1.01 Taking control of your fertility

3 things you should do when trying to get pregnant:

1 - Optimise your health.

Regardless of wether you are planning to conceive or you are already busy doing it, there are a couple of suggestions:

Look at the elements that allow you to fall pregnant: you, your partner and the environment and then removing barriers from all of these.

Substance abuse: no smoking, no drinking, minimise caffeine, exercise, eat a balanced diet. There are a number of fertility diets, and which one suits you really depends on your age.

In general if your weight is elevated, then most of these diets are calorie restrictive. Importantly, we would prefer your with to be stable before you conceive.

A preconception vitamin, such as folic acid, will reduce the chances of a specific foetal abnormality called a neural tube defect. There is no evidence that any type of vitamin supplementation will increase your chances of conceiving.

2 - Time Intercourse

Secondly, in terms of timing you should be having sex every second day around the time of ovulation. The time of ovulation is usually 14 days prior to your expected first day of your period – so if The. The answer here is that you should have sex every second day around the time of ovulation. Ovulation normally happens 14 days before your period is due. The firt ay of your period is the first day that you have full flow – so if the period comes before lunch, we call that the first day, Don’t count any spotting. So if you have a 28 day cycle, ovulation is likely around day 14, and tha tbaset days to have sex are days 12 14 and 16.

If you have a 34 day cycle, then ovualtion is around day 20 and you should have sex on days 18 20 and 22.

If you have a 24 day cycle, then ovulation is around day 10 and the best days are 8 10 12.

If your cycles are longer or shorter, you should seek help.

3 - Have a health check with your GP

Your primary care physician is your first point of call. He or she will then refer you if you need further assistance.