?

• Early Symptoms of Pregnancy
• Getting Pregnant After Ovulation
• Bleeding During Pregnancy

Compiled using information from the following Medical sources:

1. March of Dimes: “Pregnancy Complications.”

2. National Institute of Child Health and Human Development: “What Are Some Common Signs of Pregnancy?”

3. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists: “Abnormal Uterine Bleeding,” “Early Pregnancy Loss.”

4. Norwitz ER, et al. Overview of the etiology and evaluation of vaginal bleeding in pregnant women.

5. Moore KL, et al. Answers to clinically oriented questions. In: Before We Are Born: Essentials of Embryology and Birth Defects. 8th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2013.

6. Frequently asked questions. Pregnancy FAQ038. Bleeding during pregnancy. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.

https://www.acog.org/Patients/FAQs/Bleeding-During-Pregnancy

7. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Months 1 and 2. In: Your Pregnancy and Childbirth Month to Month. 6th ed. Washington, D.C.: American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists; 2015.

8. Mayo Clinic FAQs

The post What is Implantation Bleeding? appeared first on American Pregnancy Association.

Research estimates 1 out of 475 pregnancies may go undetected or unnoticed until she’s about 20-weeks pregnant. One is 2,500 stealth pregnancies aren’t recognized until she goes into labor.

What are the symptoms of a cryptic pregnancy?

The symptoms of a cryptic pregnancy are the same as those of a regular pregnancy. The difference is she doesn’t recognize those symptoms as being related to pregnancy.

• Missed period. This is the key early sign of pregnancy. About 30 percent of women have irregular periods and some to the extent they only have a few periods a year. So it’s not unusual for her not to have a period for a month or two. If she doesn’t know she’s missed her period, it won’t occur to her to take a pregnancy test.
• Few or no pregnancy symptoms. It’s easy to dismiss signs of pregnancy such as nausea, cramping, backaches, especially if she’s never been pregnant. She may attribute these symptoms to being sick, or changes in her diet or lifestyle.
• Intermittent spotting. Some women may have occasional spotting throughout pregnancy, which could be mistaken for a light period.
  Inaccurate pregnancy test. Most pregnancy tests are reliable, but using them correctly is essential. Like testing with first-of-the-morning urine so the test can detect the hCG hormone. The American Pregnancy Association recommends waiting until 7 days after a missed period to test.
• What baby bump? If she’s overweight she may not notice abdominal swelling or may not think her weight gain is anything out of the ordinary.
• Baby movement. The baby’s position may sometimes make it hard to feel its movement. If the placenta is in the front of the uterus, it may take longer to feel the movements and they may be harder to recognize. She may consider it gas or upset stomach.

Who is likely to have a cryptic pregnancy?

• Women who recently gave birth. Even if she just had a baby, it’s possible for ovulation to restart sooner than she expected. She’s probably not expecting her period yet so she may assume any weight gain or abdominal swelling are from the previous pregnancy.
• Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). If they’ve been diagnosed with PCOS or infertility, they won’t think they’re pregnant now.
  Birth control use: Birth control isn’t always foolproof. Even when used correctly, it’s possible to become pregnant. Those who use birth control may assume they’re safe and ignore pregnancy symptoms.
• Perimenopause. Women in their late 30s or early 40s could mistake pregnancy symptoms with early menopause. They might also think that their chances of conceiving are lower because of their age.

What are the complications associated with a stealth pregnancy?

• No prenatal care. When a woman doesn’t realize she is pregnant, she doesn’t receive the prenatal medical care, nutrition and support needed for a healthy pregnancy.
• Management of medical conditions. She doesn’t receive medical tests and evaluations that can prevent or manage maternal health issues such as gestational diabetes, preeclampsia or genetic conditions that can affect the baby.
• Lifestyle adjustments. She doesn’t know she needs to avoid harmful practices such as consuming alcohol or tobacco. She doesn’t have medical advice about safe medications and supplements.
• Research suggests babies born from a cryptic pregnancy may be more likely to be underweight and born prematurely.
• If cryptic pregnancy lasts up until the time of birth, the woman may not realize she is in labor when it begins and might have to deliver the baby without any help.

Do you think you have a cryptic pregnancy?

If you are sexually active and are experiencing symptoms unusual for you (weight gain, breast tenderness, missed period) take a pregnancy test or consult your healthcare provider. By taking care of your health, you can better ensure the health of your baby.

Sources:

Healthline.com: What are Symptoms of a Cryptic Pregnancy?
Cleveland Clinic: Can You Be Pregnant and Not Know It?
PubMed Central, National Institutes of Health

The post What is a Cryptic Pregnancy? appeared first on American Pregnancy Association.

Ovulation is when a mature egg is released from the ovary, travels through the fallopian tube, and is ready to meet sperm and be fertilized. Approximately every month an egg matures within one of your ovaries. The lining of the uterus is thickened to prepare for the fertilized egg. If no conception occurs, the uterine lining, will shed during your period.

