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.

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.

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.

Sperm Count by the Numbers

Low: Anything less than 20 million per milliliter (a condition called oligospermia) is low
Normal: A normal sperm count for a healthy male is 15–200 million per milliliter of semen
High: Above average or high count is over 200 million per milliliter of semen

Why Sperm Count Matters and how it’s Determined

Although it’s true it only takes one sperm to fertilize an egg, that sperm has to swim through a literal obstacle course in order to reach its target. The majority of sperm aren’t strong or mobile enough to succeed, so the more you have, the better the chances of successful conception.

Sperm count is determined through a semen analysis, which can be performed at a fertility clinic or urologist’s office. If you prefer, you also have a more private option with a convenient and accurate at-home test for sperm count.

Shop SpermCheck® Fertility At-Home Test for Sperm Count

Possible Physical and Medical Causes 

If you find your count is lower than the normal threshold for fertile men, be sure to schedule an appointment with your doctor or fertility specialist as soon as possible. A medical professional can determine whether or not there are physical or medical factors contributing to the problem such as genetic disorders, diabetes, past cancer treatments, sexually-transmitted diseases, etc., and recommend appropriate treatment.

Tips: How to Get and Keep a Healthy Count by Living a Healthier Lifestyle

If physical and medical issues are ruled out, ask your doctor about changes you can make to your lifestyle that can have a measurable impact on sperm count. Here are some of the best tips recommended by healthcare pros.

Eat well: According to recent studies, diets high in saturated fats and sugar negatively impact fertility. So put down the burgers and fries and get back to basics: lean meats, vegetables, whole grains, dairy, and fruits. Fertility-friendly foods like nuts, leafy greens, avocado, garlic, and olive oil are ideal additions to a baby-making diet.

Lose weight: This goes hand in hand with eating well. Too much body fat can disrupt the function of reproductive hormones. Getting rid of and keeping off excess pounds can go a long way toward boosting sperm count.

Ditch those vices: Any use of alcohol, tobacco products, and illicit drugs (both by the man or woman) may reduce the likelihood of her getting pregnant. Smoking in particular has been linked to low sperm count.

Watch out for toxins: Certain pesticides, industrial metals, and even household cleaners have been linked to lower count and decreased quality in sperm. If you can’t avoid exposure altogether, use a face mask and ventilate the environment well to minimize risk.

Chill out: Did you know men are more fertile in cold weather than in hot? There’s a reason for that! Overheating the scrotum negatively affects sperm production, so keep that area as cool as possible. Avoid the use of sauna and hot tubs. Wear boxers instead of briefs. Get up and move during the day if you have a desk job that requires a lot of sitting. In other words, stay mindful and do whatever you can to chill. 

How Often Should You do a Check?

Testing sperm count is not a one-and-done deal. Because count can vary from month to month due to lifestyle choices, stress levels, and even the weather, it’s important to test at regular intervals when you’re trying to conceive: Urologists recommend every 2 to 3 months. 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.

You Really Can Improve Sperm Count

Having lower-than-normal sperm count doesn’t mean you won’t be able to help your partner conceive, but the odds are much better if your sperm count in the normal to high range. Fortunately, there are many active steps you can take to make more plentiful, stronger swimmers as you travel your journey to parenthood.

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?

• Infertility 101: What You Need to Know First
• Ovulation: Frequently Asked Questions

Sources
Chertoff, Jane. “What Is a Normal Sperm Count? .” Healthline, 29 Aug. 2018, www.healthline.com/health/mens-health/
Grunebaum, Amos. “How to Increase Sperm Count and Improve His Fertility.” BabyMed.com, 27 Sept. 2019, www.babymed.com/tips-improving-sperm-count.
“Infertility.” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 25 July 2019, www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/infertility/symptoms-causes/syc-20354317.
Jarrow, Jonathan, et al. “The Evaluation of the Azoospermic Male.” The Evaluation of the Azoospermic Male – American Urological Association, 2011, www.auanet.org/guidelines/azoospermic-male-best-practice-statement.
“Male Infertility.” Cleveland Clinic, 2019, my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/17201-male-infertility.
Panth, Neelima, et al. “The Influence of Diet on Fertility and the Implications for Public Health Nutrition in the United States.” Frontiers in Public Health, Frontiers Media S.A., 31 July 2018, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6079277/.

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Hormone and fertility tests

A key piece of information to know is when during your menstrual cycle you can conceive. We call this your “fertility window.” You can determine your 10-day fertility window using our ovulation calculator. To know more precisely when you’re ovulating use a  urine-based tests kits (used to identify the surge in luteinizing hormone that occurs 12-48 hours before ovulation) or electronic fertility monitors.

There are a number of home fertility screening tests available for both women and men which can provide useful information about hormone levels, how to get and keep a healthy sperm count, sperm motility, and more.

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.

Sources:

• Mayo Clinic
• Alan E Beer Medical Center

Want to Know More?

• How Does FSH Levels Affect Fertility?
• Planning Your Pregnancy: The Essential Guide to Getting Pregnant
• Fertility Challenges

The post Understand Your Fertility Tests appeared first on American Pregnancy Association.

