Most antibiotics will just include a note that you will have to inform your doctor if you are trying to get pregnant. It is up to doctor then to decide whether antibiotics are safe for you or not.

I strongly believe that antibiotics are overused in most of the western world. Most doctors would agree with that. If you follow medical news, you will notice statements from doctors’ associations saying that the use of antibiotics should be brought down, and that many medical practitioners are too quick to opt for antibiotics.

Depending on the reason you are being described antibiotics, if you are trying to conceive, it might be a good idea to ask if there are any non-antibiotic medications available for your condition. In the case of a urinary tract infection for instance, turning to Traditional Chinese Medicine, naturopathy, or homeopathy is a very valid alternative to using antibiotics. The same goes for many other conditions that are conventionally treated with antibiotics.

Having said that, some conditions simply require the use of antibiotics, and in that case, you can discuss with your doctor whether it would be better to take a month off trying to get pregnant. Fortunately, on the whole, the answer to that question will be, “No, taking antibiotics will trying to conceive does not pose any risk”.

Most women who have a 28-day menstrual cycle are most likely to conceive when intercourse occurs between day 11 (just before ovulation) and day 16 (just after ovulation). Men ejaculate a higher number of sperm if they abstain from ejaculation for at least two or three days before intercourse timed for their female partner’s maximum fertility.

2) Fertility does not usually return immediately after stopping use of the Pill. Women may not be able to conceive for as long as three months.

3)  Alcohol interferes with conception. Couples who drink may have intercourse too often outside the female partner’s fertility window, effectively lowering the male partner’s sperm count, and even if the egg is fertilized, drinking may interfere with the ability of the uterus to receive it. Also, since women will not know they are pregnant before they miss their period, continued drinking may damage the embryo during the first 12 to 17 days after conception.

4) Sexual position makes a difference. When the couple has intercourse in the missionary position (man on top), the sperm is ejaculated nearer the ovaries, and has a shorter distance to “swim” to reach the egg.

5) Couples who want to conceive a child need to emphasize “after-play” over foreplay. Foreplay raises the front wall of the uterus so the sperm has to travel farther to reach the egg.

6) Women who are infertile because of PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome) are sometimes able to conceive after dieting. Losing as little as two to five pounds (one or two kilos) of body weight by low-calorie dieting changes hormonal balance enough to enable conception within six months in about half of women who try it.

7) Men with low sperm counts sometimes benefit by taking L-carnitine, zinc, and folic acid supplements, even if they are not otherwise deficient in these nutrients. Nutritional supplementation is not a cure-all, but it is inexpensive and sometimes extremely helpful.

When men are unable to become fathers due to chemotherapy, in some cases the Japanese herbal remedy hochu-ekki-to can help. This formula is available through naturopaths and practitioners of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

9) The Chinese herb dong quai, usually combined with other herbs, can help reduce testosterone levels in PCOS and reduce estrogen levels in endometriosis. The best forms of the herb are the herbal formulas available through health professionals.

10) The herb vitex lowers testosterone levels. This sometimes helps women conceive, but almost never helps men conceive. Men should never use vitex.

You have probably done everything to get pregnant: you have stopped smoking, you’ve cut the alcohol and morning coffee and you even given up the processed food.

But did you take the time to sleep enough? Did you take the time for yourself and reduce the stress? You have probably overlooked one of the most important factors: sleep.

A report that was conducted on women who were trying to conceive and the findings were astonishing: women who cut 8 hours of sleep had problems conceiving.

Most people sleep from 7 to 9 hours each night, and they need that sleeping time to function normally. The National Sleep Foundation’s (NSF) 1998 Women and Sleep Poll found that the average woman aged 30-60 sleeps only six hours and forty-one minutes during the work week. Not enough.

It has been proven that without appropriate sleep, one cannot achieve optimal health and wellness because one of body’s most important systems, the endocrine system, will start to malfunction, and when this happens the ability to conceive decreases drastically. The reason for this is the endocrine system plays one of the most important roles in terms of regulating ovulation. When woman does not get enough sleep low leptin levels occur, which is the hormone responsible for appetite – that can lead to being overweight and can impact ovulation. It is also important to bring out that people who have sleep-related problems have a significantly higher level of the stress hormone cortisol and adrenocorticotropic, they are both hormones that can suppress a healthy fertility cycle.

