HOW TO USE A CONDOM

When things get up close and personal, the rule is always "better safe than sorry." If you're new to sex, or getting back into the dating scene after a long-term relationship has ended, condoms are a must-have accessory—and when used correctly, they are your best defense against sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). They are also fairly effective at their original role as a contraceptive device. To properly use a male condom, follow these instructions

Open the condom wrapper using the easy-tear edges. These are the zig-zag edges on either side of the wrapper that are designed to tear apart quickly and easily.

• Don't get carried away in your passion: don't shred open the foil, and stay away from scissors, teeth, machetes, or any other sharp instrument to open a condom wrapper, or you could tear the condom itself!
• If it's your last condom and you destroy it, party's over!

Determine which way the condom is rolled. This can be difficult to do, particularly if you’re in the dark. Instead of trying to see which way the condom is rolled, feel it with your fingers:

• Placing one hand on either side, pinch the rolled ring of the condom between your thumb and fingers.

• Gently roll the condom in one direction with your fingers. If it resists rolling, this is not the direction in which you will want to unroll the condom over the penis.

• Gently roll the condom in the other direction with your fingers. If it begins to unroll, this is the direction in which you should unroll the condom over the penis.
• Cautionary tale: don't unroll more than one roll, as unraveling it will reduce the condom's efficacy—and make it frustratingly difficult to put on. Re-roll the condom after you’ve determined the proper unrolling direction.

Tips up! Make sure the reservoir at the tip of the condom is pointing in the right direction. This reservoir should already be on the outer tip of the condom but can sometimes become inverted during packaging. Make sure the reservoir is oriented so that the rest of the condom rolls away from it.

Lube it up. If the penis is uncircumcised, consider placing a small drop of water-based lubricant inside the reservoir. This can make the condom easier to apply to foreskin. Make sure this is a very small drop, as you don’t want to compete with the sperm for space inside the reservoir tip.

Make sure the penis is fully erect. A condom should always fit snugly over a penis, leaving no tight or baggy spots. If rolled over a penis that is not yet fully erect, it will fit awkwardly and be more likely to fall off or tear during sex.

• If more time is needed for a full erection, set the condom aside with the reservoir pointing up so that you know which way it should unroll. Pick it up again when you’re both ready.

Pinch the entire reservoir at the tip of the condom shut. This eliminates the possibility of creating an air pocket inside the condom when it is worn, reducing the chance of breakage and providing the semen with a place to go during ejaculation.

Roll the condom on. The condom should easily unroll down the length of the shaft. If it turns out that you are trying to put the condom on backwards, throw it away and start over. An erect penis produces fluid prior to ejaculation (called “pre-cum”) that can contain sperm. If a condom has been exposed to this fluid, flipping it over and re-applying it may cause pregnancy and/or the transmission of an STD. How you apply the condom will depend on whether or not the penis is circumcised.

• Circumcised penis: Pinching the reservoir shut with one hand, place the condom against the tip of the erect penis. With your other hand, push pubic hair out of the way if necessary, then gently roll the condom down the entire shaft of the penis, smoothing out any air bubbles that may appear.

• Uncircumcised penis: Pinching the reservoir shut with one hand, place the condom against the tip of the erect penis. With your other hand, push pubic hair out of the way if necessary, roll the condom slightly over the tip of the penis to get it started, then gently pull back the foreskin. Slide your first hand from the reservoir tip down to the rolled ring of the condom and roll it down the entire length of the shaft. Use one hand to hold the bottom of the condom in place at the bottom of the shaft and then push the foreskin forward inside the condom with the other hand. Smooth out any air bubbles if necessary.

Smooth lubricant over the condom if necessary. Sexual lubrication decreases the risk of damage to not only the condom, but also to those having sex. Some lubricants even contain spermicides that can help reduce the risk of pregnancy. If your condom isn’t already lubricated, apply it to both the condom and the other partner, particularly if you are engaging in anal sex.

• Do not over-apply lube, as friction is necessary for stimulation.
• Never apply an oil- or petroleum-based lubricant to a latex condom, as they can cause it to deteriorate. Water- and silicon-based lubricants are both safe to use with latex, but water-based lube washes off more easily and won’t stain your sheets.

Check the condom periodically during use for breaks. If a condom breaks or becomes loose during sex, replace it immediately and consider using emergency contraception such as the morning-after pill. The morning-after pill prevents pregnancy before it happens by delaying ovulation, blocking fertilization, or preventing an egg from implanting in the uterus; it is not an abortifacient.

