1. Early Pregnancy Symptoms Slideshow
2. Take the Pregnancy Myths and Facts Quiz!
3. Stages of Pregnancy Slideshow

Medical Author:

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dr. Stöppler's educational background includes a BA with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia and an MD from the University of North Carolina. She completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at Georgetown University followed by subspecialty fellowship training in molecular diagnostics and experimental pathology.

View Full Profile

Medical Editor:

William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR

William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR

Dr. Shiel received a Bachelor of Science degree with honors from the University of Notre Dame. There he was involved in research in radiation biology and received the Huisking Scholarship. After graduating from St. Louis University School of Medicine, he completed his Internal Medicine residency and Rheumatology fellowship at the University of California, Irvine. He is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Rheumatology.

View Full Profile

In this Article

• Pregnancy Planning Facts
• What is pregnancy planning and why is it important?
• What are pregnancy symptoms?
• What is a pregnancy calculator and calendar?
• Who effective are home pregnancy tests?
• How can diet and nutrition affect early pregnancy?
• How does alcohol affect pregnancy?
• How do high blood pressure and diabetes affect pregnancy?
• What are examples of commonly-used medications that are dangerous in pregnancy?
• How do kidney and heart disease affect pregnancy?
• What infections affect pregnancy?
• What inherited (genetic) diseases can play a role in pregnancy planning?
• Is it safe to exercise during pregnancy?
• Can I travel by air during pregnancy?
• Can I have intercourse during pregnancy?
• How soon after stopping birth control can I become pregnant?
• How do we maximize our chances of becoming pregnant?
• Can I do something to help my chances of conceiving a boy or a girl?
• Early Pregnancy Symptoms - Slideshow
• Take the Pregnancy Myths and Facts Quiz!
• Stages of Pregnancy - Slideshow
• Patient Comments: Pregnancy Planning - Lifestyle Changes
• Find a local Obstetrician-Gynecologist in your town
• Pregnancy Planning Index

For most couples, becoming pregnant occurs naturally. Some couples have difficulty conceiving, and ways to maximize chances of conception become important. Other parents may want to time the delivery of their babies during particular times of the year or space the birth of their babies according to a desired schedule.

The first step in maximizing the chances of conception is by estimating the time of ovulation. Ovulation is that time of the menstrual cycle wherein the egg is released from the ovary and travels towards the Fallopian tube. In women with regular menstrual cycles, ovulation usually occurs 12-14 days prior to the onset of the next menstrual flow. Simply counting back fourteen days from the expected date of the onset of next period should be the time of ovulation. The couple should have intercourse for several days before, day of, and day after the expected time of ovulation. There is usually some variation in the time of ovulation even in women with regular cycles, so a few extra days of intercourse before and after expected ovulation is advised.

If the cycles are irregular and unpredictable, estimating the time of ovulation becomes difficult, and professional assistance may be helpful. Another option for a woman with irregular cycles is the use of ovulation predictor kits available over-the-counter at most drug and grocery stores. These kits can be used to determine the approximate time of ovulation by detecting urinary hormone elevations that precede ovulation. Another approach is to have intercourse every other day throughout the menstrual cycle. This approach will take out the stress or anxiety involved in timing intercourse.

Basal body temperature timing is a technique of checking the body temperature every morning and charting the results. If the temperature rises by a certain amount and stays elevated, it can be assumed that ovulation occurred. Difficulties with this method are that it is tedious and only provides the woman with information about ovulation after it has occurred.

Ultrasound images of the ovaries can be performed to monitor the growth and collapse of the ovarian follicle during the cycle. The follicle is the fluid-filled structure that surrounds the egg, and it can easily be seen on ultrasound. This method is probably the most accurate in timing ovulation. It is also the most expensive and is usually reserved for selected couples who are experiencing difficulty in becoming pregnant.

It is important to remember that even though intercourse and ovulation coincide, pregnancy may still not be achieved in any given menstrual cycle or even after several consecutive menstrual cycles. In many situations, the failure to conceive after multiple attempts is not a reason for alarm. It is not uncommon for pregnancy to occur only after several months of consistent attempts. Couples who have experienced an inability to conceive after several cycles may consider seeking professional advice to determine if an infertility evaluation is necessary.