Clear Blue Fertility Monitor Secrets

Marina Nicholas asked:


The New Year is a popular time for couples to think about having a baby. The hangover of the Christmas festivities have passed and New Year resolutions for a healthy and happy future are being made. Whether you have been trying for a baby for several months or just started thinking about having a baby, these top tips will help get you in the right frame of mind, optimise your health and improve your chance of success.


1. Give up toxic habits

This is perhaps the most obvious yet most difficult tip to implement. Ideally you are looking to reduce or give up caffeine, smoking and alcohol and increase your energy levels through exercise like yoga, swimming and aerobics. There is an abundance of evidence to demonstrate the benefits of making these changes.
Set a date for you and your partner to give them up. You will both need to be fully committed and supportive of each other as you embark on cutting out the toxins. Choose a week to start when your social diary is quiet and work pressures are at a minimum - this will make it easier to complete the transition.

2. Vitamin supplementation

Vitamin supplementation is an easy and effective way to maximise you chance of getting pregnant. There are many pre-conception vitamin tablets on the market for men and women. Don't just rely on taking folic acid. Ideally women should choose supplements that contain calcium, iron, Vitamin E and Vitamin K. The supplements for men should include zinc, Vitamin C and arginine. In today's stressful society our bodies are constantly challenged to keep up with all the essential vitamins it needs for its everyday functions - reproductive organs need them too!


3. Medical check

Most couples forget about the current state of their internal reproductive organs before trying to conceive. It is probably one of the most important steps of the pregnancy plan. Make an appointment to visit your Doctor for both you and your partner to be screened for sexually transmitted diseases. You will be amazed how many couples do not conceive straight away due to an underlying infection that they did not know about. Get yourself tested before you start trying so you do not end up wasting valuable time. Many of the infections are symptomless and can be silently causing damage to your reproductive organs. The most common are chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis. If either of you tests positive for an infection, a course of antibiotics is sufficient to remove the harmful bacteria and get you back on track to optimising your health for conception. It may take up to 2 weeks to get the results of the test back from your Doctor.


4. Know your timing

Are you having sex at the wrong time? Can you accurately pinpoint when you are ovulating? Do you know the signs to look for? Textbook women have a 28-day menstrual cycle and may ovulate between days 14 -16 of the month. However, many women have cycles either shorter or longer and therefore knowing your cycle and timing is crucial to your success. A number of changes take place to signal ovulation is about to happen or has happened. For the purposes of maximising your chances of conception, focus your efforts on detecting when ovulation is about to happen.
The most common sign is a change in the cervical mucus as the menstrual cycle progresses. It is a quick, easy and reliable indication of ovulation. At the beginning of the cycle, oestrogen levels are low and little mucus is present. The dryness means you are relatively infertile at this stage. Mucus begins to increase to a white, milky or cloudy consistency suggesting the fertile period is approaching. Just before ovulation, the mucus changes to become slippery, stretchy and clear - like raw egg white. This is the most fertile period of your cycle. The slippery mucus facilitates the movement of sperm towards an egg in the uterus. After ovulation, the mucus changes consistency again to a thicker, cloudier, acidic mucus. Typically four days after the last egg white mucus, the infertile phase begins.
If you are unsure, there are several ovulation kits available from pharmacies to help pinpoint your most fertile time. After a few months you will recognise the signs.


5. Know when to seek help

Knowing when to seek professional help is my last top tip. If you are under 35 years old and have actively been trying for a baby for 12 months, you should visit your Doctor to complete fertility tests on your and your partner. If you are over 35 years old and have been trying for 3 - 6 months, make an appointment with your Doctor. There is a balance between giving your body sufficient the right amount of time to conceive and seeking help after a certain period of time.

Planning for a pregnancy is an exciting time for a couple. The air is full of expectation and anticipation about your future family. Embark on the journey together, make changes that will maximise your chances of conception and above all, have fun!


Now, when you're ready to see the results of your fun....check out