What are your chances of conceiving in any given cycle?

It is believed that the average fertile couple has about a 25% chance of conceiving for any given cycle, depending on their age, frequency of intercourse, and numerous other factors. Of course, if couples are taught precisely when to time intercourse based on when the woman is most fertile, those odds can be greatly increased.
 

Are there sexual positions that can increase chances for conception?

In other words, should you stand on your head and face East for half an hour after intercourse? The answer is no. But there are a number of things that you can do to increase your chances of conception. For the average woman, you would certainly want to avoid straddling over your partner, since this could cause his sperm to leak out of you (as it's prone to do anyway at the most inopportune times, like when you are standing in line at the grocery store wearing a cute little skirt and no stockings). But I digress.

Any position in which his sperm is not likely to leak out would be best. If possible, it couldn't hurt to put a pillow under your hips following intercourse so that your cervix basically rests in the pool of semen for a few minutes in order to allow the sperm time to swim up through the cervix. But don't use a large pillow, or you may sabotage your efforts, since the sperm may then puddle behind your cervix. Not a good place to be when trying to reach that egg.
   

Will lying still after making love improve your chance of conception?

Although no definitive studies appear to have been done, there is considerable speculation that the best position for intercourse is the traditional missionary position. This allows for deepest penetration, and will thus deposit the sperm closest to the cervix, where the sperm need to pass through.

Some clinicians also believe that if the man's sperm count is marginal, or the woman's cervical fluid is not that fertile (ie. if her cervical fluid is not very slippery or wet), it may be advantageous to remain horizontal for up to half an hour after intercourse. The theory is that this will help assure the sperm time to travel up through the cervix to the fallopian tubes, where conception occurs.
   

What does implantation bleeding look like?

Not all women experience implantation bleeding, but if they do, it is usually light spotting that is typically brownish, and appears about 7-10 days after conception. It is caused by the egg burrowing into the uterine lining.
   

What is secondary infertility?

Secondary infertility simply means problems getting pregnant or sustaining pregnancy in a woman who has had a child previously. In some ways, women describe it as painful as primary infertility, because:

   1. The causes of infertility are even more mysterious, since they have had a child before.
   2. They don't usually have the support and empathy of others dealing with primary infertility, or even friends and family, because they are presumed to not have a fertility problem.
   3. They don't know how to explain to their child that she or he may not have a sibling.

One of the most important factors to remember for those who can't understand why they are unable to achieve a pregnancy as easily as their first child is that, by definition, they are older now, and fertility diminishes with age. Furthermore, they may have always been of lower fertility, but had a lucky break the first time they had a child. Either way, secondary infertility can be extremely painful, but for most, is finally resolved with the birth of another child.
   

Can douching affect your ability to conceive?

Yes. By all means, do not douche when trying to get pregnant! For that matter, women really should never douche, since it alters the normal acidity of the vagina and is not usually necessary. It can also adversely change the normal Ph balance and can ironically lead to vaginal infections and Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID.)

In addition, douching alters the vaginal environment to such an extent that sperm usually can't survive. It may cause inflammations or allergic reactions which can kill sperm or impair sperm survival. And finally, it may wash away the very cervical fluid that sperm need to get through the cervix to the egg. Other than those little details, douching's no problem!
   

Can orgasm affect your ability to conceive?

Generally speaking, probably not. But interestingly enough, female orgasms usually increase the quantity and flow of the natural alkaline secretions that occur around ovulation. And the orgasmic contractions may help transport sperm into the cervix, where cervical crypts produce fertile quality cervical fluid. In the end, though, female orgasm is helpful, but by no means critical.
   

Can excessively low weight prevent you from getting pregnant, even if you have regular 28-day cycles?

Low weight is typically only a problem if it is preventing you from ovulating. The average woman should have a minimum of about 20% body fat to maintain normal ovulatory cycles. The main purpose of the fat is to store enough estrogen to allow your body to pass over a threshold necessary to release an egg.

Experiencing regular "periods" doesn't guarantee that you are ovulating, but it usually does imply it. Still, it's possible to bleed without actually releasing an egg. The easiest way to determine if you are indeed ovulating is to take your waking temperature every morning to determine if you have a conspicuous pattern of low temperatures before ovulation and high temperatures after ovulation.