Before we talk about how to calculate your fertility window, it might be helpful to briefly review the stages of your menstrual cycle, as hormonal changes that occur during the different phases set the stage for ovulation and provide clues as to when ovulation is coming.

As you may already know, in order for conception to take place, at least one healthy and vigorous sperm must be waiting in the fallopian tube at the moment ovulation occurs and must be able to fertilize the egg within 12-24 hours of the egg being released from the ovary.

Since sperm can only live for a maximum of 5 days in the female reproductive tract, only a small number of sperm will even survive the long journey through the female reproductive tract. Therefore, couples trying to conceive should plan to have intercourse a number of times in the days just prior to ovulation.

To do this means you must be able to predict when you will ovulate, a task that is sometimes more difficult than you might think. Fortunately, for those of us who need help, there are several reliable ways to predict when your most fertile days will occur during each cycle.

Timing of Your Fertility Window: Before and After Your Period

In the first several days of the menstrual cycle (called the follicular phase), certain hormones, specifically follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), begin the maturation process of follicles (the sacs that hold the egg) in the ovaries. In the second week of your cycle, FSH levels begin to decline and a single dominant follicle continues to develop.

This growing follicle produces increasing amounts of estrogen, which initiates the ovulatory phase. Estrogen plays a key role in the ovulatory process and helps to prepare the body for pregnancy. This hormone helps build the lining of the endometrium, facilitates the secretion of fertile-quality cervical mucus (which helps to protect and transport sperm through the reproductive tract) and triggers the production of the luteinizing hormone (LH).

By paying close attention to how your body responds to increased estrogen in the first couple weeks of your menstrual cycle, you can begin to predict ovulation. For example, many women know ovulation is just around the corner when they see an increase in production of fertile-quality cervical mucus.

Tools for predicting ovulation

Here is a brief introduction to some of the available tests and devices that can be used to help you pinpoint your fertility window.

• Ovulation Kits (OPKs) are a popular method for predicting ovulation. OPKs detect the presence of the luteinizing hormone (LH) in your urine. In many women, the amount of LH in the body surges approximately 12-36 hours before ovulation occurs. By testing with OPKs, you can identify this LH surge, which allows you to know that ovulation is just around the corner and that you are in your fertile window.
• Ovulation Microscopes or saliva ferning scopes, allow women to identify their most fertile days by observing the visual changes that take place in saliva throughout the monthly cycle. Just prior to ovulation, women experience an “estrogen surge,” and a distinct fern-like pattern in the saliva becomes visible under the microscope due to increased estrogen levels.

Our Fertility Resource Guide is the ultimate help in achieving pregnancy. It’s a free download and includes tips on how to increase your chances of getting pregnant. There’s also a code for free Nightfood Nighttime Ice Cream!

Want to Know More?

• Track Ovulation with Irregular Periods
• Ovulation FAQs

The post Fertility Window Calculator appeared first on American Pregnancy Association.

Ovulation kits and the luteinizing hormone (LH):

While the luteinizing hormone is always present in your urine, it increases 24-48 hours prior to ovulation. This LH surge triggers ovulation, the release of an egg from one of your ovaries. Ovulation is the most fertile time of your cycle.

When is the best time to use ovulation kits?

For some women, it can be difficult to know when to start using ovulation tests, particularly if their cycles are irregular. Also, some ovulation kits only come with about a week’s worth of tests, which may not be enough to cover the window during which you could ovulate. With this in mind, it is best to wait until you start to notice a build-up of fertile-quality cervical mucus before you begin testing.

Most ovulation tests may be used at any time of the day; some suggest testing first thing in the morning, although this is not required. For greater success, test about the same time each day, and reduce your liquid intake for four hours beforehand.

How accurate are ovulation tests?

When taken correctly, ovulation tests are approximately 99% accurate in detecting the LH surge that precedes ovulation. However, these tests cannot confirm whether ovulation actually occurs a day or two later. Some women may have a surge in the LH hormone without releasing an egg. This condition is known as Luteinized Unruptured Follicle Syndrome (LUFS).

Other women may experience false small peaks in the LH hormone before it fully peaks, commonly seen in women with the polycystic ovarian syndrome. This could mislead you to time intercourse too early.
 

What should I do if I have used all the tests and I do not see a surge?

If you have not ovulated during your testing days, you will not have detected the LH surge. It is probable that ovulation has not occurred. At times, women may experience an anovulatory cycle during which an egg is not released. Unfortunately, the best thing to do is to continue testing. It is recommended to wait until you start to see a build-up in cervical mucus to begin testing. That way you don’t have to buy as many tests.

What do I need to do if I have been monitoring my ovulation for several months and pregnancy has not occurred?

First, it is important to remember that it can take normal, healthy couples twelve months to become pregnant. Even if you have had intercourse during your most fertile time, there are many other factors that affect your ability to become pregnant.

Consult your doctor if you have been trying for several months without success. Let your doctor know if you have been using ovulation tests. This will help your doctor better identify what other factors could be affecting your ability to get pregnant.