Replace condom if alternating between different types of sex. If switching from anal to vaginal sex, for example, switch condoms to reduce the risk of infection. (Ex: e-coli from the rectum can cause bladder infections.)

Immediately after ejaculation, withdraw penis and remove condom. Grasp the bottom of the condom with your hand and withdraw, preventing the condom from slipping off or spilling. Do not allow the penis to go flaccid within the condom before withdrawal, as this can cause the condom to fall off and remain inside the partner.

Dispose of the condom discretely. Tie the open end in a knot to prevent spillage, wrap it in toilet paper or tissue, and throw it in a trash can.

TIPS

• Store condoms in the box in a cool, dry place. Make a note of the expiration date; the risk of breaking increases if condoms are outdated or not stored properly.
• You can use both male and female condoms depending on what best fits your lifestyle.

Health clinics distribute condoms for free to encourage safe sex. Condoms are also available at any supermarket or drugstore and can also be found in some bathroom vending machines.

• Some men don’t enjoy using condoms and will try to avoid using them. If your male partner is reluctant to put on a condom, offering to do it for him will make it harder for him to refuse. Condoms can reduce male sensitivity. Since this can also increase the duration of sex, try to use it as a selling point.‌

• If you or your partner has an allergy to latex, get the alternative polyurethane condoms.

Condoms come in many sizes and styles and are geared for different uses.
• If a condom doesn't fit, find a replacement.
• If you are engaging in anal sex, buy stronger condoms designed for this purpose.
• If applying a condom is throwing off your groove, make it sexy! Find novelty condoms to play with: colored, textured, glow-in-the-dark condoms are fun and sexy. The other party can also apply the condom to his or her partner in a sexy manner.
• If you are using a condom for oral sex, try flavored condoms and lubes. A flavored condom will work when there's nothing else around but, to prevent health problems, avoid alternating between oral and other forms of intercourse without first switching condom. Note that some flavoring contains sugar, which can catalyze yeast infections. Look for a manufacturer that doesn’t use a sugar-based sweetener.
• If you're unsure if the lubricant you're using is water- or oil-based, a good rule of thumb is that any product you might find in your home for personal care use (Vaseline, lotion, aloe, etc.) is oil-based.

• If you and your partner have both tested negative for STDs, after 6 months of monogamous protected sex, and you are using another form of birth control, you can have sex without a condom! However, just because you can't get an STD doesn't mean that you can't get pregnant.

• Remember that natural skin condoms will protect against pregnancy but not STDs.

WARNINGS

• Never flush a condom down the toilet, which can cause it to overflow. Having someone remove your used condom from your plumbing is far more embarrassing than wrapping it up and throwing it someplace inconspicuous.

• Never reuse a condom. If you take the condom off, don't put it back on again, even if there doesn't seem to be any fluid.

• Remember not to mix oil-based lubrication of any kind (not just store-bought) with latex condoms! Any oil-based substance can very quickly weaken latex and make it break. This includes hand lotion, Vaseline, cold cream, baby oil, and even chapstick.

• Don't put a condom on if the package was already nicked or ripped before use.

• If improperly used, a condom offers little protection. Even if properly used, there is a small possibility of pregnancy or transmission of sexually-transmitted diseases.

• Mutual masturbation can spread STDs if you get fluids on your hands. This is unlikely but still possible.

• Condoms that are made of animal membrane do not protect you as well as others. Stick to latex or polyurethane, or talk to your doctor about your other options.

• Novelty condoms, such as glow in the dark condoms, might not protect against pregnancy or STD transmission, but flavored, non-novelty ones will. Check the box for details.

• Unless you're a frequent flyer, don't keep a condom in your wallet "just in case". Body heat and pressure will accelerate the breakdown of the condom in the wallet.

• Do not try to be extra safe by using more than one condom; this causes extra friction which will make the condoms more likely to break.

• Do not put a condom on you or your partner's tongue, or in your mouth as a preventative measure during oral sex. To do so could result in asphyxiation and death. The male condom is designed for the penis only.

Culled from www.wikihow.com

HOW TO HAVE SEX TO GET PREGNANT

Have sex for up to 5 days before ovulation

A woman’s time of ovulation is the point in her menstrual cycle during which she is most likely to become pregnant. If you want to get pregnant as soon as possible, optimizing the timing of sexual intercourse can up the odds of conceiving during your upcoming menstrual cycle. Most women are actually infertile for the majority of the month, so don’t miss this important fertile window.
• Because sperm can survive in the womb for several days, sexual intercourse prior to ovulation can increase the chance of pregnancy.

