The better you understand your unique menstrual cycle, the better you can understand your overall health.

Although the average menstrual cycle is 28 days, a cycle can actually be a few days longer or shorter and still be considered normal. Cycle length can also vary a little from cycle to cycle and still be considered normal.

Hormonal changes in the body trigger each cycle phase: menstrual, proliferative, ovulatory, and luteal. And while your period is the most recognizable phase, the other three are equally important and impact your energy levels, immune system, moods, and sleep patterns differently. Let’s dive in.

What are the menstrual cycle phases?

The body performs different functions throughout the four phases of the menstrual cycle, each of which plays a unique role in the reproductive process:

Proliferative: During the proliferative phase, ovarian follicles (structures in the ovary that each contain a single egg) mature and prime themselves for ovulation. Your hormones perform different functions that are geared toward the goal of producing an egg for fertilization during ovulation, the next phase. Although many follicles start maturing during the proliferative phase, usually only one eventually proves dominant, and becomes the sole egg available during ovulation.

Ovulatory: The ovulatory phase begins as a hormone surge forces the dominant egg to break free from its follicle and nest in a fallopian tube, where it will disintegrate if not fertilized within about 24-36 hours. Ovulation is the only phase in which you can get pregnant. But because sperm can live for up to five days in the reproductive system, if sperm is present in the short time leading up to ovulation, this can also result in conception.

Luteal: Following ovulation, the follicle that released the egg transforms into a corpus luteum, a structure that produces the pregnancy hormone progesterone. Progesterone thickens the lining of the uterus in preparation for a fertilized egg to make its home there for the next nine months. If conception occurs, the corpus luteum continues to produce progesterone to maintain a healthy pregnancy. If the egg is not fertilized, the corpus luteum ceases its progesterone production after about two weeks. This drop in progesterone signals menstruation to begin.

Menstruation: The onset of menstruation is considered to be the start and end of a menstrual cycle, as it signifies the end of an opportunity for fertilization for one egg (and the beginning for millions more). Menstruation is triggered when the corpus luteum of the last cycle’s unfertilized egg ceases to produce progesterone, usually occurring about two weeks after ovulation, causing the uterine lining to shed, along with a bit of blood. The length and intensity of a period varies from person to person and cycle to cycle, but usually lasts between 4-6 days. Once the period stops, the proliferative phase begins again, starting the reproductive process anew.

Reviewed by the Ovia Health Clinical Team

Read more

• The menstrual cycle and your hormones
• Tracking fertility during the proliferative phase
• 5 signs you might be ovulating

Sources

• Mayo Clinic Staff. “Menstrual cycle: What’s normal, what’s not.” Mayo Clinic. Mayo Clinic, 4/16/2013. Web.
• “Patient Fact Sheet: Am I Ovulating?” ASRM. American Society for Reproductive Medicine, 2014. Web.

Birth control myths, debunked

We’re here to set the record straight by debunking some widespread myths and help you get closer to finding the best birth control method for you!

MYTH: Hormonal birth control makes you gain weight

Birth control might make you retain water, but it doesn’t make you gain weight. It’s not uncommon to gain a little weight as a result of retaining water when starting hormonal birth control, but this side effect typically goes away quickly. Some hormonal birth control may come with other side effects, like an increased appetite or feeling bloated, but there’s no proven association between hormonal birth control and longer term weight gain. (One exception is the birth control shot [Depo Provera], which for some patients has been shown to have longer-term weight gain as a side effect.) As with all birth control, if you’re concerned about or if you experience any side-effects, you should speak with your healthcare provider to see if there’s another option that might be a better fit for you. It could just be a matter of switching to a similar birth control with a different combination of hormones.

MYTH: All pills are created equal

There are many different types of birth control pills. Combination pills contain estrogen and progestin, whereas the minipill contains only progestin — both options come in a variety of doses. Some pills are organized in conventional packs and you can expect a period every month, others are continuous dosing/extended cycle packs with a period once every three months. There’s a wealth of different pills to choose from, brand name options and generic options.