When is the best time to have intercourse?

The three days immediately after a positive test represent the best time to have intercourse to increase the probability of getting pregnant. Ovulation generally occurs a day or two after the LH surge.

What conditions, drugs, or medications affect the test?

The following conditions may create an inaccurate result in the tests:

• If you are pregnant
• If you have recently been pregnant
• If you have reached menopause

Some prescription drugs such as menotropins for injection (Pergonal®), danazol (Danocrine®),  and injections containing hCG (e.g., Profasi or A.P.L.) may affect the result. If you are undergoing therapy with Clomiphene citrate (e.g. Clomid® or Serophene®), please consult with your physician for the appropriate time to begin testing. In most cases, you should start testing 3 days after taking the last tablet.

Do hormonal contraceptives affect the results?

It is important to consult your physician about the best time to get pregnant once you have stopped using contraceptive methods. After using hormonal contraceptives, you may experience an irregular cycle. For many women, it takes at least a few months for menstruation to normalize.

Ideally, it is best to wait until your cycle stabilizes, which will also make it easier to monitor your ovulation. You may wish to wait until you have had two normal periods before starting to use an ovulation kit.

Is it okay to use ovulation tests or fertility monitors as a means of contraception?

It is not recommended to use ovulation tests or fertility monitors as a means of tracking your ovulation in order to avoid pregnancy. Ovulation tests only identify the LH surge up to 24 to 48 hours before ovulation, and sperm can survive in the body up to 3 to 5 days. Therefore, if you have intercourse before you discover the LH surge, the egg could still be fertilized.

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 quickly can I determine if I am pregnant?

It is recommended to wait at least until you miss your period before taking a pregnancy test. It takes time for the hCG pregnancy hormone to get high enough to show up on a pregnancy test, so if you test too early, you could get a false negative. Some tests allow you to test up to four days earlier, but the results are less reliable.

Want to Know More?

• Things to Know About Ovulation
• Are You Trying to Get Pregnant
• Preconception for Women
• Signs of Ovulation

Compiled using information from the following sources:

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

The post How to Use Ovulation Kits & Fertility Monitors appeared first on American Pregnancy Association.

Male fertility tests

A semen analysis is the most common procedure when it comes to male fertility testing and seeking to determine if there is a male infertility factor. Sperm is collected into a specimen jar and presented to a lab technician who examines the sperm under a microscope in order to evaluate the count, shape, appearance, and mobility of the sperm.
While determining the sperm count, the technician will also be checking to see if the sperm concentration is above or below 20 million sperm cells per milliliter of ejaculation fluid.

A sperm count test is also available for home use. SpermCheck is a corporate sponsor of the American Pregnancy Association and they offer accurate, at-home fertility testing. Visit their website at SpermCheck.com.

If the sperm count is found to be low, the fertility specialist will probably test the blood testosterone, FSH, LH and prolactin levels. There are a number of supplements available to help improve sperm parameters such as count, motility and morphology.

Urinalysis can be used to search for white blood cells–an indicator of possible infection. Urinalysis will also show the possible presence of sperm in the urine–an indicator of a possible problem with ejaculation known as retrograde ejaculation.

If the medical history, physical examination, and semen analysis of the male partner are normal, the focus of attention will shift to the female partner. Further male factor evaluation is unlikely to be necessary in most cases.

Other Male Fertility Tests

However, in some cases additional laboratory and sperm analysis tests might be recommended including any of the following tests:

• Sperm agglutination: A laboratory test involving the examination of sperm under a microscope to determine if the sperm are clumping together. Clumping prevents sperm from swimming through the cervical mucus.
• Sperm penetration assay: A laboratory test utilizing hamster eggs to evaluate a sperm’s capability of penetrating the egg. This test is rarely used.
• Hemizona assay: A laboratory test in which a non-usable human egg is cut in half. The purpose of the procedure is to see if the sperm are able to penetrate the outermost protective layer of the egg.
• Acrosome reaction: A laboratory test that helps determine if sperm heads are able to go through the chemical changes necessary to dissolve an egg’s tough outer shell.
• Hypo-osmotic swelling: A laboratory test that uses a special sugar and salt solution to evaluate the sperm’s tail and ability of the sperm to penetrate the egg. The tails of healthy sperm tend to swell in the solution in contrast with dead or abnormal sperm where the tails do not swell.
• Testicular biopsy: A small piece of tissue is removed from the tubules in the testes and examined to determine how well sperm are being produced.
• Vasography: An x-ray exam is used to determine if there is blockage or leakage of sperm in the vas deferens.
• Ultrasonography: An exam used to locate damage or blockages in the male reproductive tract, including the prostate, seminal vesicles, and ejaculatory ducts.

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?

• Infertility 101: What You Need to Know First
• Male Infertility
• Female Infertility
• Infertility Medications

Compiled using information from the following sources:

1. MayoClinic

https://mayoclinic.com

2. American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM)

https://www.asrm.org

The post Male Fertility Testing appeared first on American Pregnancy Association.