Have sex frequently

If you are not in a hurry to get pregnant, having sex 2 or 3 times each week may result in pregnancy within several months. During and before ovulation, aim for daily intercourse. Although healthy men generate sperm quickly and often have enough sperm to enable conception with multiple ejaculations per day, there is little evidence that having sex more than once per day increases the chances of getting pregnant.
• In some cases, having sex only prior to ovulation and focusing solely on getting pregnant can actually reduce the likelihood of making a baby. Increased stress levels and partnership troubles may cause this reduction in fertility.

Do not use spermicides, lubricants, or chemical stimuli

Products aimed at enhancing pleasure or preventing conception should be avoided during intercourse if you are trying to achieve pregnancy. If possible, avoid even basic lubricants unless sex is painful without it. If you must use lubricant, opt for canola oil, which does not interfere with sperm mobility and vitality like many marketed sexual lubricants.

Do not douche

Douching can upset the natural balance in the vagina and may interfere with the environment your body needs to help move sperm to your eggs, and to enable the fertilized egg to implant in the uterine wall.

CONSIDER TRADITIONAL METHODS OF ENCOURAGING CONCEPTION

Although many folkloric tips for improving the chances of getting pregnant are not supported by scientific research, it may not hurt to try.
• Try to achieve orgasm after your partner ejaculates into you. The female orgasm helps pull sperm into the cervix, which may facilitate the movement of your partner’s sperm.
• Lay on your back or angle your body with your knees in the air and your head on a pillow to potentially increase the chances of sperm entering your cervix and fallopian tubes.

HOW TO GET PREGNANT; the basic steps, tips and warnings

STOP USING CONTRACEPTIVES

Some birth control methods have a longer "re-adjustment" period after stopping than others, so the time it takes for a woman's body to be again ready to become pregnant after discontinuing contraception varies. Many birth control methods make it difficult for some women to conceive for several months after they discontinue regular use.

If you have an implanted contraceptive, such as an IUD, you need to see a health professional to have it removed. Getting off of birth control may enable you to become pregnant almost immediately, but take caution to prevent sexually transmitted infections if you previously relied on barrier methods for protection.

EVALUATE YOUR PHYSICAL HEALTH

Most women find it easier to conceive when they are in good general health. This includes being at a healthy weight, adequately addressing any infections or chronic illnesses, and speaking with a health professional about improving physical wellbeing.

If you currently have unaddressed diabetes, high blood pressure, significant extra body weight, bacterial or viral infections, mental health issues, or other serious health concerns, you may be able to improve your chances of conceiving by first resolving your health issues. In some cases, pre-existing health conditions can be aggravated or significantly worsened by pregnancy. Visit a health professional to make sure you are healthy enough for pregnancy and can adequately monitor your condition throughout the pre-conception and pregnancy phases.

If you are postmenopausal (you have stopped menstruating completely) or if you have had a surgery that removed your ovaries or tied your fallopian tubes, you will be unable to get pregnant.

HAVE SEX

With the exception of certain assisted fertility methods, getting pregnant requires having unprotected sexual intercourse. Pregnancy arises from the union of male and female sex cells; the sperm and egg must meet and travel down the Fallopian tubes to implant on the wall of the woman’s uterus. Without the introduction of sperm into a woman’s vagina, a natural pregnancy cannot be achieved.

UNDERSTAND YOUR MENSTRUAL CYCLE

Track your menstrual cycle

Use a calendar to take note of the day your period starts and ends each month. Half the battle for achieving a natural pregnancy may be learning about your body. Women are fertile for only a few days during each menstrual cycle. Knowing how to identify those days with over the counter tests or symptom tracking can help you target your sexual activity and get pregnant sooner. If you have regular cycles, you can often estimate the time of ovulation by dividing your cycle in half. For example, if your period usually lasts 28 days, you will likely ovulate around day 14 of your cycle (14 days after you begin menstruating). If you have a longer cycle, you may ovulate as late as 20 days after your period began.

Test for ovulation

• Most pharmacies and drug stores sell ovulation test kits and tracking systems over the counter (without a prescription). Many can be used just like a pregnancy test, while others may come with additional hormone tests or ovulation calendar tools. If you want to track your cycle without tests, you can track your fertility through temperature and vaginal discharge.