Birth control pills have different benefits and side effects. For people with certain medical conditions, sometimes the pill is not a good fit. Your healthcare provider can help you learn more.

MYTH: Taking birth control can negatively affect your fertility

Birth control use — whether used for a short time or long-term — doesn’t affect your fertility. After using certain hormonal birth control methods, you may need to wait a few months before your menstrual cycle will return to normal so you can get pregnant. But there’s no evidence that birth control presents any long-term fertility issues, and some people get pregnant right away after stopping the pill.

MYTH: Using the pill to skip your period isn’t good for you

While you should check with your healthcare provider about the specifics for your birth control pill, it’s entirely safe to skip your period. It’s also very easy. Just take a pill that includes hormones every day and skip the hormone-free “reminder” pills at the end of a pack. Some people like to skip their period if it’s going to fall on a special occasion — like on a vacation or while traveling — others opt for this option to avoid period discomfort. Regardless of the reason you’d like to skip yours, you may experience a little bit of spotting, which is normal.

MYTH: Long term use of hormonal birth control isn’t healthy

Hormonal birth controls aren’t necessarily a good fit for everyone — certain health conditions might increase the risks associated with using specific birth control pills, or the pill in general. But hormonal birth control is a very good fit for a lot of people. It can even help certain people feel better. For those with particularly irregular or uncomfortable periods — a heavy period, lengthy periods, heavy cramping and discomfort, or pain and other health problems related to endometriosis — hormonal birth control can improve quality of life, with lighter, shorter, more regular, more comfortable periods.

MYTH: Birth control’s primary use is to prevent pregnancy

Certainly, a lot of people use birth control to prevent pregnancy — and as the name suggests that’s the primary reason many people might use it. But many take birth control for other reasons already mentioned — like to have a more comfortable or more regular period and relieve major pain and discomfort — and for even to help improve mood or acne. Everyone has their own reasons for wanting to use birth control, and no matter your reason, a healthcare provider can help you find the type of birth control that’s a good fit for you.

And if you’re taking the pill or have an IUD, add it to your Ovia profile!

Reviewed by the Ovia Health Clinical Team

Read more about birth control

• Are LARCs more popular than ever?
• Who should I talk to about birth control?

Sources

• “Birth Control.” American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, May 2019. Retrieved March 31 2020. https://www.acog.org/patient-resources/faqs/especially-for-teens/birth-control.
• “Combined Hormonal Birth Control: Pill, Patch, and Ring.” American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, March 2018. Retrieved March 31 2020. https://www.acog.org/patient-resources/faqs/contraception/combined-hormonal-birth-control-pill-patch-and-ring.
• “Contraceptive Use.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, March 21 2019. Retrieved March 31 2020. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/contraceptive.htm.
• “IUD.” Planned Parenthood. Planned Parenthood, Retrieved March 31 2020. https://www.plannedparenthood.org/learn/birth-control/iud.
• “Long-Acting Reversible Contraception: Intrauterine Device and Implant.” American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, January 2018. Retrieved March 31 2020. https://www.acog.org/patient-resources/faqs/contraception/long-acting-reversible-contraception-intrauterine-device-and-implant.

How long does it take (on average) to get pregnant?

Many factors can influence how long it takes to get pregnant, including your cycle, general health, fertility conditions, age, and lifestyle.

Getting pregnant faster

Although it takes the average female up to six months to conceive, there are ways to improve fertility health and reduce time to pregnancy. Staying healthy through diet and exercise and taking folic acid supplements can greatly increase your chances of conceiving, relative to those who don’t do these things. Individuals who track their fertility data to pinpoint their ovulation are also able to speed up their time to conception. Even your mood might help with your fertility: some studies have found that happier emotional states correlate with faster conception.

How long is too long?