What are the Signs of Ovulation?

• Change in cervical fluid
• Change in cervical position and cervical firmness
• A brief twinge of pain or a dull ache that is felt on one side of the abdomen
• Light spotting
• Increase in sex drive
• An elevated level of the luteinizing hormone which can be detected on an ovulation test
• Basal body temperature chart that shows a consistent change
• Breast tenderness
• Abdominal bloating
• A heightened sense of vision, smell, or taste.

Can You Ovulate More Than Once During a Cycle?

A woman should not ovulate more than once during each cycle. This is due to a careful balance of hormones and their levels – it takes just the right timing and release of hormones to bring on the release of a mature egg. Therefore, she cannot get pregnant more than once during a cycle. Remember, if you are not using a tracking method such as OPKs, basal body temperature, or cervical mucus, there is no guaranteed way to pin down the day you are ovulating. Many period tracking apps will give you your “day of ovulation,” but this is only an estimation of when it might happen. Thus, two days (or more) after the predicted ovulation day may not be a “safe” day to have sex to avoid pregnancy, since it’s possible that you have not actually ovulated yet.

Multiple ovulation is another phenomenon that can occur and is when two or more eggs are released in a single cycle. The eggs are released during one 24 hour period and are responsible for the birth of fraternal twins. It is believed that this may occur in as many as 5-10% of all cycles but does not result in that many twins due to a type of miscarriage referred to as the “vanishing twin phenomenon.”

When Do You Ovulate After Your Period?

A woman’s monthly cycle is measured from the first day of her menstrual period until the first day of her next period. On average, a woman’s cycle is between 28-32 days, although some women may have much shorter or longer cycles.
Most women ovulate anywhere between Day 11 – Day 21 of their cycle, counting from the first day of their last period. This is your “fertile time” and when  sexual intercourse has the best chance of producing pregnancy. Ovulation can occur at any point during this window and may occur on a different day each month.

A combination of methods such as observing your cervical fluid, taking your basal body temperature daily, and tracking your periods can help you identify your time of ovulation. Try our ovulation calendar to get you started.

When are You Most Fertile?

During ovulation, an egg is only available to be fertilized for about 12-24 hours. But sperm can live in the body for 3-5 days after sex and the egg is available for one day, so your most fertile time is about 5-7 days.

Don’t You Ovulate on the 14th Day After Your Period?

This is a myth that many, including healthcare professionals, still believe. The “14th-day” thinking appears to come from either taking the average of when all women ovulate or from just dividing the 28-day cycle in half. This is not an accurate way to calculate ovulation because many women do NOT ovulate on the 14th day of their cycle.
The day of ovulation differs from woman to woman and can even be different from month to month for an individual woman. For a woman with a 28-day cycle, the window of ovulation is day 11 through day 21 of your cycle. Ovulation could occur on any one day during this window.

Can You Ovulate During Your Period?

Menstruation or a period is the bleeding that occurs when the endometrium is shed 12 to 16 days after ovulation. With this definition of a period, you cannot ovulate while on your period.

However, some women experience mid-cycle or ovulatory bleeding (bleeding that occurs around ovulation) and may mistake it for a period. This can happen to women with very irregular cycles coming once every 3 months or 2-3 times in one month. Mid-cycle bleeding can occur in women with regular cycles as well. They may experience what appears to be a period, but, in reality, this is most likely ovulatory bleeding. Ovulation can occur when you experience mid-cycle or ovulatory bleeding.

Keep in mind that while you cannot technically ovulate while on a period because sperm can live in the body for 3-5 days after sex, pregnancy could occur from intercourse that takes place during a period.

Can You Ovulate Right After Your Period?

That is determined by how many days are in your cycle. The number of days in your cycle is calculated by counting the number of days from the beginning of one period to the beginning of the next period. If you have a short cycle, for example, 21 days, and you bleed for 7 days, then you could ovulate right after your period.

This is because ovulation generally occurs 12-16 days before your next period begins, and this would estimate you ovulating at days 6-10 of your cycle.

Can You Get Pregnant on Your Period?

While conception cannot occur while you are on your period, pregnancy can occur from the intercourse you have during a period. This is because sperm can live in the body for up to five days, and if a woman ovulates soon after her period, then conception could take place from intercourse that occurred during her period. Keep in mind that you can get pregnant while experiencing mid-cycle or ovulatory bleeding. (See above for clarification regarding ovulatory bleeding and menstruation).

Can You Ovulate Without Detecting Cervical Fluid?

Ovulation can take place even if you do not notice the “stretchy egg-white” fluid that we assume accompanies ovulation. Every woman can experience her own type of cervical fluid. Ovulation is assumed to take place on the day a woman has the most amount of wet fluid. If a woman is not experiencing “egg white” cervical fluid, natural products are available to help increase cervical fluid production.

