Age has a clear influence on fertility. A woman's fertility starts to decline after the age od 35, the result of a number of factors including a decrease in the number and health of her eggs, an increase in the likelihood of medical problems such as diabetes, and a decrease in the amount of intercourse she has. By understanding your fertility it is possible to optimize your chances of conception.

Statistics make assumptions about your health and life style that may not apply to your individual situation. There fore, while you will have to allow for the possibility of a longer conception time it is best to assume that you will become pregnant with in a year or so, and confidently make plans to achieve conception. Most couples conceive with in one year of unprotected sex. However, couples using timed intercourse can conceive twice as fast. Timed intercourse involves finding the most fertile days in your cycle and then having sex around this time.

Predicting Ovulation

There are several methods to determine your fertile days (or your time of ovulation). Find the one that you like best and then use it consistently.

Rhythm method and ovulation calculators

Both these methods determine your fertile period using the interval between menstrual periods (usually 28-30 days). To find your fertile window, subtract 14 days from your cycle length (for example if your cycle is 30 days from the start of one menstrual period to the next, subtract 14 from 30, giving 16). This number is your estimated day of ovulation and when you are most likely to be fertile. Start counting from the first day of your period. Ovulation counters work on the same principle but do the math for you. These methods are imperfect even if you have 28-30 day cycles. They are especially unreliable for cycle lengths that are shorter than 21 days or longer than 35 days.

Optimizing Intercourse For Conception

There are several ways to increase your chances of conception by varying when and how you have intercourse.

Frequency

Advice on how often to have intercourse varies. Some experts suggest having sex on four of the six most fertile days, others recommend sex every second day or third day. However, daily or infrequent (less than every 10-14 days) intercourse is probably detrimental to sperm count.

Sexual position

Some experts recommend that the woman remain lying down for 20 minutes after intercourse to minimize leakage of sperm from the vagina, but there's no evidence it improves conception.

Sexual enjoyment

Women who climax when having sex appear to conceive faster orgasm causes vaginal and uterine waves that may encourage the movement of sperm in to the uterus and fallopian tubes.

Basal Body Temperature

Your resting body temperature (basal body temperature or BBT) rises by about 0.5°F (0.3°C) right after ovulation. This temperature change can be accurately identified with a BBT thermometer, which can measure very small changes in temperature. BBT should be taken every morning at the same time before you get up. Record it for 3 or 4 months so you can see your ovulation pattern and use it to predict subsequent ovulations.

Cervical Mucus

The consistency and color of cervical mucus changes through out your monthly cycle. As you approach the middle of your cycle your mucus will change from its usual opaque and sticky feel. During the days when you are most fertile, your mucus will be clear, slippery and stretchy. To test your cervical mucus, collect some secretions from your vagina with your index finger. If the mucus is clear and forms a thin filament between your finger and your thumb you are at your most fertile.

Ovulation Prediction Kits

These tests detect the rise in luteinizing hormone (LH) 2-3 days before ovulation. You need to calculate the days you are most likely to be fertile, then test for LH every day for several days before and after. Each test provides you with a positive or negative result for each given day only. The kits are expensive and not always reliable.

Changes During The Menstrual Cycle

The menstrual cycle is a result of a complex interaction of hormones. Rising levels of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) encourage eggs to mature in follicles with in the ovaries. This also promotes the production of estrogen. A surge in luteinizing hormone (LH) triggers the mature egg to be released simultaneously triggering a rise in body temperature. In the second half of the cycle (after ovulation), progesterone (produced by the burst egg follicle) halts FSH and LH production and continues the thickening of the womb lining so that it is ready to receive a fertilized egg. Cervical secretions change throughout the cycle.