Although any female without a condition of infertility or sterility can get pregnant naturally before menopause, some may take a bit longer than others. Doctors recommend that couples who have not conceived after one year of trying seek a fertility consultation to determine if an alternative route to conception might be explored, whether it’s in vitro fertilization (IVF), surgery, or fertility medication. It’s recommended that women over 35 should seek a fertility consultation after six months of trying.

If you have any questions about trying to conceive or your fertility health in general, don’t hesitate to reach out to your healthcare provider for more information.

Read more

• Does pregnancy loss impact future conception?
• Trying to get pregnant for more than a year

Sources

• Dr. Walter Willett. “Nurses’ Health Study II.” National Institutes of Health. United States, 1989-. Web.
• “Nutrition During Pregnancy: FAQ001.” ACOG. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, 4/15/2015. Web.

Are you pregnant or is your period just late? Here’s how to tell

Learn more about actual pregnancy symptoms before you start getting concerned.

The science behind symptoms

Pregnant or not, your body starts releasing progesterone after you ovulate. This hormone keeps getting released and is at its highest point around five to seven days after ovulation. If a woman is pregnant, her body continues to produce progesterone in high amounts to help sustain the pregnancy. If she’s not pregnant, her progesterone levels decrease, and she’ll start her menstrual period.

Thanks also to progesterone, the symptoms of early pregnancy and your period are nearly identical. Cramps, fatigue, dizziness, breast tenderness – all early signs of pregnancy, but also possible signs of your period coming.

What about light spotting a week after ovulation? It could indicate implantation bleeding, but most women don’t experience this symptom and spotting can happen for other reasons.

What about nausea? This symptom is typically attributed to hCG, the pregnancy hormone, but it can be caused by other things, too (including PMS).

In the weeks between ovulation and a pregnancy test, many women “symptom spot”; that is, they take note of certain physical symptoms and think that they are definitely signs of early pregnancy. Is symptom spotting so wrong? Absolutely not, and it can even be kind of fun, as long as you know that only a blood test can tell you for sure if you’re pregnant.

Is there anything I can look for?

Probably the most reliable physical symptom of early pregnancy is a missed period. Noticing that your breasts are getting increasingly sore, or experiencing symptoms that you don’t usually get around the time of your period, are also signs that you could be pregnant. But again, a blood test will be the best way to know for sure.

Final thoughts: things to keep in mind

The bottom line is that without a blood test, it’s nearly impossible to know for sure whether you’re pregnant or experiencing a late period. Even home pregnancy tests can sometimes give a false negative, if taken too early, so it’s really smart to wait to take a test until or after your expected period.

If you’re paying attention to your symptoms, just know that it can get a little stressful for some women. So if you find yourself symptom spotting, try to be aware of how often you do it, and how you feel – does it distract you or stress you out? If it starts to get emotionally taxing for you, look for ways to stop paying attention to your symptoms.

Finally, make sure you’ve scheduled a pregnancy blood test, and keep taking your prenatal vitamins! Whether it’s sooner or later, when you get that BFP, you’ll be glad you did!

Sources

• Mayo Clinic Staff. “Home pregnancy tests: Can you trust the results?” MayoClinic. Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, Dec 2015. Web. Accessed 8/3/17. Available at http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/getting-pregnant/in-depth/home-pregnancy-tests/art-20047940.
• Lori A Bastian, Haywood Brown. “Clinical manifestations and diagnosis of early pregnancy.” UptoDate. UptoDate Inc., Jul 2017. Web. Accessed 8/3/17. Available at https://www.uptodate.com/contents/clinical-manifestations-and-diagnosis-of-early-pregnancy?source=search_result&search=waiting%20for%20pregnancy%20test&selectedTitle=1~150.
• “Morning Sickness: Nausea and Vomiting of Pregnancy.” ACOG. FAQ126 from the American College of Obstetricans and Gynecologists, Dec 2015. Web. Accessed 8/3/17. Available at https://www.acog.org/Patients/FAQs/Morning-Sickness-Nausea-and-Vomiting-of-Pregnancy.

