Many women in New Zealand actively monitor ovulation, but their fertility knowledge is still poor — particularly their ability to correctly identify their fertile window. That’s the conclusion of a study published in the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology by a group of researchers from Otago University. Ovulation monitoring is common, but …

Ovulation is over. You’re in the dreaded “two week wait”, impatiently waiting for testing time, when you start to notice a dull sort of pain in your lower back. Could it be … an early pregnancy symptom? Or has your body just found a funny new way to send the …

Understanding your menstrual cycle can help you get pregnant faster. What is the menstrual cycle exactly? When does the menstrual cycle start? How long does the menstrual cycle normally last, and when in the menstrual cycle are you most fertile? This article aims to answer all these questions and many …

Women who reported feeling highly stressed during their fertile window were 40 percent less likely to conceive in that particular cycle, compared to less stressful months, according to a recent study from the University of Louisville, published in the journal Annals of Epidemiology. The participants who reported feeling most stressed were also about 45 percent less likely to conceive …

Women who stop using birth control pills risk having their vitamin D levels fall, according to a new study published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. The researchers analyzed data from a study of reproductive health in nearly 1,700 African-American women, aged between 23 and 34. The analysis showed that women who were using …

Women who have their appendix or tonsils removed when they are young, are more likely to get pregnant and get pregnant faster than the rest of the population, according to a new study led by the University of Dundee. While it was previously believed that appendectomy had a negative effect on women’s fertility, …

A pregnancy is the successful result of an amazingly complex set of processes. The woman’s body must release an egg cell from one of her ovaries (ovulation); the egg must move through her fallopian tube towards the uterus (transport); a sperm cell must get to the egg and penetrate it …

Fertility testing and investigation can be a lengthy and frustrating process, but it helps to know what to expect. In this article we cover some of the most common tests and examinations used for infertility diagnosis. It is very common for couples to worry most about the female partner’s fertility …

How quickly and easily you get pregnant will depend on many different factors. Some of them are partly or completely beyond your control, such as your age and your general health, not to mention sheer coincidence and luck. Fortunately, other factors can be more actively influenced. And while some of …

Your period is overdue and there are still no signs of it. Trembling with excitement you take the pregnancy test, holding your breath while you wait for the result. After a minute that feels like forever, you open your eyes and see … a single line. The test is negative. …