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Wondering how to get pregnant? Maximize your fertility — and know when to seek help. From MayoClinic.com Some couples seem to get pregnant simply by talking about it. For others, it takes plenty of patience and a bit of luck. If you're wondering how to get pregnant, start the old-fashioned way. Here's what you need to know — and when to seek help. Baby-making basics Conception is based on an intricate series of events. Every month, hormones from your pituitary gland stimulate your ovaries to release an egg, or ovulate. This often happens around day 14 of the menstrual cycle, although the exact timing may vary among women or even from month to month. Once the egg is released, it travels to the fallopian tube. If you want to conceive, now's the time. The egg has about 24 hours to unite with a sperm. Since sperm cells can survive in your reproductive tract for two to three days, it's best to have regular sex during the days leading up to ovulation. If the egg is fertilized

For the health of your baby, make sure your body is ready for its demands. From MayoClinic.com If you've decided you're ready to get pregnant, you may already be emotionally committed to parenthood. But is your body prepared for the task ahead? Ideally, preconception planning begins up to a year before conception. To help ensure a healthy pregnancy, schedule a preconception appointment with your health care provider as soon as you begin thinking about pregnancy. Be ready to answer the following questions. What type of birth control have you been using? If you've been taking birth control pills, your health care provider may recommend a pill-free break before trying to conceive. This will allow your reproductive system to go through several normal cycles before you conceive, which will make it easier to determine when ovulation occurred and establish an expected due date. During the pill-free break, you may want to use condoms or another barrier method of contraception. Are

By Mary Duenwald from O, The Oprah Magazine Oprah.com Is estrogen safe this week? Does it matter when you start hormone therapy? What does "bioidentical" mean, anyway? Mary Duenwald scours the latest science for the answers even your doctor may not have. A few blocks from where Highways 6 and 50 intersect in Delta, Utah, you could hear the rain and thunder picking up steam. But for 100 or so women attending a menopause workshop one Sunday, the storm was inside, where the topic of a lecture was about how changing hormones affect sex drive—not the sort of thing people usually talk about in this rural community of alfalfa hay farmers. The speaker was just opening the discussion for questions when the power went out. "It was just so perfect. Suddenly, hands went up everywhere and the women were asking all kinds of questions they wouldn't have been willing to ask when the lights were on. One wanted to know about orgasm—really personal questions," recalls Linda Ekins,

Experts say the payoffs are substantial. By Karen Collins, M.S., R.D., C.D.N., American Institute for Cancer Research New research is adding more insight into the link between walking and other forms of physical activity and lower risk of breast cancer. A landmark report on diet, activity and the prevention of cancer from the American Institute for Cancer Research noted that increased physical activity probably lowers risk of postmenopausal breast cancer and potentially risk of pre-menopausal breast cancer as well. Here are some of the most commonly asked questions regarding cancer and physical activity: Is it too late to make a difference after years of sedentary living? Research suggests that it’s never too late to start making changes to reduce your cancer risk. In one recent Japanese study, the most active women had less than half the risk of postmenopausal breast cancer than the least active women. Study participants were 40 to 69 years old at the start of the study. In another r

From KidsHealth.org I’ve heard that there are certain foods I should avoid during pregnancy. Is that true? - Shantelle Yes. Although most foods are safe to eat, some might be problematic during pregnancy. For example, you should avoid or limit your exposure to foods that are more likely to be contaminated with bacteria (such as raw meat and fish), since food-borne infections may cause birth defects or miscarriage. And foods that might contain high levels of mercury (such as certain types of fish) can cause damage to the developing brain of a fetus. Foods to steer clear of altogether during pregnancy include: soft, unpasteurized cheeses (often advertised as "fresh") such as feta, goat, Brie, Camembert, blue-veined cheeses, and Mexican queso fresco unpasteurized milk, juices, and apple cider raw eggs or foods containing raw eggs, including mousse, tiramisu, raw cookie dough, eggnog, homemade ice cream, and Caesar dressing raw or undercooked fish (sushi), shellfish, or meats p?t

