There are a number of reasons why couples have trouble conceiving.  Though fertility issues may be the cause, more often than not couples do not understand that getting pregnant isn’t always easy. According to recent numbers, one in every seven has difficulty conceiving. In this article we are going to discuss some of the most popular and effective ways to increase the chances of conception.

First and foremost, couples must pay proper attention to ovulation. Study after study has confirmed what doctors have long suspected—when couples make love on each day of the week leading up to ovulation their chances of conceiving doubles. We also know that once eggs are released they are only viable for twenty-four hours, which means that conception is only possible within a day of ovulation.

One common mistake that couples make is that they do not keep track of ovulation. This can be done by simply charting the basal (body) temperature each morning and waiting for elevation. Since ovulation causes a woman’s temperature to rise by a degree or two, writing it down on a calendar or chart will let the couple know when ovulation is about to begin.

But when couples still have trouble conceiving, it may be a good idea to see a specialist. These doctors are called reproductive endocrinologists and it is their job to help you conceive. Though most couples are apprehensive about serious fertility issues when they see a specialist, the odds are most assuredly in their favor. The fact is that irreversible infertility is quite rare, as it only affects one in every twenty couples. And even then the problem can often be corrected with surgery or medication.

But before the doctor takes drastic measures, he will often experiment with natural remedies.  Unlike most other medical doctors, endocrinologist do not rely exclusively or even primarily on prescription medications. The reason for this is simple: they realize that everyone’s body chemistry is different and that hormones have a profound effect on conception.

For this reason, they often recommend natural herbs like Maca, Vitex or Tibulus, which have been shown to correct hormone levels that are out of whack. As a result, menstruation and ovulation cycles will often become more regular, which can make it easier to plan a pregnancy.

Doctors will also take a long hard look a woman’s diet. Just as they are during pregnancy, certain drugs are expressly prohibited. As you might expect, the first one is alcohol. This is one drug about which there is no shortage of information. For instance, we know that more than a drink a day can cut fertility rates in half. We also know that drinking during a pregnancy causes fetal alcohol syndrome. So, drinking must be eliminated.

Another common drug that is a definite no-no for women who are having trouble conceiving is caffeine. Although, it is perfectly permissible to drink a cup or two of coffee a day, any more than that can and probably will have an effect on fertility. But we shouldn’t have simply singled out coffee. The fact is that caffeine intake should be closely monitored for all mothers-to-be.