Mistakes to avoid when trying to conceive
Did you know that you can only get pregnant on a few days during each cycle? The chance of becoming pregnant in a single menstrual cycle is only about 20–30%. That makes it even more important to avoid unnecessary mistakes so you can achieve your goal of having a baby more quickly.
For this reason, we have summarized the five most common mistakes that women and people with a menstrual cycle make when trying to conceive.
1) Not knowing enough about your own cycle
The more you know about your menstrual cycle, the more accurately you can identify your ovulation. Unfortunately, many people still believe that ovulation always occurs exactly in the middle of the cycle. In reality, however, this is true for fewer than 20% of cycles.
Ovulation can shift both earlier and later, which means it cannot be predicted in advance based solely on cycle length.
Fortunately, there is a way to identify your individual fertile window and most fertile days before ovulation: by using the principles of Fertility Awareness-Based Methods (FABMs), also known as Natural Family Planning (NFP).
The likelihood of becoming pregnant within the first six months of trying to conceive is up to 21% higher when using Natural Family Planning (NFP). More specifically, this refers to the symptothermal method (STM), which can help you understand exactly where you are in your cycle and whether you are currently fertile or not.
The symptothermal method relies on two key fertility indicators: basal body temperature and cervical mucus. These fertility signs are evaluated according to scientifically validated rules and can reliably determine whether a given day is fertile or infertile.
trackle makes it easy and stress-free to use the symptothermal method. The trackle sensor system combines your overnight core body temperature measurements with your cervical mucus observations and automatically evaluates both parameters.
Learn more about the symptothermal method and how to use it easily with trackle here.
2) Using the wrong lubricants
Did you know that using lubricant can be a barrier when trying to conceive? It has been scientifically shown that certain lubricants can affect sperm motility. Due to their low and therefore slightly acidic pH level, many lubricants reduce sperm movement and may prevent sperm from reaching the fallopian tube.
Therefore, it is advisable to either avoid using lubricants altogether for the time being or choose products with a fertility-friendly pH that support sperm motility.
Your own arousal can also help: when the body becomes sexually aroused, it naturally produces its own lubrication, known as arousal fluid. This supports sperm movement and can increase the chances of fertilisation in a natural way.
3) An unhealthy lifestyle
Not only during pregnancy but also when actively trying to conceive, it is important to avoid nicotine and alcohol, as both can negatively affect fertility.
Diet also has a significant impact on fertility. Women and people with a menstrual cycle who follow an unhealthy diet, typically high in fast food, on average take longer to become pregnant compared to those who eat a balanced diet. A healthy diet consisting of plenty of fruit and vegetables, healthy carbohydrates, and a balanced intake of animal and plant-based proteins is therefore an important factor for fertility.
A generally healthy lifestyle plays a key role in supporting conception. Make sure to avoid insufficient exercise, lack of sleep, and excessive stress, as these can all negatively affect fertility.
4) Incorrect use of ovulation tests
In principle, an ovulation test works similarly to a pregnancy test. However, instead of detecting the pregnancy hormone, it measures the surge of luteinising hormone (LH) in urine, which triggers ovulation. Shortly before ovulation, the concentration of this hormone in urine rises significantly and can be detected on the test strip.
The intensity of the test line plays an important role: the stronger the line, the closer you are to ovulation.
At this point, many women and people with a menstrual cycle make the mistake of waiting until the line is at its strongest. In doing so, they often overlook the fact that the fertile window begins several days before ovulation, since sperm can survive in the female body for up to five days. As a result, they may miss their most fertile days.
Regular observation of cervical mucus as part of the symptothermal method can be very helpful here, as it allows you to clearly identify when your most fertile phase occurs. This is because cervical mucus changes in a very reliable and observable way during this time.
5) Irregular visits to the gynecologist
A visit to your gynecologist does not, of course, have a direct impact on your fertility. However, regular check-ups can help detect and treat conditions early that could otherwise hinder pregnancy.
As you can see, there are not too many factors you need to pay attention to when trying to conceive. In addition, most of these mistakes are easy to avoid. Above all, having sufficient knowledge about your cycle can greatly help you become pregnant more quickly.
Our trackle cycle computer helps you track your cycle, precisely identify your fertile days, and get one step closer to achieving your dream of having a baby!
_______
Sources:
https://academic.oup.com/humrep/article/33/6/1063/4989162?login=false
https://www.livescience.com/46807-night-light-melatonin-fertility-pregnancy.html