PRESCRIPTIONS
Body gives signs of when you are most likely to conceive

By Laurie Steelsmith

My husband and I are trying to conceive, but we're not sure what time of month I ovulate. Any suggestions on how we can figure out when I'm most fertile?

Your body can tell you a lot about when you are most likely to conceive, and there's also a new ovulation test device on the market that can help you determine when you are most fertile.

Most women ovulate approximately 14 days before their period starts. This means if you have a 28-day cycle, you probably ovulate at day 14 of your cycle. However, some studies have found women can ovulate any time during the month, sometimes twice a month.

Stress, travel, and some medications can affect a woman's menstrual cycle so that she ovulates early, late, or not at all.

According to Toni Weschler, who holds a master's of public health degree and is author of "Taking Charge of Your Fertility," three primary physical signs indicate when you are most fertile: your waking body temperature, cervical fluid, and cervical position. Your waking body temperature typically ranges from 97.0 to 97.5 degrees before ovulation, may drop slightly during ovulation, and rises to about 97.6 to 98.6 degrees after ovulation. Buy a basal thermometer (either the digital or mercury type), and begin charting your temperature first thing in the morning before getting out of bed. This will help you see patterns in your cycle so that you can better predict ovulation.

Your cervical fluid changes in consistency as you approach ovulation. When you are most fertile it becomes slippery, comparable to raw egg white, and can stretch between your fingers. Your cervix also changes position in your vagina when you are fertile, moving backward and becoming softer. Timing intercourse when you have fertile signs may help you and your husband conceive.

The new test device that can help you predict your most fertile time is known as Ovulook. The device allows you to observe changes in your saliva as you approach ovulation. It is FDA approved, and has been reported to be 98 percent accurate at predicting ovulation in clinical trials. To use the device, you place a small amount of saliva on a slide, let it dry, and look through an eyepiece attached to a small microscope. When the pattern resembles the shape of a fern, you are most fertile. Ovulook is sold over-the-counter, and online at www.ovulook.com.

Laurie Steelsmith is a naturopathic physician and licensed acupuncturist in Honolulu. You can contact her and look at her past columns at www.drlauriesteelsmith.com. This column is for information only. Consult your health provider for medical advice.