How to time your pregnancy test properly

Here’s what you should know about this timing – and the science behind our recommendations.

First, understand how home pregnancy tests work

In the earliest stages of pregnancy, a fertilized egg will begin to implant in the uterine lining. This happens around four to six days after conception. Once implantation starts, the placenta starts producing human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), the pregnancy hormone. Home pregnancy tests work by determining if there is hCG present in urine – and, as you might know, home pregnancy tests ask you to pee to a stick to measure this.

Because hCG doesn’t show up until after implantation begins, if you don’t wait a few days to make sure the embryo has had a chance to implant, there’s the chance of getting a false negative – meaning that the pregnancy test reads as a “negative” even though pregnancy has occured. Implantation usually happens six to twelve days after ovulation, so the absolute earliest that you can test for pregnancy is a week after ovulation. For even more accurate results, it’s preferable to wait a few extra days so that levels of hCG can rise to more detectable levels. Waiting a few days after the first day of a missed period usually guarantees the most accurate results from a home pregnancy test.

Utilize Ovia Health to help with pregnancy testing

When it comes to pregnancy test timing, you probably know it’s best to take it at least one or more days after your next period is due. But your menstrual and ovulation cycle can fluctuate every month, meaning certain days of your cycle might change on a monthly basis and make it harder for you to know exactly when it’s time for you to take a pregnancy test. The US Department of Health and Human Services reports that nearly 20% of individuals who are pregnant get a false negative, because they’ve miscalculated their period or it arrived later than expected that month.

This is where tracking is helpful. Different ovulation symptoms can suggest that you’re in a certain part of your cycle. For example, in the luteal phase, which is when the egg implants and your body starts making the pregnancy hormone, your body releases progesterone, which can affect your moods, breast tenderness, and cervical mucus. Spotting might happen as a sign of implantation bleeding, too. These kinds of symptoms tell Ovia what phase of your cycle you’re in.

When you log your data consistently, Ovia takes all of the information you provide, like your period dates, cervical fluid consistency, basal body temperature, symptoms, and moods, and uses it to predict when you’re ovulating and when is the best time to take a pregnancy test. If Ovia tells you to test on a day that’s different from what you expected, this could be because of natural fluctuations in your cycle, as well as symptoms that suggest to Ovia that you’re at a different day in your cycle than you previously thought.

Other things to consider

Cycles fluctuate month by month, and it can be difficult to know for sure when one phase of your cycle ends and another begins. And if you’re patiently waiting for some positive news, we know you can’t get it soon enough – so we’re here to help. By consistently logging your symptoms and moods, you’re providing Ovia with important information that will help us predict the best – and most accurate – day for you to take a pregnancy test.

Sources

• “Home use tests: Pregnancy.” FDA. US Food and Drug Administration, Jun 5 2016. Web.
• Mayo Clinic Staff. “Home pregnancy tests: Can you trust the results?” MayoClinic. Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, Dec 2 2015. Web.
• Connie Matthiessen. “Week 01 to Week 04 of Pregnancy.” HealthDay. HealthDay, Jan 20 2017. Web.

Things to consider about sex after a miscarriage

Individuals and couples who have experienced a miscarriage often report feelings of hesitancy towards resuming sexual activity, for both physical and emotional reasons. What is most important is that you take care of yourself, and keep the lines of communication open.

What factors influence when someone can start having sex again?

Sex after miscarriage is a very personal and individualized situation. That being said, there are some physical and mental factors that most people will want to take into consideration after experiencing any kind of pregnancy loss.

• Physical factors:

After a pregnancy loss, women are generally advised to maintain ‘pelvic rest’, including no tampon use or sexual activity, for two weeks after miscarriage. This is partially due to the fact that the cervix and uterus are more dilated in the weeks following a miscarriage, which makes infection more likely. A pelvic exam from a provider is the best way to know for sure if you’re medically ready to have sex again. Sexual activity can typically be resumed after this time. However, a healthcare provider may give different recommendations about when it’s safe to resume sexual activity based on their assessment and your experience.