Research that was conducted on night-shift workers has shown that working the night shift relatively close to the day of ovulation may increase the rate of miscarriage, and the research has also shown that night shift work can cause irregular menstruation in some women which is often considered a risk factor for fertility problems.

These are all reasons good enough for getting adequate sleep at night. It is recommendable to avoid night shifts if possible. There are several ways to improve your sleep habits, and one of them they include  creating a bedtime routine and sticking with it. Try to avoid work such as checking email just before sleep, and of course skip that cup of coffee in the late afternoon.

Are you aware of your triggers? Are the kids on the playground? Is it a cute little pink dress you saw the other day?
When fertility issues arise, they can be emotionally devastating… Devastating in its true meaning… It is extremely difficult to cope with fertility issues especially when being around friends and families that are enjoying the pleasures of parenthood.  Or when someone gives an innocent comment…

Yes, sharing problems, especially fertility problems isn’t easy for everyone. And sometimes you are just not ready to share them… that’s okay.

1.    Step: You need to know your triggers

First of all, let’s face it: it is impossible to predict every situation, but there are definitely situations and events that you know trigger your negative emotions. These may include baby showers, family gatherings, announcements of births, maybe even get-togethers with friends from school…

When you are aware of these triggers or when you are able to identify them, it is much easier to plan in advance and to avoid them if possible, or to prepare for them if you cannot avoid them.

2.    Step: Practical things to consider

I was writing before about sharing… sometimes we don’t want to share, we want to keep things for ourselves. But this may sometimes not be the most practical option.

For example you are undergoing a fertility treatment, and you do need to tell your supervisor and explain the situation. Perhaps you have the luxury of working for yourself, but most people do not and those who don’t do have to face with situation like this. When in a situation like this, you do need a confidential conversation with your supervisor or your friend at work, and you do need to explain the situation. Let them know it is confidential (of course if you would like it to be confidential).

3.    Step: You and your partner are a priority

Getting pregnant and fertility issues are not just your problem – these problems are the problems of your partner too; this is why it is called partnership. You two together should decide how open and how private you want to keep your fertility problems. You two together should decide how you shall manage strange situations and awkward questions.

If you two think you cannot manage all the stress, please do visit a counselor. It is nothing wrong with that , but absolutely nothing! Sometimes there are things and problems we cannot manage ourselves and this is nothing to be ashamed of. Fertility problems are often much bigger then we could ever dare to think, so the best thing to do in situations like this is to get help. Sometimes this is the healthiest and most positive way for you and your partner. The sooner you seek counseling, the easier the emotional journey of trying to get pregnant will be.

A study was performed on 4000 sexually active women in age group from 25 to 45.

71% of women who participated in the research said they are not trying to conceive, while only 6% of them said they are trying to conceive a baby. What about the rest of the group? Almost 25% of them? Well… almost one fourth of women said they are okay either way – to get pregnant or not getting pregnant.

Sociology professor said this information is very important in further cultural and sociology related studies, and by my opinion it could have an impact on politics of the country – at least it would be wise from politicians to observe the option of women in childbearing years. Julia McQuillan claims the group of women who are okay either way – to get or not to get pregnant should be assessed separately from women who are trying to conceive as well from those who are not trying to get pregnant.

Especially doctors should pay special attention to this group and they should keep themselves aware that the group exists. These women are less intentional about getting pregnant and for sure they aren’t preparing their bodies for pregnancy. However, they should – if they are feeling comfortable with getting pregnant they should be treated as if they are trying to conceive. They should be given child-protection tips, including limiting alcohol intake and having preconception folic acid intake levels.

In addition to the information above, 60% of the women from the researched group are not mothers (do not have children) and they were trying to prevent pregnancy by using some sort of contraception, while 14% of these women (that do not have children) said they are trying to conceive. In this category of 60% women without children more than one fourth of them (26% to be accurate) said they are comfortable either way – to become mothers or not.

