Conception Articles

An IVF Story

Share the IVF journey of one of our BellyBelly Members each month on the road to conception.

Cervical Mucus, Ovulation and Your Fertile Period

By Kelly Winder

Being aware of your cervical mucus can be a very useful tool, as it can indicate ovulation, fertile periods and non-fertile periods. Find out how to tell the difference between 'fertile' mucus and 'infertile' mucus.

Charting Your Cycle For Conception

By Kelly Winder

Perhaps you have just begun the conception 'rollercoaster' or maybe you are looking at ways to help increase your chances at conception. Read on - because it's amazing what you can learn about your body and even help it to conceive by simply charting your cycle each month.

Coping With Infertility at Christmas & Special Days

For infertile people, Christmas, Mother's Day and Father's Day can be painful reminders of the fertility and success of other people. If you are having difficulty coping, here are some tips to help. Also includes tips for families of infertile couples.

Fertile Cervical Mucus - Ovulation and Cervical Mucus

By Kelly Winder

Fertile cervical mucus is easy to spot once you know what you're looking for. Its a great sign of fertility, and along with other signs, you can get a great idea of what your body is doing - if you're ovulating, if you are fertile or non-fertile. Find out how to tell the difference between slightly fertile, fertile and highly fertile mucus.

Fertility After 40 & Menopause

The number of couples in their late 30's and 40's attempting pregnancy is increasing. Currently 13% of patients at Monash IVF are aged 40 or over. It is common to delay starting a family for a number of reasons

Folate - Taking Enough For Pregnancy? Here's Why You Need Folate NOW

Folate (or in its synthetic form, folic acid) is a very important vitamin to consume while you are trying to conceive, in preparation for pregnancy. Many of us lack enough of the foods in our diet which are rich in folate, meaning you may be deficient in this crucial vitamin. Find out what foods contain folate and why you need it for a healthy baby.

Getting The Best Out Of Your Health Professional

To get the best out of your health professional, it helps to know the medical resources and referral system and to know your rights and responsibilities.

Infertility and IVF - Causes, Risk and IVF Success

Wondering what the reasons are that you might not be getting pregnant? Considering IVF? This article provides a run down of infertility, what's involved with IVF and how you can increase your chance at IVF success.

Infertility Information For Families & Friends

People who are experiencing infertility sometimes find this difficult to talk about. This article is intended to help you understand some of the medical and emotional issues, and suggests some ways you might be able to help your friend or relative.

Investigating Infertility - Preliminary Tests

As part of the assessment for assisted reproductive techniques (ART), you are required to undergo a number of routine investigations and procedures.

IVF - When Is Enough, Enough?

This is one of the most difficult decisions a couple can face together. Often it is much more difficult than the decision to start IVF, which was a time of optimism and expectation.

Male Infertility - All You Need To Know

Male infertility is very common. About one in twenty men is sub-fertile and a male factor is present in half of all infertile couples. About one third of all IVF procedures are performed for male factor infertility.

Maybe Baby Saliva Ovulation Test - Using Maybe Baby

Maybe Baby is a mini microscope that helps you pinpoint the days when you're most likely to conceive. It's the clean, accurate and non-invasive way to keep a close eye on your ovulation cycle.

Miscarriage - When Can I Start Trying To Conceive After Miscarriage?

By Fiona Peacock

Trying to conceive after miscarriage - when can we start trying again? If you've experienced a miscarriage and unsure when to start trying again, check out this article for information as well as poll results from BellyBelly members, as to when they started trying to conceive.

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and Pregnancy - Preparing for Pregnancy

The unpredictability of the course of MS is definitely the most challenging aspect of the disease. No one with MS can predict with certainty how they will be from one month to the next. So the decision about whether or not to have a baby may become even more difficult for a person with MS than it generally is.

Orgasm - Does A Female Orgasm Increase Chances Of Pregnancy?

By Kelly Winder

Does a female orgasm increase chances of pregnancy? If you're trying to conceive, you may be wondering if a female orgasm increases the chance of conception. Read this article to find out more!

Ovulation Symptoms and Signs of Ovulation

By Kelly Winder

For ovulation symptoms and signs of ovulation. If you're trying to get pregnant, you're probably looking for signs and symptoms of ovulation so you can work out what day you'll ovulate. When ovulation occurs, you have a short period of time to conceive. So what are the signs of ovulation? How do you know if you've ovulated? Here's all you need to know about ovulation and your body.

Poly Cystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is a condition in which there is a hormonal imbalance within the ovaries. Most women will present with the problems of abnormal bleeding, hirsutism (excess hair growth), infertility or less commonly with obesity.