• When your vaginal discharge is clear and stretchy, like raw egg whites, you are most likely fertile and should plan on having sex daily for 3 to 5 days from the day you noticed this consistency in your discharge. Once the discharge becomes cloudy and drier, you are less likely to conceive.

• Track your basal body temperature (BBT) daily by plotting your temperature when you wake up each morning to identify the days you are most likely ovulating. Look for a gradual or sudden rise in temperature (between 0.5 and 1.6 degrees F).
Fertility is highest during the two to three days before your basal temperature rises so if you can observe any month-to-month patterns in when your temperature rises, you can predict the best time to conceive.

• Keep your stress under control:- Illness and stress can both affect the timing of ovulation, making it difficult to predict.

HOW TO HAVE SEX TO GET PREGNANT

Have sex for up to 5 days before ovulation

A woman’s time of ovulation is the point in her menstrual cycle during which she is most likely to become pregnant. If you want to get pregnant as soon as possible, optimizing the timing of sexual intercourse can up the odds of conceiving during your upcoming menstrual cycle. Most women are actually infertile for the majority of the month, so don’t miss this important fertile window.
• Because sperm can survive in the womb for several days, sexual intercourse prior to ovulation can increase the chance of pregnancy.

Have sex frequently

If you are not in a hurry to get pregnant, having sex 2 or 3 times each week may result in pregnancy within several months. During and before ovulation, aim for daily intercourse. Although healthy men generate sperm quickly and often have enough sperm to enable conception with multiple ejaculations per day, there is little evidence that having sex more than once per day increases the chances of getting pregnant.
• In some cases, having sex only prior to ovulation and focusing solely on getting pregnant can actually reduce the likelihood of making a baby. Increased stress levels and partnership troubles may cause this reduction in fertility.

Do not use spermicides, lubricants, or chemical stimuli

Products aimed at enhancing pleasure or preventing conception should be avoided during intercourse if you are trying to achieve pregnancy. If possible, avoid even basic lubricants unless sex is painful without it. If you must use lubricant, opt for canola oil, which does not interfere with sperm mobility and vitality like many marketed sexual lubricants.

Do not douche

Douching can upset the natural balance in the vagina and may interfere with the environment your body needs to help move sperm to your eggs, and to enable the fertilized egg to implant in the uterine wall.

CONSIDER TRADITIONAL METHODS OF ENCOURAGING CONCEPTION

Although many folkloric tips for improving the chances of getting pregnant are not supported by scientific research, it may not hurt to try.
• Try to achieve orgasm after your partner ejaculates into you. The female orgasm helps pull sperm into the cervix, which may facilitate the movement of your partner’s sperm.
• Lay on your back or angle your body with your knees in the air and your head on a pillow to potentially increase the chances of sperm entering your cervix and fallopian tubes.

EAT FOODS THAT MAKE YOU FERTILE

Avoid foods and drinks that may reduce your ability to conceive or harm a newly conceived baby. Some substances are harmful to your chances of conception, while others can harm your newly developing baby.

Women planning to conceive should avoid alcoholic beverages for up to 2 months prior to attempting conception. This is especially true for couples who are having a difficult time conceiving.
• Avoid excessive caffeine intake – this includes both food and drink. Women who drink more than 3 cups of a caffeinated beverage daily are significantly less likely to get pregnant compared to women who consume 2 cups or less.
• Do not smoke or use drugs. Nicotine and illegal street drugs, such as cocaine or marijuana, can impair your body’s ability to get pregnant and develop a healthy baby. Tobacco affects cervical mucous in ways that may obstruct fertilization. Smoking also reduces sperm count and sperm health. Exposure to second-hand smoke can be just as counterproductive.
• Consumption of pesticides may also be linked to pregnancy difficulties, so now may be a good time for couples to choose organic foods.
• Avoid trans fat, often found in processed baked goods and sweetened foods. There is some evidence that a diet high in trans fat (especially relative to monounsaturated fat intake) can increase chances of infertility.
• Avoid questionably prepared raw fish, unpasteurized cheeses, sprouts, prepackaged foods that don’t look fresh, and lunch meats containing nitrates. These foods and other foods that are undercooked or improperly cleaned can lead to food poisoning or illness, reducing your chances of supporting a healthy pregnancy.