To some level it is possible to regulate fertility naturally, and first thing comes first – what is your lifestyle like? 3 trick questions for wannabe daddies:-    Are you consuming alcohol on daily basis? A beer or two? Avoid it, because it sure does not help. Medical evidence shows that alcohol is linked to sperm defects.

-    Do you smoke? Again, medical evidence shows there is a link between smoking and low sperm count.

-    Do you do recreational drugs? Do I need to explain further? What do you think?

Next step: nutrition. Go as healthy as you can, and cut all processed food, junk food, and food that is high in saturated fat (anything fried).  If possible eat organic, if not, try to get as much vegetables, fruits, fish, poultry, nuts, brown rice and seeds as you can. And water to flush away the toxins … at least 10 large glasses of water.

Top supplements that can be labeled as male prenatal supplements and actually are the supplements that men should take when trying to get pregnant are the following:

Zinc: if your nutrition is balanced, you shouldn’t have problems with zinc deficiency. But whose nutrition is balanced these days? Zinc is a mineral that helps regulate production of testosterone, male reproductive system and sperm production. If you zinc deficient, you might be suffering not only from reproductive problems, but skin and many other disorders too. Zinc is the key mineral to keep your sperm healthy.

A suggestion: eat lots of pumpkin seeds – they are one of the top zinc rich foods and will keep your sperm healthy.

Arginine is amino acid and its production naturally decreases as people age. Arginine is also very important to keep the sperm and reproduction system healthy.

Coenzyme Q10 increases sperm motility and improves sperm count.

Doctors believe selenium is good for sperm mobility.

Vitamin B-12 improves sperm motility and increases sperm count, while vitamin E helps improve overall sperm health.

Latest research suggests that lack in omega-3 fatty acids is linked to male infertility.

Most of all: do not expect overnight results because results take time (at least a few months) to become visible.

Instead of rushing into trying to conceive, most experts will recommend a woman gives her body a rest and break period from being on the pill.  It is a good idea for a woman that wants to get pregnant to stop using the pill about three months prior to trying.  Statistics highlight that most women have no trouble becoming pregnant once stopping the pill and once the body regulates the chances are even higher.

After a three month window of waiting, a woman should not grow discouraged if pregnancy does not happen immediately.  If a woman has any doubts about ovulation, she can go and purchase a predictor kit and start tracking her monthly cycles.  Rushing into trying to conceive will only produce feelings of stress and as a result, fertility can be impaired and pregnancy will not happen.

If a woman does happen to become pregnant immediately after discontinuing the pill, there is no need to worry.  There is no statistical information which points to birth defects or fetal anomalies due to becoming pregnant soon after discontinuing the pill.  If it happens it happens and a couple needs to take a positive approach to trying to get pregnant after the pill.

Even if fertility impairment is experienced, it is by no means a reason for a couple to give up on trying for a baby.  No matter whether it is a male or female infertility issue that makes it difficult to conceive, with assisted reproduction it is possible for a couple to have their own child.  There is no reason to stop trying or to become discouraged, with the right help and attitude a woman can become pregnant after being on the pill.

Each month, the average woman has a 20-30% chance of becoming pregnant and while most will conceive within six months, there are those that will have to keep trying even longer to have a baby.  A woman has probably received many pearls of wisdom and advice while on the journey of trying to conceive, some solicited and some unwanted.  There are many different debates that come up about conception and many reasons why it could be delayed or impaired.

There are many different reasons why a couple can be having a problem conceiving a baby, one of the most common is stress.  There is no question that trying to have a baby can be very stressful and it can put a strain on even the strongest of couples.  The journey to parenthood can be disparaging and frustrating for a couple and what might have started with optimism can lead quickly to frustration if the couple does not maintain a positive attitude and mindset.

When a couple has been trying to get pregnant for more than a year it can be emotionally draining, and is something that may need to be addressed by medical intervention and fertility medications in order to increase the chances of conception.  The road to becoming parents is an arduous path for some and will require a person to look deeply within themselves and make some heartfelt choices and serious decisions.  When desiring to become parents, there are many decisions which a couple should take into consideration and if in the event reproductive assistance is needed, keeping an open mind will go far in helping them achieve the dream of parenthood.

