Once you realize that getting pregnant and having babies isn't going to "come naturally" to you, fear can start creeping up your spine like a million spiders. Fear of failure, fear of a miscarriage...you have to be willing to risk it all, dive in headfirst and pray that in the end you will have a little bundle of joy to love and raise.

Some women are ready to plunge into another pregnancy while they still have one or more children in diapers, others don't even want to think about seeing the pregnancy test come back positive again until their youngest child hops on the school bus for kindergarten! Here are some factors to consider when you're trying to decide whether you're ready to have another baby.

Does "having a baby" top your list of New Year's Resolutions? There's no time like the present to start preparing your body for pregnancy. Whether this is your first time up at bat or you're hoping to conceive your second or subsequent baby, there's plenty you and your partner can do right now to increase your odds of giving birth to a healthy baby.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrine problem in women, affecting 5 to 7.5 percent of reproductive-aged women. It's only in the past decade that ideas about its causes and treatment are being pieced together. Read on and learn how it is diagnosed and treated.

Assisted reproductive technologies (ART) is a blanket term used to cover in vitro fertilization (IVF) and other procedures designed to produce pregnancy if other methods have been unsuccessful. Learn about IVF -- from ovary stimulation to embryo replacement and procedures such as ICSI and GIFT.

Infertility is a common but frequently treatable condition. It affects one couple out of six and becomes more common with increasing age. When should you see a specialists? How can you be prepared for that appointment? Be your own best advocate with a basic knowledge of the comprehensive infertility evaluation, even before going to the doctor.

Hoping to get pregnant soon? You've come to the right place! Here's everything you need to know to maximize your chances of conceiving quickly and to get your pregnancy off to the healthiest possible start.

Feeling good about yourself is the key to making the most of the childbearing year. A woman who feels good about herself will celebrate the changes that her body experiences during pregnancy, look forward to the challenge of giving birth, and willingly accept the physical and emotional changes of the postpartum period.

All pregnancy tests look for a special hormone in the urine or blood that is only present when a woman is pregnant. This hormone, human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), is also called the pregnancy hormone. What's the difference between a urine and a blood pregnancy test? Is one better than the other? Read on and find out!

So you think you're pregnant and are anxious to run down to the store and snag an HPT? Which test is best? How soon can you test? Should you test first thing in the morning or is any time ok? Do any medications negate the test? Read on for answers to these questions and more.

There are quite a few things you can do during your pregnancy to help improve your and your baby's health. You can also avoid risks that can complicate or terminate a pregnancy. For example, you probably know that getting enough Folic Acid is important.

So you have decided to have a child. Congratulations. Welcome to a whole new world of choices. Never before have your decisions had such a profound impact on another person. Everything you eat, drink, breathe and touch can affect your baby. But before you throw away your morning coffee or tea take a few minutes and read these common sense thoughts on pregnancy.

If you or your partner's sperm quality is low, your doctor may suggests techniques, such as filtering, washing, that are designed to improve chances of getting pregnant. Learn more about these tests, why they are used and their effectiveness.

Sometimes a pregnancy doesn't happen on its own. When might artificial insemination be suggested? Who is a candidate for it? How does AI differ from DI? Learn which problems are treated with AI, the differences between procedures, and the effectiveness of each.

After a series of disappointing "negatives" showing up you may feel that "your time" to become a parent is out of reach. You definitely are not alone nor is your situation hopeless. Your doctor may recommend a complete medical workup of you and your partner. In this article you'll find typical tests you may face, discover why they are recommended, and remain empowered throughout your trying to conceive journey!

Wondering what to expect at your preconception appointment? The following checks or tests may be made by your doctor before making the decision of pregnancy, in order to ensure you will have as trouble-free a term as possible and good health for the growing baby.

By charting body temperature, you're able to tell when you have ovulated. Regular charting can help predict next month's fertile time or help your specialists pinpoint problems. Ready to start? Learn all about charting -- from what type thermometer is best to when to take your temperature to how and what to record.

Folic acid minimizes the risk of your baby having a neural tube defect. Since the neural tube develops very early in pregnancy (18-30 days after conception), often before a women even knows that she is pregnant, you should start taking it before getting pregnant. Learn more about folic acid and neura tube defects.

Endometriosis occurs when the endometrium lining of the uterus attaches itself to other organs outside of the uterus. According to the Endometriosis Research Center, this disease affects more than 7 million women in the US and is the leading cause of female infertility, chronic pelvic pain and gynecologic surgeries. How is it diagnosed and treated?

The beauty of STRAW is that you can get a sense of what stage you are in based on your menstrual patterns, symptoms, and the overall characteristics of a stage, rather than just a certain hormone range or chronological age. Looking at the whole picture makes it clearer that reproductive capacity is unique for each individual.