Low sex drive in women — Comprehensive overview covers diagnosis, treatment of this common problem. Definition A woman's sexual desires naturally fluctuate over the years. Highs and lows commonly coincide with the beginning or end of a relationship or with major life changes, such as pregnancy, menopause or illness. However, if you are bothered by a low sex drive or decreased sex drive, there are lifestyle changes and sex techniques that may put you in the mood more often. Some medications offer promise as well. Even researchers disagree about the best measure of low sex drive in women. After all, perfectly normal women vary greatly in their desire for sex and their views about the optimal amount of sex. Besides, the number of times you have sex each week isn't necessarily a good measure of your libido; women skip sex for many reasons that have nothing to do with desire, including fatigue, stress, poor body image or lack of emotional intimacy. So, what exactly is low sex drive

Are you contemplating breast enhancement? If so, you may wonder if and how you can increase your breast size naturally. Surgical implants aren't the only solution, and they can be downright dangerous. There are natural methods that work amazingly well if you desire to enhance your figure! Decades ago, there were no real options when it came to enhancing your breast size. Now, with advanced science and technology, it is very possible and even common for women to get the ample, full bosom that mother nature didn't give them. How? Here are some tips that will give you the results you are looking for. 1. Herbal supplements - All natural breast enhancement pills are the most effective way to achieve good results. Todays supplements contain certain herbs that work together to produce phytoestrogen, which is essential for breast growth. There herbs target the breast tissue, resulting in a gradual increase of 1 to 3 cups over a six month time period. 2. Exercise - Exercise won't ac

Five issues that impact your ability to get pregnant. By Karen Collins, MS, RD, CDN, American Institute for Cancer Research More than 15 percent of women may have difficulty becoming pregnant at some point during their lifetime. The term infertility is used when pregnancy does not occur after at least one year of trying. Since infertility affects about 7.3 million couples in the U.S., interest is growing in how diet and lifestyle might affect fertility. About a third of infertility cases are attributed to the male partner, a third to the female and a third to a combination of both partners (or no cause is found). Male infertility is usually attributed to an insufficient healthy sperm count. Women with infertility can trace their issues to a number of different causes: problems with the structure of the uterus, blocked fallopian tubes or, most often, failure to release healthy eggs. Several diet and lifestyle issues may also have an effect. Here's a list of the most common: Weight A

From KidsHealth.org Q: Can I use a microwave during pregnancy? —Alicia A: Yes. There are no medically proven risks to microwaving. Microwaves rarely leak radiation; and if they do, it's in extremely small amounts that are virtually undetectable. If you're still concerned, you might want to make sure your microwave is working properly and isn't leaking or damaged. Researchers have determined that if a microwave does leak any radiation, it diminishes significantly with distance from the microwave. In other words, if you have any concerns, stand a few feet away instead of immediately in front of the oven. For more information, check out these articles. Staying Healthy During Pregnancy 10 Things That Might Surprise You About Being Pregnant Reviewed by: Elana Pearl Ben-Joseph, M.D.

From Kidshealth.org Pregnancy is a subject that generates a lot of paper. Bookstores and libraries devote not just shelves but entire aisles to it. At your first prenatal visit , your doctor will likely load you down with armfuls of pamphlets that cover every test and trimester. But despite all this information, pregnancy can take any soon-to-be parent by surprise. What the doctor may leave out If your doctor hasn't mentioned the following topics during your visits, he or she isn't purposefully omitting the information. More likely, your doctor hasn't brought them up because pregnancy affects women in different ways. For example, some pregnant women experience morning sickness in the morning, some feel it all day, and some never have it. Or your doctor might not mention something because it doesn't have a medical focus—a doctor may not have any more insight into your increasing shoe size than your neighbor does! Also, some women may think questions about breast size or

Now that you're pregnant, taking care of yourself has never been more important. Of course, you'll probably get advice from everyone - your doctor, family members, friends, co-workers, and even complete strangers - about what you should and shouldn't be doing. But staying healthy during pregnancy depends on you, so it's crucial to arm yourself with information about the many ways to keep you and your baby as healthy as possible. Prenatal Health Care Key to protecting the health of your child is to get regular prenatal care . If you think you're pregnant, call your health care provider to schedule an appointment. You should have your first examination during the first 6 to 8 weeks of your pregnancy, which is when your menstrual period is 2 to 4 weeks late. At this first visit, your health care provider will figure out how many weeks pregnant you are based on a physical examination and the date of your last period. He or she will also use this information to predict