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| Best Time To Conceive |
One
of the newest and possibly the most reliable ways to predict not only ovulation
but a variety of hormonal activity is through saliva. How is this possible?
The
latest research shows that many of the biochemical changes that occur in your
reproductive hormones correspond to biochemical changes in saliva. By analyzing
those changes, you can learn a great deal of information about not only your
menstrual cycle but particularly your ovulation pattern. In fact, some saliva
analysis can predict ovulation up to seven days before it occurs. In light of
the new studies on the six-day window of conception opportunity, the saliva
test may soon be one of the more valuable tools for couples trying to conceive.
A woman’s saliva changes in
the 3-4 days leading up to ovulation. During those few days electrolytes (or
salts) increase dramatically in body fluids (e.g. cervical mucus and saliva)
along with the hormone estrogen. This causes a ferning-like pattern to occur in
dried cervical mucus and saliva. The FERNING
is caused by the dried salt and looks much like the frost seen on the window on
a winter morning. Using ferning of cervical mucus and saliva to determine the
time of ovulation is called FERN TEST.
At ovulation the cervix secretes very clear
mucus that is receptive to sperm cells but also acts as a filter to weed out
bacteria and unhealthy sperm cells whilst nurturing the healthy ones. The
change in the mucus at this time is characterized by an increase in Sodium
salts. As a result, it produces these rather beautiful fern-like crystals
within it as it dries. This only happens around ovulation. Fertility clinics
used to use this to identify when a women was at exactly the right point in her
reproductive cycle for artificially inseminating her.
A
few days before ovulation you will start to see small lines about the width of
a hair and about 1/4 of an inch long. There may be just a few or there may be
many of them. The quantity is not as important as the presence of them. You are
now approaching ovulation. You should now test at least two times per day. Soon
you will see the presence of more lines and they may become longer. The
patterns may take different shapes, i.e.: veins in a leaf, snowflakes, spider’s
web, frost on a window pane. The lines will connect and overlap, this is the
ferning pattern you are looking for. This means you are starting the ovulation
process and now is the best time for relations with your partner. Continue to test at least two times a day. On any other day in the
cycle the dried mucus or saliva will look like random unconnected dots. The
fertile type ferning will return to a dot pattern usually about 2-3 days after
ovulation. Some women report no ferning the day of ovulation; you will learn
what is normal for you after a few cycles. When a combination of dots and ferns
are present it is called a “transition” pattern the woman is less fertile, but
conception is still very possible. A little hint; don’t wait until the last day
of ferning to do the “baby dance” as you may have missed the egg since ferning
may continue for 2-3 days after ovulation.
To get pregnant fast: If you wish to conceive, have relations as soon as you see the fertile
ferning and continue until it passes back to the infertile dot pattern. Begin
having sex within twenty-four hours after the FERN TEST says you will ovulate
within a week, and continue for the remaining six days. Usually intercourse
every other day will be sufficient, but if your partner’s sperm count is high,
and he is in otherwise good health, feel free to make love every day during
this valuable fertile time. You can also continue to monitor your saliva daily
– it won’t hurt you.
There
are a variety of systems available to analyze saliva, including a laboratory
test and a home fertility “microscope”. There are some pocket microscopes of
the size of a Lipstick or a Disk (OvaCue Fertility Monitor, Fertile Focus, FERTILCONTROL to name some) available in the market that are inexpensive and will go into
your purse. I believe the FERN TEST is most reliable, less expensive, doesn’t
hurts, keeps your privacy safe, and one that helps predict ovulation a full
seven days before it occurs!
Folic acid is a nutrient that every pregnant is recommended to take. It has also been proved in one study that women who consume folic acid from one year before conception reduce their risk of premature delivery by 50 percent.
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