If you have been trying to get pregnant, chances are that you have heard, "just relax and you'll get pregnant." Stress can have a dramatic impact on one's reproductive life. Many women with infertility will share with me that they do not feel like "real women" and are not members of the club who have experienced pregnancy and childbirth.

Certain men worry about their sperm count, whether or not they are in the process of trying to have a child. Other men might find a low sperm count unimaginable. In reality, a low sperm count is the most common reason for male infertility.

Difficulty in having children is more common than you may think, affecting one in six couples. If you are one of those couples, you probably have questions about why your reproduction system is not working properly. Below, two specialists discuss the science and biology of infertility, addressing some of the most common questions.

The first step is to inform your regular Obstetrician/Gynecologist that you are ready to talk about getting pregnant and you would like to schedule an appointment. This article lists the routine questions and tests that I recommend to my patients.

There are multiple causes of infertility. The male alone is the cause in 20-35% of cases of infertility. An evaluation of the male should be one of the very first tests carried out in the investigation of the infertile couple.

For most women, the physician they are most likely to see on a regular basis is their gynecologist. Women visit their gynecologist's office for birth control, STD testing and any number of other health matters, from vaginal infections to menstrual cramps. How can you get the most out of your visit?

Charting, when combined with certain other aerobic activities, is a great way to get pregnant. But creating and analyzing the charts by hand is a hassle. Our basal body temperature charting tool automatically creates full-featured ovulation charts.

Polycystic ovary syndrome is a metabolic disorder that affects between 5 and 7.5 percent of all women. It is the number-one cause of infertility. Read more to discover how diet can help the symptoms of PCOS and may decrease the risk of diabetes and heart disease.

Not only are blood types different but some types of blood are incompatible with some others. The white blood cells in some types will perceive other types as enemies, attacking and destroying.

Two weeks after our long-awaited positive, we found it was an ectopic pregnancy. We were devastated. Now I want answers to why. Can I still get pregnant without treatment? Will it turn out to be normal? I feel hopeless and all alone. My family is more tuned in to my sister being pregnant and forgetting about my loss. I hope you can help! Read Debbie and Mara's reply.

Has anyone ever told you that parenting may not be as natural as sperm meets egg, they connect, and voila you become parents 9 months later? Okay, so that's the "technical end" of becoming a parent. But just because you leave the hospital with baby in tow are you a "parent?" Umm, some things to think about.

For women trying to determine how long they can postpone starting a family, a new fertility predictor, called Plan Ahead, may provide some insight into the length of their fertile lifespan, but does this test offer only false promises?

"From the journey down the birth canal to afternoons at the park, a child will register every experience in the circuitry of his or her brain. Whenever a mother strokes her baby, whenever a father plays with his daughter or son...

I already have a beautiful 21-month-old girl and we have been trying for our second baby. So far nothing has happened. Could my exercise regime be the cause? To shed baby weight after the last pregnancy I took up exercise. I use the treadmill and weight train more or less 5 times a week and love it as I feel really fit and healthy. Do I have to give up training to conceive?

Let's get to the very crux of the parenting matter -- conception and sex. There are some very important do's and dont's that every woman out there needs to know to get the best performance from their steed. How can you keep him on the job at the crucial times without turning what should be everyone's favorite past time into an experience to rival milking time at the dairy?

Infertility testing -- yikes! Tell him not to think of the test as a test of his manliness but a simple sperm donation. Having a fertility test is very worthwhile and can detect potential problems with fertility that may save you both years of heartache. How can you explain that it will expedite the process and make you much happier? Read on for ideas.

Obviously, if the time is right a woman may conceive regardless of sexual position. Still, if you want to optimize your odds consider taking these suggestions into consideration. All are speculative by scientific standards, but considered successful by parents worldwide. And many are fun as well!

For at least 2500 years, the Chinese culture has used acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine to safely and effectively assist in the treatment of infertility, pregnancy, post-partum conditions, and many other gynecological conditions.

The roller coaster ride really did mirror infertility treatment for me and many others. I would do something that terrified me, that wreaked havoc on my body and my mind for my child. I would take what I perceived as a personal risk for her. When I knew I couldn't handle the roller coaster anymore I chose another ride, hoping that different ride would work.

Prenatal supplements consist of a variety of vitamins and minerals. During pregnancy, a woman's daily intake requirements for certain nutrients, such as folic acid (folate), calcium, and iron will increase. Vitamins and minerals such as iron, calcium, and folic acid are vital for proper fetal growth, development, and healthy adult living.

Butter helps make healthy babies! Butter boosts fertility! Butter helps keep us fit! Curious? Read more!