Some colleagues and I discussed some common mistakes when trying to conceive and we came up with the following common themes.  Read on to find out what they are and how to avoid them! 

The most obvious mistake appears to be the most common one.

  • Missing the fertile window

The fertile window is that time before (and during) ovulation most often found in the middle of a woman’s cycle (day 14 of a 28 day cycle).  However, many people can miss this time because they neglect to look for some of the natural signs of ovulation.  How can you prevent missing the window?  Try Basal Body Temperature (BBT) charting or ovulation predictor kits (OPK’s).  This brings us to another common mistake when conceiving;

  • Not paying attention to signs of ovulation

The most common sign of impending ovulation are changes in cervical mucous (CM) look for the raw egg white type.  If you don’t notice cervical mucous at all, it can be very difficult for your partners sperm to swim to the egg and you may have difficulties conceiving.  Think of cervical mucous as the “river” through which sperm swims…no river means fewer sperm can reach the egg.   For those who have trouble producing CM there are options, which brings us to another common mistake.

  • Using (the wrong) lubrication

When it comes to lubrication, not all are created equal.  If you are trying to get pregnant and require the help of lubrication, there are only a few on the market which are considered “sperm-friendly”.  Look into PreSeed, Zestica Fertility or YesBaby for more information.  Also, it is important to note that saliva is not an appropriate lubricant, enzymes in the saliva can harm sperm making conception more difficult.  Stick with sperm-friendly products or work on increasing your CM naturally (supplements, herbs and diet are all helpful).

Other mistakes mentioned where lack of foreplay, and being under too much stress (a big one which deserves its own article).   Tell us your “favourite” mistakes below and maybe you can help someone reach their fertility goals faster!