Pre-Pregnancy Checklist - Preparing for Pregnancy

Preparing for pregnancy? If you’ve decided that now is the time to prepare for pregnancy – congratulations! You’ve probably been thinking about babies for some time and can’t wait to get started. So where to now? Read on to see what to do next.

Pre-Pregnancy Checklist - Preparing for Pregnancy

By Kelly Winder

So you've decided that now is the time to prepare for pregnancy - congratulations! You've probably been thinking about babies for some time and can't wait to get started. So, what's the next step in the preparation to pregnancy?

Private Health Funds Covering Midwifery and Homebirth

By Kelly Winder

This article is a summary of what different Australian Health Funds offer in terms of Private Midwifery (hiring your own midwife) / Homebirth cover. The details are believed to be correct at the time of writing; however they may change from time to time and I will endevour to keep them updated as I become notified.

Putting on a Brave Face in a Child-Focused World

One of the hardest parts of struggling to get pregnant in a child-driven world is that you feel you have to put on a brave face. You're surrounded by families and in a time of your life when all your friends are having kids. Pretending that everything is fine can consume a lot of energy. Here are some tips for coping written by David Rawlings.

Robitussin to Improve Cervical Mucus

By Kelly Winder

There are quite a few articles circulating around the internet in regards to using 'guaifenesin' which is sold under names like Robitussin in pharmacies.

Semen Analysis - A Guide To Semen Analysis

The analysis of freshly ejaculated semen is the most important diagnostic tool in the initial investigation of male fertility.

Sex - When It Isn't Fun Anymore...

Is the quest to conceive ruling your sexlife? Is sex no longer fun? Here are some tips for those who feel a loss of enjoyment as a result of have sex to conceive.

Sexual Positions For Conception - What Are The Best Sexual Positions?

By Kelly Winder

Sexual positions for conception - what's the best position? What about orgasm? Should I remain lying down after sex with my legs in the air? Will some positions help us conceive a boy or a girl? All your questions and answers about conception and sexual positions.

Shettles Method - Trying For A Boy Or Girl With The Shettles Method

By Kelly Winder

Since the 1960s, Dr. Shettles has recommended baby gender selection methods which he claims is upheld by scientific evidence. Shettles claims that his baby gender selection methods for a boy have a success rate of 80-85% and the methods for a girl a little less at 75-80%. So what are the baby gender selection rules?

The LAST Thing You Want to Hear...

By David Rawlings

Have you ever been talking to someone about pregnancy, babies or conceiving and they've said just one small thing that has made you want to leap over the table and rip their head off? Author of 'Swimming Upstream', David Rawlings says that you are perfectly normal.

The Top 10 Most Challenging Comments

By David Rawlings

Most people who have run the infertility marathon of uncertainty have their own experiences of difficult questions and careless comments. They're so common in fact, that it's fairly easy to put together a list of the Top 10 Most Challenging Comments.

The Top 10 Most Challenging Comments - Part 2!

By David Rawlings

Here's part two of the 10 most challenging comments article! Here you'll find the 5 top voted most challenging/annoying/frustrating comments couples trying to conceive DONT want to hear!

Trying to Fall Pregnant... Without Losing Fun In The Bedroom

By Desiree Spierings

Trying for a baby can drag the astounding passion and exquisitely luscious bits out of the sexual act itself. And we are not even talking about the intimacy or the romance in a relationship, which just seem to fly out the window all together. So why does breathtaking sexual pleasure become something of the past as soon as your focus turns to trying to fall pregnant?

Two Week Wait Activity List - Surviving the Two Week Wait

The Two Week Wait (TWW) is the two weeks where you can't think, you can't sleep, you can't work and you start taking HPT's days before they are even possibly meaningful. You are deep in the abyss of THE TWO-WEEK-WAIT! (humourous article - not intended as advice).

Vasectomy Reversal & What Happened After The Vasectomy

Here's some great information on vasectomy reversal, from the Surgeon himself who performed the first successful micro-reversal of a vasectomy, for an Australian in 1971 - Professor Earl Owen.

When Should You Start Worrying About Not Conceiving?

At what point do you start wondering if you'll ever have that child you've been trying for? David Rawlings gives you the general 'medical' response and discusses how your individual situation may be different.

When To Test For Pregnancy - When Should You Do A Pregnancy Test?

By Kelly Winder

If you're trying for a baby, or suspect that you're pregnant, you may be wondering when the best time to perform a pregnancy test is. There are now pregnancy tests on the market promising very early results, which is both a good and a bad thing. The sooner the better, right?