Eat foods thought to increase fertility

Traditional medicine and folklore have long held that certain foods promote or decrease fertility and sexual appetite. In recent years, scientific research has confirmed some of the potential biological mechanisms for certain foods’ perceived effects on fertility.
• Eat a diet rich in organic plant-based foods that includes grains, nuts, fruits, and vegetables. The antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals provided by these foods are thought to improve cellular health and even promote a healthy uterine lining.
• The right kinds of protein can help boost fertility; tofu, chicken, eggs, and some seafood are high in omega-3 fatty acids, iron, selenium, and other fertility-enhancing components.
• Consuming full-fat dairy products, such as whole milk or full-fat frozen yogurt, can potentially improve fertility over a diet of only low-fat or fat-free dairy.

Eat as if you were already pregnant

One of the best ways to prepare your body for conceiving and hosting a baby is to eat as if you were already nurturing a developing baby. Not only that, but following a healthy diet before pregnancy can be essential to conception and will make it easier to maintain a healthy diet during pregnancy.

This does not mean increasing your calorie intake, but it does mean avoiding fatty and sugary foods, high-mercury fish, caffeine, and alcohol while upping your intake of fresh fruits and vegetables, dairy or dairy substitutes like coconut and soy-based alternatives, whole grains, and lean protein sources.

Take Prenatal Vitamins

There is some evidence that iron, folic acid, and a good balance of essential vitamins and nutrients can assist in conception. For example, taking folic acid supplements before trying to conceive may reduce the risk of spina bifida and other neural tube defects.

The nutrients in prenatal vitamins are excellent to already have in your diet once you get pregnant. As a bonus, you will already be in the habit of taking a prenatal vitamin once you are pregnant.

Encourage your partner to eat foods that promote sperm health

• Men should take a multi-vitamin that contains vitamin E and vitamin C, eat a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, and avoid excessive alcohol, caffeine, and fat and sugar intake.
• Men should also make sure they get plenty of selenium (55mcg per day), as selenium is suspected to increase fertility particularly in men.

OVERCOME COMMON FERTILITY PROBLEMS

Visit a health professional if you have difficulty conceiving

Healthy couples under the age of 35 engaging in regular (twice weekly) intercourse should be able to conceive within 12 months (plus time for readjusting after discontinuing birth control). If you’re over 35, this time frame reduces to 6 months. If you are tracking your cycle and targeting intercourse, that window should shrink up to 6 months. If you have not conceived in the expected time frame, consult a health professional.

When couples are having difficulty conceiving, many common practices or health issues are to blame. Many physicians first recommend lifestyle changes – from losing weight and improving diet to beginning exercise and having sex more frequently – to address fertility concerns. Only after non-invasive, natural methods for improving fertility fail do many physicians recommend more stringent tests or lifestyle changes to achieve pregnancy.

Get tested for common fertility problems

Everything from illness and stress to excessive exercise and medications can decrease fertility.
• Certain medications can prevent or complicate conception. Provide your health practitioner with a complete list of medications, herbs, supplements, and any specialty drinks or foods you are eating so that he or she can evaluate your list for potential fertility blocks.
• Get checked for sexually transmitted infections. Some infections can decrease your ability to conceive, while others can cause permanent infertility if left untreated.
• Women over the age of 35 and women who are peri-menopausal may experience difficulty in getting pregnant due to the natural decline in fertility that occurs as women age. In most cases, pregnancy can still be achieved but may take longer and require more targeted intercourse and lifestyle changes.
• Have a gynecological examination. In some cases, women may have a removable tissue barrier that is preventing sperm from reaching the egg, or may have a physical condition that affects the menstrual cycle, such as Polycystic Ovary Syndrome. In general, it’s a good idea to have regular gynecological exams once a year to make sure that you’re healthy.

Consider in-depth fertility testing for you and your partner

If both you and your partner have been given a clean bill of general health by a physician, consider sperm testing and medical monitoring of your fertility.

• Men should have a semen analysis to check the quality and number of sperm emitted during ejaculation. Additional male fertility tests include a blood test to check for hormone levels and ultrasounds that monitor the ejaculation process or sperm duct obstruction.
• Fertility tests for women often include hormone tests to check for thyroid, pituitary, and other hormone levels during ovulation and at other times during the menstrual cycle.
Hysterosalpingography, laparoscopy, and pelvic ultrasounds are more involved procedures that can be used to evaluate the uterus, endometrial lining, and fallopian tubes for scarring, blockage, or disease. Ovarian reserve testing and genetic tests for inherited infertility problems can also be performed.

