by Lindsay Tillery

Created on: May 21, 2009

So, you've been longing to hear the pitter patter of little feet, and instead you are still listening to the ticking of your biological clock? Don't despair, here's a little bit of advice on getting past infertility.

Infertility, this is probably one of the scariest topics to couples of the child-bearing age. Why? Because there are so many potential causes from the easy-to-correct and mundane, such as outright wrong timing, to more difficult issues such as low sperm counts or Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. The first thing any fertility doctor will want to know is how long you have been trying. Most doctors will not even begin treatment until a couple has been trying over a year. While you wait here are some things that you can begin to think about.

How is your timing? Do you know when you ovulate? Chances are you don't. This is an easy one to fix though and luckily this will fix the majority of suspected infertility. Your first step is to either invest in a good thermometer and begin charting your basal body temperature (referred to as BBT from here on) or buy some other type of ovulation predictor, such as OPK test strips, an Ovuscope (which is a small microscope that will help you evaluate the evaporation patterns in your saliva, as salt content in saliva rises the closer you are to ovulation- this one is really easy to use) you can even get high dollar and go for a fertility monitor. Clear Blue Easy makes a fertility monitor that will look at the levels of hormones in your urine. This will allow you to identify your high and peak fertility days. If you have the money to spend, I recommend the Clear Blue Easy fertility monitor. If you don't the other methods are just as good. BBT and using OPKs can be combined to give you a more complete look at your cycle and the days leading up to your most fertile time.

Once you have made the investment in something to help you determine if you are ovulating you need to make sure you are "active" (wink wink) during the period of about 3 days before ovulation through 2 days after. This is where BBT will be really helpful as your temperature will display a certain pattern which will allow you to determine that you are nearing ovulation.
So, you've taken your temperature, peed on anything that looked like a test, or spit on something you've paid good money for... Now what? Well this is where the 2 paths diverge, with one simple question "Did you ovulate" If yes, just keep on trucking, if you are still not pregnant within that 12-month timeframe, your doctor will probably require it may be time to consider a sperm analysis for your significant other, or further testing for yourself. If you did not ovulate you should contact your doctor for further testing as well as there are treatments for most causes of infertility. In any case, trying to conceive a child can be what you make of it. And remember that once it happens your life will change forever, so make sure you and your significant other take the time to enjoy yourselves and each other, because this may be the beginning of a new chapter of your lives together. Happy Baby Dancing!

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