When an Ovulation Predictor Test Kit Says Positive

Ovulation predictor kits determine whether the luteinizing hormone (LH) is detected. The luteinizing hormone (LH) rises right before ovulation occurs. Kits are supposed to detect whether you’re going to ovulate but cannot ensure that you do ovulate.

Women may have a high level of the LH if they have certain conditions such as polycystic ovaries, premature ovarian failure (POF), or for women over age 40 who are experiencing perimenopause. Also, women with Luteinized Unruptured Follicle Syndrome (LUFS) may have a surge in the LH hormone without ovulating. Any of these conditions could result in a false-positive result on an ovulation predictor test.

Can You Ovulate Without Having a Period?

Since a woman releases an egg 12-16 days before her expected period, it is possible for women to get pregnant without having periods. Women who are not menstruating due to a certain condition (i.e. low body weight, breastfeeding, perimenopause, etc…) risk the chance of getting pregnant because ovulation could start again at any point.
If you ovulate and do not start your period a couple of weeks later, you may want to take a pregnancy test.

For those who want to conceive, the lack of periods could make it more difficult to know the timing of ovulation if you are not charting your basal temperature and cervical fluid changes.  But if you are not having periods and wanting to prevent pregnancy, a form of contraception should be used since there is no way to know when ovulation will occur.

Can You Have a Period and Not Ovulate?

Having a period does not necessarily mean that ovulation has taken place. Some women may have what is called an anovulatory cycle, (meaning ovulation has not occurred). During an anovulatory cycle, women may experience some bleeding which may appear to be a period, although this is actually not a true period.
This bleeding is caused by either a buildup in the uterine lining that can no longer sustain itself or by a drop in estrogen. The main way to decipher if ovulation is, in fact, taking place is by tracking your basal body temperature.

What Resources are Available to Help Me Get Pregnant?

If you are trying to get pregnant, download our free ebook, The Ultimate Fertility Resource Guide. This information and our tips will dramatically improve your ability to get pregnant.

Want to Know More?

• How to Get Pregnant
• Preconception Health for Women

Compiled using information from the following sources:

1. Weschler, T. (2002). Taking charge of your fertility. New York, NY: HarperCollins Publishers Inc.

2. Baerwald A.R., Adams G.P., Pierson R.A. A new model for ovarian follicular development during the human menstrual cycle. Fertility and Sterility. July 2003. doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0015-0282(03)00544-2

https://www.fertstert.org/article/S0015-0282(03)00544-2/fulltext

The post Ovulation: Frequently Asked Questions appeared first on American Pregnancy Association.

Your FSH Levels

When trying to conceive, your Follicle Stimulating Hormone level needs to be below 10mIU/ml. When FSH levels are too high or too low, achieving pregnancy can become much more difficult because it affects your menstrual cycle and whether or not you ovulate.

As your egg quality and quantity dwindle – your body will try to compensate by producing more FSH in order to stimulate ovarian function. This is commonly seen in women who are experiencing premature menopause, approaching menopause – the declining estrogen levels that accompany menopause lead the body to produce more FSH in an attempt to sustain a healthy ovarian reserve in spite of low estrogen levels.

If you have Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS), you will want to pay close attention to your FSH levels, or more specifically, the ratio of luteinizing hormone (LH) to FSH. While women with PCOS might have FSH levels within normal range, often the ratio of LH to FSH is off. In young women without PCOS, the ratio of LH to FSH is approximately 1:1, while women with PCOS might see this ratio as high as 2:1 or 3:1. This abnormal ratio disrupts ovulation.

FSH Level Testing

Because it’s important to know your FSH levels, your doctor may recommend a FSH levels test to measure the amount of FSH in your blood. The results will help the doctor diagnose an underlying fertility issues.

The FSH levels test is simple blood work. You will be asked to get tested during certain point in your menstrual cycle, usually the 3rd day of your period and continue through cycle day 5.

What do your Follicle Stimulating Hormone test results mean?

Both gender and age affect FSH levels. Because FSH levels also fluctuate based on where a woman is in her menstrual cycle, it’s best to review your results with your doctor.

High  levels in women potentially could indicate:

• You’re not producing good quality eggs that are available for fertilization. Age is the most common reason for this to happen. Fertility declines with age as fewer eggs mature in the ovaries and the quality of those that do mature is less than when you were younger.
• Menopause
• Ovarian failure or loss of ovarian function
• Chromosomal abnormality

Follicle Stimulating Hormone levels do not paint the whole picture, but indicate if further testing is needed.

Our Ultimate Fertility Resource Guide provides the information you need on fertility, tips on how to get pregnant faster, and how to boost fertility through sometimes simple tweaks to your lifestyle and approach. The guide is easy to read and meant for anybody wanting to increase their ability to conceive. It’s a free download and includes coupon codes for essential products. Even free Nightfood Nighttime Ice Cream.

Want to Know More?

• How to Understand Your Hormone Levels and Fertility Bloodwork
• Fertility Challenges

The post How Do FSH Levels Affect Fertility? appeared first on American Pregnancy Association.