CONSIDER FERTILITY TREATMENTS TO GET PREGNANT

• Thoroughly discuss your next steps with your partner. Because fertility treatments can be expensive, stressful, and time-consuming, it is best to discuss the matter thoroughly and objectively with your partner before committing to the process.
• Speak with a trusted health professional before visiting a fertility clinic. A health professional who has no motivation for promoting a particular therapy or procedure can help you and your partner understand the basic options for assisted reproductive therapies.
• Some procedures carry risks, and others may only be advisable in women without certain health characteristics. A health professional that has your best interest in mind will not promote the use of technologies that are not appropriate for your individual situation.
• Many physicians can also give advice about understanding costs and insurance coverage and provide a realistic, unbiased idea of how long and how successful attempted reproductive assistance may be for you and your partner.
• Ask for recommendations regarding particular fertility specialists or clinics, and get a referral if necessary. Fertility treatments may also be useful for women over 35 and women who have difficulty carrying a pregnancy to term.

Visit a fertility specialist or fertility clinic

• Set an appointment just to talk about your situation and your expectations for getting pregnant. It can also be useful to develop a list of questions you have for your first visit.
• At your first visit, do not expect to have a physical evaluation or to begin treatment. Just show up ready to ask questions and learn about your options.
• Ask about the clinic’s prices, success rates, and the types of fertility assistance they provide. Do not feel obligated to commit to a particular treatment center after a single visit; visit several and keep your options open until you identify the best clinic for you.

Ask about NaPRO technology to get pregnant

NaPRO attempts to correct individuals’ causes of infertility through improved, personalized fertility monitoring and targeted surgical intervention. In small trials, the process produced better results than In Vitro Fertilization, and the procedures involved in NaPRO may be covered by many insurance plans.

Consider using In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) to get pregnant

• IVF is considered the most effective and common method of achieving pregnancy through assisted reproductive technology.
• IVF involves the removal of mature eggs from your body (or that of a donor) and its fertilization with your partner’s (or a donor’s) sperm in a laboratory, with subsequent insertion of the fertilized egg into your uterus to promote implantation. Each cycle can last 2 or more weeks, but most insurance companies pay for few – if any – IVF cycles. The process is invasive and both the egg extraction and the implantation portions of IVF carry risks.
• IVF is less likely to succeed in women with endometriosis, women who have not previously given birth, and women who use frozen embryos. Women over the age of 40 are often counseled to use donor eggs due to success rates of less than 5%.

Ask about Intrauterine Insemination (IUI)

If your fertility troubles are caused by difficulties in sperm reaching the egg or by sperm inadequacies of your male partner, artificial insemination or donor insemination may provide a solution.
• Artificial insemination involves the injection of sperm into the woman’s body to circumvent male ejaculatory problems. If the male partner’s sperm is infertile, a donor’s sperm can be injected into the woman’s body in an attempt to conceive as well. This process is often performed 1 day after ovulation hormones rise in the woman, and can be done in a doctor’s office with no pain or surgical intervention.
• IUI may be used for up to 6 months before trying alternate, more expensive, and more invasive therapies. In some cases, the therapy can be combined with fertility drugs for the woman, and the injection of healthy sperm works the first time.

Ask about other fertility treatments. In some cases, fertility drugs may be sufficient for elevating fertility hormones and allowing natural conception. In others, fertility options such as Gamete Intrafallopian Transfer (GIFT) or surrogacy may be recommended.

Recognize the symptoms of pregnancy.

• If you have missed a period or if you are tracking your menstrual cycle on a daily basis, you can often identify a successful conception very quickly.
• If you have missed a period, take an over the counter pregnancy test or visit a pregnancy center or physician’s office to confirm your pregnancy.
• If you have had an abnormally light period or if you cannot remember when your last period occurred, symptoms of nausea, fatigue, vertigo, mood changes, increased breast tenderness and changes in appetite may occur when you get pregnant.
Each woman is different, so it’s difficult to predict what symptoms you may have.

TIPS

• A man can wear briefs without decreasing sperm count. However, hot baths or whirlpools, tight athletic clothing and extensive bicycling, and extended placement of a laptop in the pelvic region may reduce a man's sperm count.

• Obesity in either partner can decrease the chances of conception. By first achieving a healthy weight, you may conceive more easily and have a healthier pregnancy. ‌

WARNINGS

• Becoming parents is a big decision which should not be taken lightly. Make sure you and your partner are mentally ready to have a baby.
• Trying too hard to get pregnant, especially by strictly following a schedule, can cause stress and reduce physical and emotional intimacy between you and your partner.
‌ • Make sure that you and your partner are disease and infection free before stopping any barrier methods of birth control.



culled from www.wikihow.com ‌