• Emotional factors:

Many people don’t feel quite ready to start having sex again for some time after a miscarriage. This is very normal. Open, honest conversation between partners should be encouraged in order to remain connected and work through these feelings.

Your healthcare provider is a valuable resource to help you determine when it is safe to resume sexual activity and, if you’re ready, to try and conceive again if that is something you want. Your provider will base their recommendation on multiple factors including the type of loss, the gestational age at the time of loss, and the your personal experience.

When does the menstrual cycle return?

You may ovulate as soon as two weeks after a miscarriage, but it is also normal for ovulation to take longer to resume.  Healthcare providers usually recommend waiting at least one menstrual cycle before trying to conceive again, and that people not try to conceive until they feel emotionally healed. These recommendations may be different for those who have had more than one miscarriage. As always, it’s a good idea to ask your healthcare provider for their opinion about when it’s safe to start trying again. In the meantime add a safe method of protection, if that’s necessary for you, until you’re cleared.

Long-term grief

It’s normal to experience a shift in mood, or strain in a relationship after a miscarriage. While short- and medium-term grief and sadness are expected, if you’re experiencing grief or depression lasting for months and it’s impacting your  ability to perform daily activities, seek the help of a specialist. There are many options to get the help you need. This could be a therapist, a psychiatrist, a support group, or a combination of them; the most important thing is that you feel comfortable talking to your healthcare provider about how you’re feeling and any concerns you may have. Sexual activity after loss might be emotionally or physically difficult at first, but as long as both partners are respectful of one another and understand where each other are at in the healing process, things will get easier over time.

Sources

• “When can I resume sex after a miscarriage or pregnancy loss?” UTMBHealth. The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, 2016. Web.
• “How soon can couples have sex again after a miscarriage?” ISSM. International Society for Sexual Medicine, 2016. Web.
• “Getting pregnant: when is the best time to get pregnant after a miscarriage?” MayoClinic. Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, May 17 2016. Web.

The details behind conceiving after an ectopic pregnancy

There are several variables that factor in to a parent’s chance for conceiving after an ectopic pregnancy.

Physical recovery

Different healthcare providers may have different recommendations depending on each woman’s individual health history, but many healthcare providers suggest waiting at least three months before trying again after an ectopic pregnancy. This allows the body to heal from the following potential effects of an ectopic pregnancy:

• Disrupted menstrual cycle: Menstrual periods will have stopped during pregnancy, and can take a few weeks or months to restart after the pregnancy ends. Once the hormones that control the menstrual cycle are back to their pre-pregnancy levels, the menstrual cycle will resume, and conception is once again possible.
• Scar tissue in the fallopian tube: Though not always, an ectopic pregnancy often involves the egg implanting in a fallopian tube, rather than travelling down the tube and implanting in the uterine wall. Because of this, after an ectopic pregnancy there can be damage to the fallopian tube, whether it’s from the pregnancy’s growth, the procedure to remove it, or from something that contributed to the ectopic pregnancy such as an untreated STD. Scarring in the fallopian tube can interfere with future attempts at pregnancy, so it’s important for these scars to heal before a woman tries again.

Mental recovery

Women vary greatly in their response to pregnancy loss. Some women don’t need any time at all before attempting pregnancy again, while others need time to recover mentally after a loss. It’s not uncommon for the expectations of pregnancy combined with the pain of loss to make women hesitant about trying again. In these cases, it’s wise to take some time off before trying again.

Part of mental recovery involves knowing that after experiencing an ectopic pregnancy, the odds of having another ectopic pregnancy are slightly higher – about one in 10. Many women go on to have a healthy pregnancy, but it’s important to know that your risk of future ectopic pregnancies may be higher than the average woman’s risk.

Even after your healthcare provider gives you the go-ahead on the physical side, it’s very normal to want to wait a bit longer before trying again.

