Conception 'facts' and statistics

[Pizdets]

Hi,

This is my first post but long-time lurker. We've been ttc for a couple of months now, just about to start cycle 3 and have learnt a lot from reading about everyone's experinces, so thank you.

I realised the other day that I seem to spend half my free time on here or google searching for FACTS and stats about conception to find out if it's better to SWI daily, every other day or less, in the morning or evening, take evening primrose oil all month, until ovulation or not at all etc etc.

I wondered if anyone would join me on a thread to share the valuable 'facts' we've picked up from hours of avid googling and we can make a definitive list of conceptions 'dos' and 'don'ts' (just for fun, of course).

Piz

Piz

What a great idea! I feel like my brain is FULL of so called facts that I've read, so here's some starters that are currently driving me insane:

1. Take Evening Primrose Oil from Day 1 through to ovulation to improve CM.

1. Take antioxidants such as selenium to improve the quality of eggs/sperm.

1. Take zinc to improve something... specifically in men. I forget now.

1. According to TCOYF, if sperm count is normal have sex every day that you notice potentially fertile CM in the run up to ovulation and the first day of raised temperature.

1. Take Vitamin B complex (I believe B50 includes lots of B6) for a top quality egg and to support implantation.

In terms of personal experience, I can only give personal experience of no. 1 and I have definitely had better CM this cycle through taking Evening Primrose Oil (the only change in supplements).

What else....??

Oooh, mustbe - someone replied to my first post, how exciting, thanks!

Never even heard of selenium so will check it out but have been necking the EPO - will see if it makes a difference as this is the first month for me.

Zinc is also good for sperm count, I'm led to believe.

Not taken Vit B either, oh god, I've been ruining my chances!

Brewers yeast has selenium and all the b vits apart from B12 (folic acid) and its cheap.

Interesting fact seen on tv last night, only 30% of human sperm is actually functional compared to 100% of rat sperm. It makes you wonder how on earth the species ever got off the ground at all really.

Thanks fluffy - will take a look! Depressing stat about sperm, when you add up all the stats you wonder how anyone every gets knocked up at all.

Oh, I forgot to add raspberry leaf tea - although it's good for the end of pregnancy, apparently it's a 'tonic' for the uterus (pre-ov). Not the type of tonic I'm used to but worth a try...

Mustbedue, so do you take Evening Primrose Oil from day 1 to ovulation, then stop, then start up again on the next cycle day 1? I might give that a go, as I never really notice/distinguish/produce v much CM!
Also, if you're taking Pregnacare or Sanatogen Mother-to-be (or whatever's been on offer!), does that give you enough B vitamins? I.E. you wouldn't need to take a vitamin B complex supplement as well, as surely that would be too much?
Sorry, am pill popping crazy at the minute in a desperate attempt to get things moving, but am trying to be selective so it's not ending up (literally) down the toilet!
XxX

It's worth remembering for sanity's sake that even if you do manage to get sperm and egg in the same place at the same time, only a small proportion of them (20%? 25%) actually develop into an embryo. It's a bit like rolling a dice every month and hoping for a 6. (Well, OK, 1/5 not 1/6 chance, but otherwise the same)

And also worth remembering that you have the same statistical odds every cycle - so 1 in 5 chance every time. Only worth pointing out I reckon because of the potential to feel that there's something 'wrong' if you haven't conceived in, say, 6 cycles. Sure, if you rolled a dice 6 times and didn't get a six it would be annoying but not surprising. And just because you haven't rolled a six in your first 5 throws it doesn't make it more likely to get a 6 in your next throw. Same odds, 1/6.

Am I making sense or just waffling?

I recently read this one, not sure how true it is though.

The sex of a baby is determined by the particular sperm cell that fertilizes the egg. Female (X) sperm cells live longer, but swim slower. Male (Y) sperm cells swim fast but live for a shorter time. So if you have intercourse 2 or 3 days before ovulation you have more chance of having a girl. Probably only the female sperm cells will survive the waiting time. A less deep penetration during a mans ejaculation increases the chances of having a girl as sperm cells will be deposited further from the cervix which is advantageous to the "stronger" female sperm cells. If you have intercourse right before ovulation, you have more chance of having a boy. Deep penetration by the man during ejaculation, allowing the sperm cells to be deposited closer to the cervix, increases the chances of having a boy.