While it is true that the chances of conceiving are really low, but it is still possible that you are going to conceive.

-    Have intercourse in missionary style (lie on your back during sex)

False again. Couples conceive from any sexual position. A woman can conceive even if she quickly stands up. A man ejaculates millions of sperm during one ejaculation and there is a possibility you might conceive even if you are not lying on your back.

-    If you are having sex for the first time, you can’t conceive.

A lie! The younger you are, the more fertile you are, and the bigger chances you have you are going to conceive. So, there is nothing true about having sex the first, second or third time.

-    You can’t get pregnant from pre-cum

Not completely true, and pregnancy can happen even if the partner pulls out. While this is a common type of birth control among couples, practicing this technique can be because of STDs very dangerous.

-    You can’t get pregnant of you are using birth control

Basically this is what birth control does: prevents from getting pregnant, but there is still asmall chance you are going to get pregnant after using a condom or a oral pill. For example, oral pills are 99% effective (and do not prevent STDs)

-    The morning after pill will fix everything

No, it won’t. First of all – this is not the best nor the safest practice for your health, nor it is a guarantee you will not get pregnant.

-    You can get pregnant only on your ovulation days, that is 14th day after your menstruation starts

No, every woman is different and some ovulate on 14th day, but some may ovulate sooner or few days later. Besides ovulation day is the day woman is most fertile but is not the only day she can get pregnant.

- You can’t get pregnant if you have irregular periods

Not true… but it is very possible that you will have problems conceiving and you should talk to fertility specialist.

-    Woman is responsible for being able to get pregnant

Don’t let me go all feministic now… Sigh…
Science proves that infertility is a condition of both males and females – and we both share it equally: 50% each. So, please: no man-woman issues here, okay?

-    Meat, eggs and dairy products: either go organic or leave them out. Absolutely every animal product that you buy in a store (except if you are buying organic) is filled with hormones. Meat, eggs and dairy products are nutritious, but the problem is today’s commercial meat and dairy farmers give the animals abnormal amounts of hormones in order to grow bigger and grow faster, produce more milk, more eggs etc. Some of these hormones mimic female hormone estrogen and disrupt your reproductive system.  In my opinion going vegan is not the solution, because there are pesticides on the food you buy, but going organic (and/or organic vegan) would be the right answer.

-    Raw or undercooked eggs, meats, or fish or unpasteurized cheeses, because eating raw or undercooked food could put you at risk for salmonella, listeria, or other food-borne bacteria.

-    Swordfish, tilefish, shark, or king mackerel are all fish known to be high in mercury.  Mercury can accumulate and linger in your body long after you consume it, which can be harmful to you and can damage your baby’s developing nervous system. If you love fish, avoid the big and oily fish and stick to smaller varieties like flounder, haddock, trout, salmon, and shrimp.

-    Soy is not a miracle food, and this is especially not true if soy is labeled and non-organic, which would mean it is GMO. But this is not the only reason you should avoid soy if you are trying to conceive. Soy contains phytoestrogens that are naturally derived estrogens, so they mimic the estrogen in your body.
For example, countries where consumption of soy is higher than average (for example Japan, China) do not have problems with decreased fertility, which is a proof soy does not have negative effect if consumed in ‘normal’ amounts. Some studies have found that large quantities of soy protein can inhibit fertility, but ff you like munching on a few edamame now and then, that’s OK. But if you are experiencing infertility problems, it should help droping the soy milk, tofu, and tempeh from your diet.

-    Fresh produce is unfortunately also on the list. The main reasons are commercial farms that use too much chemicals and pesticides. Either go organic, or avoid especially the following:   apricots, apples, celery, cucumbers, green beans, grapes, strawberries, bell peppers, spinach, cherries, peaches, cantaloupe (Mexican)

-    Alcohol and babies don’t mix, and alcohol does inhibit both male and female s ability to conceive.

-    Caffeine: take it easy with coffee and caffeined products