Before you start

The success of a future pregnancy depends on what caused the ectopic pregnancy, as well as your medical history. Before you start trying again, you will want to see your provider for a checkup, where he or she can confirm that your body is ready to sustain another pregnancy.

You might be advised to try conceiving naturally, or your provider might recommend that you try in vitro fertilization (IVF) or another form of assisted reproductive technology, particularly if you have tubal damage or have experienced multiple ectopic pregnancies. If your fallopian tubes aren’t damaged and your ectopic pregnancy was treated early, the odds of a successful and healthy pregnancy are roughly 66%.

The importance of staying healthy

The causes of ectopic pregnancy still aren’t completely clear, and it may be that multiple causes combine to contribute to the development of an ectopic pregnancy. In most cases, an ectopic pregnancy happens due to factors that are out of a woman’s control. But as is the case for all women who are trying to get pregnant, when you’re ready to start trying again, make sure that you take care of yourself and your health. This includes eating a healthy diet, avoiding alcohol and tobacco, decreasing your stress as much as possible, and getting regular exercise. These behaviors can all improve fertility and help reduce some of the risk factors that contribute to pregnancy complications.

Sources

• Richard Sherbahn. Pregnancy After Tubal Ectopic Pregnancy: Getting pregnant after an ectopic.” AdvancedFertility. Advanced Fertility Center of Chicago, 2016. Web.
• Judy Bliss. “Healthy Outlook: Don’t give up after tubal pregnancy.” CCHealth Contra Costa Country Health Services, Jun 6 2012. Web.
• Marissa Selner and Rachel Nall. “Who is at risk for an ectopic pregnancy?” Healthline. Healthline Media, Oct 13 2015. Web.

The connection between using tampons and fertility

Is it really possible that your tampons can cause fertility problems later on in life? We explore three major health claims that people make about tampons as they relate to fertility.

Claim #1: Tampons and endometriosis

Some people believe that during menstruation, tampons in the vagina can block and cause a buildup of tissue, which allows tissue that would normally be expelled to stay and grow in a females’s body, which could lead to endometriosis.

The truth of the matter: A 2002 Yale study found that women with endometriosis actually tend to use tampons less than women who do not have endometriosis. Researchers guessed that tampons may help prevent endometriosis by collecting tissue that would otherwise be left behind in the woman’s body. However, endometriosis causes pelvic pain, so women who physically cannot use tampons because of the pain weren’t considered, which could have skewed the results of the study. The bottom line for this claim is that tampon usage may actually lower the risk of endometriosis, but there is no definite proof yet.

Claim #2: Tampons and asbestos

The second major claim is that tampon manufacturers mix asbestos – a dangerous mineral – into the tampon material, to intentionally cause more bleeding in the vagina and thus sell more tampons.

The truth of the matter: There is absolutely no truth to this. It’s just a run-of-the-mill conspiracy theory. An official statement from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) states that regulatory check-ups ensure that tampons contain no asbestos or similar minerals.

Claim #3:  Tampons and dioxin exposure

Finally, there is a claim that the fibers of tampons contain dioxin, a toxic chemical and pollutant.

The truth of the matter: The FDA has officially stated that steps have been taken to remove as much dioxin as possible from tampons. According to the statement, decades of pollution have made it impossible to completely remove dioxins from the material that goes into tampons, but the amount of dioxins in them is tiny. A 2002 assessment by the Environmental Protection Agency found that exposure to dioxins through diet is tens of thousands of times stronger than the exposure of dioxins through tampon usage.

So what’s the final word?

The final word is that no major studies have found any harm in long-term tampon use. There is no data to suggest that tampons cause endometriosis or that they contain harmful chemicals that could affect fertility.