Sammy that's what I heard, and also that male sperm die off quicker if your cm has a certain ph (I think more acidic). Theory seems to go there are certain foods you can eat (bananas?) which will also help alter the ph level. But we try and swi so much around ov I think I must be full of older and newer sperm when I do actually ovulate! (tmi?)

What about a spoonful of cough medicine every day - doesnt it contain something beginning with "g" that improves cm????

Epo should only be used.in first half of cycle to aide cm, in the latter half it affects implantation.
Magnesium is great if you suffer from bad pms.
You have a 25% chance of getting pregnant if the timing is right and everything/everyone is healthy
80% of couples conceive within one year, 90% within 18 months.
Everything you need to know is in Taking Charge of Your Fertility.

folic acid is actually vitamin B9. B12 is called cobalamin. So don't think you are getting your dose of folic acid from B12. That's not to say that brewers yeast doesn't have FA in it though, but better to get the supplements from the chemist as they are cheap as chips anyway. If you are taking pregnacare then there is no need for any other multivitamin supplements.

Have sex three times a week is my top tip. I think that's pretty much it. The analogy with rolling a dice is an excellent one. Almost everyone will roll a 6 sooner or later.

Kit I only figured that out about folic acid last night reading my book again.

Hi I am also a lurker but first time poster who spends far too much of day trying to improve chances! We take zinc and folic acid bit cautious about going over the top with pills, don't want to rattle as I walk! Also read that men have more sperm in morning than at night and if you have sex everyday sperm has better motility but then heard they can't replenish it in time? Confusing! Also prop hips up with pillow after. Anyone had success whilst doing all these things?

I want to know more about the mans fertility.

How often do his swimmers get replaced?

I worry that if we do it every day for 'fertile week' the come the end of the week and ovulation day will there be nothing left?

Don't worry men constantly replenish their sperm. I read somewhere a man would have to orgasm 30 times in succession to get rid of it all. I think it just reduces the density of the sperm if you do it everyday but you will have stronger swimmers in what is left!

And think ahead with sperm, I'm sure I read they take 6-8 weeks from production to ahem delivery. It's only if he has a low sperm count that you need to ration how often you dtd when you're fertile.

Oooh, loving the new stats! Phoenix - does that mean I should hold off berating DH for last night's bender until 6 weeks down the line?

Pipbin know what you mean about worrying you use it all up - quite enjoying all the sex but if it's too far before ovulation I start to worry we're wasting good sperm. I'm not usually a neurotic person but this is bonkers!

Ha yes potentially! :)

On a more serious note, as euro says it's important to aim for sex three times a week every week. If sex becomes all about ttc, it becomes a chore and the poor fella thinks you only want him for his sperm! It's not a 'waste', it's a very important part of your physical relationship.

Be careful with evening primrose because it's not good after ovulation, so be 100% sure you know when you ov otherwise I wouldn't take it.
Royal jelly is also good.

Really as long as you and dh are taking pregnacare or equivalent, just be healthy as you can and have a lot of sex, 3 months isn't very long.

Amazon does a really good royal jelly, it's freeze dried not fresh so it doesnt degrade in the capsules. I think its £11ish for two months supply.

Does anyone else"s DP get a bit worn out with the every other day thing? I've found a couple of times that if we ttc quite a bit on the lead up to ov, I've worn him out by the time it actually arrives!!

Crumm24 yes I'd heard to just take it to ovulation (which I guess is all you need if you've got issues with CM).

I'd been doing particularly research because I hadn't noticed much CM since coming off the patch and I had had laser surgery for pre-cancerous cells years ago on my cervix, which can also affect it.

I'd also heard about taking cough medicine which has a particular expectorant in it, but can't remember either!! But it's in TCOYF.

Of course I've also invested in some pre-seed to cover all bases!!