Expert: Elaine - 7/14/2008

Question
hi,
I usually don't have sex with my husband regularly like most couples do, and now we are planning on a baby.  I am scared.  I don't know much about how a woman's cycle works.  I read a little about it online.  For the last few months, I was getting my period every 32 days, and then between last month and this month, it was 35 days.  Here are the dates:  3/2, 4/1, 5/1, 5/31, 7/3.  It usually lasts 7 days.  So when this month should I try to get pregnant to increase my chances.  How many times do I have to have sex?  Sperm last in a woman for a couple of days, right? How does the ejaculate stay in the body?  Does that mean i should try for 2 days.  Since my cycle is longer than 28 days, should I try on day 15 and 17 after my last period.  Please help me and give me the exact dates when I should try.  Thank you.

Answer
Dear Marie,

Thank you for your question. My apologies for the delay in getting back to you, as I was away overseas on a conference.

The first thing I would do, is get yourself a fertility thermometer, adn take your temperature first thing in the morning, chart it down on graph paper. Around 14 days from the first day of your period, from 14 days to 17 days, you will notice an increase in temperature, this is your ovulation day and the right day to try for conception.

Sperm can live for around 3 days so for example if you tried on 13th day, counting from the first day of your period, but only ovulated on day 14 or 15, you could still conceive.

The boy sperm are faster swimmers, but the female sperm live longer. So if you time sex on ovulation day, chances are you will conceive a boy. If you try a day or so earlier, a female would most likely result.

I hope this has helped you.

If you have any further questions, please let me know.

Regards

Baby Gender