Sources

• “Tampons and Asbestos, Dioxin, & Toxic Shock Syndrome.” FDA. U.S. Food and Drug Administration, May 13 2015. Web.
• “Scientist sees a connection between endometriosis and tampon use, orgasm.” YaleMedicine. Yale School of Medicine, 2002. Web.
• Susan Dudley, PhD, Salwa Nassar, Emily Hartman, and Sandy Wang. “Tampon Safety.” NCHR. National Center for Health Research, 2016. Web.
• Michael J DeVito, Arnold Schecter. “Exposure assessment to dioxins from the use of tampons and diapers.” National Center for Biotechnology Information: Environmental Health Perspectives. 110(1): 23–28. Web. Jan 2002.

Myths about fertility

So read on to learn a few important fertility facts – and get clear on just what’s fiction. Being armed with this knowledge will help you better understand your body. And, if you’re trying to have a baby now or sometime soon, it will also help you have a happier, healthier TTC journey.

There’s no “one size fits all” cycle

Many people think that menstrual cycles should work like clockwork, but not everyone has a cycle that falls into a textbook 28-day pattern. In fact, many people have cycles that are a bit longer, shorter, or vary slightly month to month. When ovulation occurs within each cycle can vary slightly as well. Tracking your data every day with Ovia is a great way to get a better sense of your unique cycle, including when you ovulate and your most fertile days.

Be aware of what you introduce down there

Some people like to use douches because they feel fresher or cleaner after using them – or because they’ve been told that douching will make them feel fresher and cleaner –  but douching can change the pH of your vagina, which can lead to a wealth of problems and even make conception more difficult. Unless there’s an underlying condition or issue preventing it, the vagina is able to self-regulate and self-clean as necessary. If you’re experiencing issues with smell or discharge, consider consulting your healthcare provider before using a douche.

If you use personal lubricants, keep in mind that they can act as a partial spermicide (and though this decreases fertility, lubricant should definitely not be relied on as a contraceptive). There are a number of fertility-focused lubricants available that provide lubrication but don’t block sperm and might even aid in your fertility efforts.

A bit of caffeine is entirely okay

Multiple studies, and a report by the National Infertility Association, suggest that too much caffeine could hurt your fertility. However, there are various opinions about what exactly constitutes an acceptable amount of caffeine daily for females trying to conceive, and most experts agree that a bit of coffee each day is just fine. In terms of specifics, expert opinions on an acceptable amount of caffeine range from 100 to 500 milligrams per day. And for context, an 8-ounce cup of coffee contains about 95 milligrams of caffeine. Because of this, just be sure to talk to your healthcare provider about what’s best for you.

Everything in moderation

If you have a male partner, you might think that the best way to boost your chances of conception would be to have intercourse as often as possible during your fertile window. But like so many things, you want to aim for a Goldilocks-and-the-three-bears sweet spot: not too much, not too little, but just right. Some doctors say intercourse every day can drive sperm count down, while other research shows that daily ejaculation can improve semen quality. And some research shows that there is no significant difference between the conception rate of couples who have intercourse every day or every other day during the fertile window.

Keep in mind that trying to mandate a schedule for your sex lives can be stressful for many couples, and stress definitely doesn’t help your chances of conception. So if both of you are otherwise healthy, try to focus on fun with your baby making by finding times that work for you!

Care focused on your unique needs is best

There are plenty of individuals who worry about their fertility sooner than they may need to, while others could probably benefit from a healthcare provider’s advice right away. As a general rule, if you’re under 35, have regular periods, and don’t have a history of STDs, you don’t need to seek out expert health advice until you’ve been trying to conceive for a full year.

If you are over 35 with regular periods and no history of STDs, you may want to check in with your healthcare provider if you’ve been trying to conceive for six months or longer. But if you have any questions about what’s best for you, certainly do check in with your healthcare provider so they can provide you with guidance.

Sources

• Mayo Clinic Staff. “Female fertility: Why lifestyle choices count.” Mayo Clinic. Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, June 12 2015. Retrieved July 12 2017. http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/getting-pregnant/in-depth/female-fertility/art-20045887.