TTC Essentials Guide: Useful Fertility Products
These are the products you can use if you wish to follow the TTC Essentials Guide to Getting Pregnant Naturally.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases from Amazon.com. I donate all proceeds from these sales to Promises2Kids, supporting foster children.
Tracking Your Cycle
You will need some means of recording the data you collect about your cycle.
Fertility Friend App
The Fertility Friend App is excellent for tracking your temperature and any other fertility signs you want to include. The free version has all the features you need. You can access your account through computer browser or through a mobile app.
Paper Chart
You don’t need to get fancy to collect the data you need to track. You can use pencil and paper if you prefer. This blank chart from Babycenter is sufficient. I would like it to include a row on the bottom for indicating ovulation testing (LH surge) results. You can squeeze it in on the below the bottom row.
Testing for Ovulation & Pregnancy
These recordings are for general well-being and can be useful for supporting fertility and also as for coping with a variety of life experiences. They can be found on my general wellness YouTube Channel, Harmony Within.
Wondfo Test Strips
These test strips for ovulation prediction and pregnancy testing are very inexpensive and very accurate in my experience. You can buy ovulation tests and pregnancy tests separately. Usually the best deal is the pack of 50 ovulation tests and 20 pregnancy tests for under $20.
Thermometers
You’ll need a reliable digital thermometer. You do not need a specific “basal body temperature” thermometer. You also probably do not need and expensive fertility tracker that tracks your temperature over night, though some women prefer these as it leaves them one less thing they need to think about. (Ava Bracelet and Temp Drop are popular fertility tracking devices that incorporate temperature tracking.) I recommend starting with a basic thermometer such as one of these:
Kinsa Digital Thermometer
This thermometer can connects to an app on your phone which is handy. (It will also read without connecting to an app.) It has a backlight. It reads quickly (8 seconds). It has a delicate beep sound when it’s done reading. I’ve used this myself and have found it to be reliable. It is usually available for under $20.
EZ @ Home Digital Oral Thermometer
I haven’t tested this one, but it appears to read quickly and have a backlit display. Every thermometer I looked at on Amazon for around $10 has a handful of reviewers saying it was terribly inaccurate. I have a sense that sometimes these thermometers just don’t work well. It doesn’t hurt to have two thermometers so that if you suspect one is incorrect you can cross-check with another. (Don’t expect every reading to be identical even seconds apart though as the readings do vary some naturally.) Usually priced around $10.
Lubrication
A sperm-friendly lubrication can be helpful to support sperm in surviving longer while they wait for the egg to be released. There are tradeoffs between the different lubricants in terms of exposure to potentially harmful substances, personal preference, and evidence of how much they actually help with getting pregnant. Pre-seed won the contest for improving sperm performance but contains controversial additives.
Baby Dance
This lubrication is promoted as being completely toxin-free and sperm-friendly. Some reviewers complain about a somewhat floral scent; others say it doesn’t bother them. The makers of this product claim that the scent is completely natural and not due to any additives.
Conceive Plus
The makers of Conceive Plus claim that the calcium and magnesium ions in their product help “maintain sperm motility and viability.” They report that their product contains a small amount of methylparaben, which may raise some concern as most parabens are considered toxins; however they claim that this particular paraben is not harmful. Read more about methylparaben.
Pre-Seed
This is a popular sperm-friendly lubricant and in a 2014 scientific study it was found to have the best impact on sperm compared to other popular brands including Conceive Plus. It does contain two parabens: methylparaben and propylparaben. Read more about propylparaben.
Move forward with confidence and grace
The resources at Fertility From the Soul are designed to help you navigate your fertility journey with confidence, grace and wisdom. Combining scientific knowledge with artful intuition, I aim to empower you find your way to fulfilling your dreams of being a parent. Sign up for the newsletter to stay in touch and be notified of the latest mind-body resources for optimal fertility.