What to Expect Before You8217;re Expecting

Women trying to conceive are often surrounded by questions as there are so many urban myths that make it difficult to know whether a person is doing the right thing or the wrong thing.

Do you really believe that the missionary position can increase your chances of getting pregnant? Well,women trying to conceive are often surrounded by such questions as there are so many urban myths and wives tales that make it difficult to know whether a person is doing the right thing,the wrong thing or simply wasting time.

Now,Heidi Murkoff has just released the latest in her popular What to Expect series,titled What to Expect Before You8221;re Expecting. The book is aimed at women who are trying to conceive,reports the Sydney Morning Herald.

Here she sorts out some common pregnancy myths:

1. The longer it takes you to get pregnant,the more likely you are to conceive a boy.

Partly true 8211; Women who take longer to conceive are more likely to have thicker cervical mucus,and boy sperm swim better in thicker mucus.

2. A woman in her early 20s not using birth control has a 50 per cent chance of getting pregnant each month.

False 8211; Getting pregnant isn8217;t as easy as you8217;d think. When you8217;re under 25,your monthly chances of hitting baby bingo are just 20 to 25 per cent. The monthly odds for a woman who is over 35 are about 15 per cent.

3. Saliva is the most fertility friendly lubricant to use when you8217;re trying to conceive.

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False 8211; Saliva is a sperm killer. In fact,most lubricants and massage oils are fertility unfriendly,so best to go without when you8217;re baby making.

4. Boxers are a better bet than briefs when you8217;re trying to conceive.

True 8211; Though in most cases,not true enough to make a big difference. Sperm production can be affected by overheating,whether it8217;s in a hot tub,a sauna,spandex bike shorts,or a pair of tighty-whities.

5. Laptops can impair sperm production.

True 8211; The heat is on when you use a laptop on your lap,and heat is not a friend of male fertility. To keep the family jewels in top family-generating shape,treat your laptop like a desktop. The same may hold true for mobile phones so keep them out of your pocket.

6. The average couple conceives within 3 months of trying.

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False 8211; Conception doesn8217;t typically happen overnight,even after a really hot night. Egg and sperm may meet up on your first try,of course,but it actually takes take the average couple who doesn8217;t have any fertility issues between 6 and 12 months of active efforts before mission is accomplished.

7. The more sex you have during your fertile days,the more likely you are to conceive.

True,to a point 8211; Until recently,an every-other-day sex strategy was recommended but the latest research suggests that more is more after all. For a man who has a normal sperm count,having sex every day during his partner8217;s fertile days is most likely to result in conception. More than once a day,on the other hand,is less. The more performances in a day,the less packed they8217;re likely to be with sperm. A guy needs time to build up his troops between deployments. In fact,a man with a lower sperm count may want to wait a day in between ejaculations to build up his numbers.

8. After an egg is released,it can be fertilised for up to two days.

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False 8211; While sperm can hang out and wait for their date for three days or more,an egg has only a 12 to 24 hour shelf life. So sperm have to catch it while they can.

9. Position matters.

False,mostly 8211; Healthy sperm are excellent swimmers and pretty much any position can get you pregnant. But if you8217;d like to give the little guys a head start,try man on top,with the woman8217;s hips slightly elevated.

10. If you want to get pregnant,order up some oysters.

True 8211; Believe it or not,the cliche holds up under scientific scrutiny. Oysters are the food chain8221;s most concentrated source of zinc,one of nature8217;s most fertile minerals. It8217;s also a libido booster. The benefits extend to both sexes,so share a dozen.

11. Cough medicine can help you get pregnant.

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True 8211; Expectorants loosen up mucus in your chest but they8217;re also able to loosen up cervical mucus,and looser cervical mucus is easier for sperm to hitch a ride in. However,read the ingredients carefully. Some cough medicines also contain an antihistamine,and that8217;s an ingredient that dries up mucus of all varieties,giving sperm a hard time.

12. Watching a sexy movie can help you get pregnant.

True 8211; As long as the man in your life is watching it too! Studies show that men produce more sperm after watching a sexy movie. And it doesn8217;t have to be X-rated,either. So grab some popcorn,and then grab each other.

13. Men don8217;t have a biological clock.

False 8211; It8217;s a clock with a much longer-lasting battery,but it8217;s still ticking away. While guys can produce viable sperm and father babies well into their 50 and 60s,older men are more likely to have dipping testosterone levels and a decrease in the quantity and quality of sperm.