Some Things That Can Kill Sperm

Lubricants

Using lubricants, such as KY, Astroglide, etc, actually kill sperm. 'But I'm so dry with all this on demand sex and fertility drugs!' you say. Well, don't fret! There is something you can use! The only sperm friendly lubricant on the market and that is Pre~Seed.  It can actually increase your chances of conception because it's creating the sperm friendly environment they need to get up through the cervix so they can then get through the uterus, and to the fallopian tubes. Clomid is notorious for drying you up and causing a hostile environment.

Saliva

A very little known fact is that saliva is hostile to sperm. It's best to skip the oral foreplay during your fertile window. (Sorry)

Infections

If you have a vaginal infection (yeast infection, bacterial vaginosis etc) it causes the pH of your vagina to be off which creates a hostile environment. After treatment, things will return to normal.

Cervical Hostility

As a whole, all of the above create cervical hostility but what if it just seems to happen naturally? Cervical hostility is basically your cervical fluid  killing sperm before they have a chance to get anywhere. Here are some other things that cause cervical hostility.

• Poor Diet: Sometimes a poor diet (processed foods and too much sugar) can cause acidic cervical mucous. Change your diet to one that is high in vegetables to make it more alkaline and friendly to sperm. 
• Dehydration: This can cause you to not produce enough or to produce CM that is too thick for sperm to swim through so drink plenty of water. (Extra tip: You can also take regular Mucinex (NOT the DM kind) to help thin out cervical mucous. You need to make sure it has only the ingredient guaifenesin in it for it to work).

Clomid (Clomiphene citrate)

What is Clomid?

Clomid, Serophene, or Clomiphene citrate (it's all the same drug) is an ovulation inducing medication and is one the first treatments given to women who are having trouble conceiving due to ovulatory issues. It's a well known, relatively cheap and effective fertility drug and stimulates ovulation about 80% of the time.

How do I take it?

It's taken as a pill starting anywhere from CD2-CD9 for 5 days (the days you start it depend on your doctor and your response to Clomid). Take it at the same time everyday you take it and I recommend taking it at night before bed to cut down on some of the side effects. Typically, you will take Clomid for 6 cycles and if unsuccessful, move on to other treatment options.

How does it work?

Clomid blocks the estrogen receptors in your brain. It tricks your body into thinking you don't have enough estrogen. Your body then goes into overload and tries to produce more estrogen by producing more gonadotropin releasing hormone or GnRH (GnRH is what stimulates FSH and LH) therefore stimulating the production of FSH. FSH or follicle stimulating hormone is what is needed to ripen the eggs. In a nutshell, Clomid tricks your body into producing more FSH to encourage more follicle growth and more LH to push the eggs out.

Who benefits from Clomid use?

Typically women who are having ovulation problems. Either not ovulating all together or ovulating too late in a cycle.

How do I know I'm ovulating?

Charting! One of the easiest ways to see if you are ovulating is to chart your basal body temperature (BBT). If you're charting and not noticing a clear biphasic pattern, bring your charts to show your doctor. You may not be ovulating.

What dosage will I take?

Typically you'll start at 50mg if it's your very first time taking Clomid (if you've taken it before and know 50mg doesn't work, they will start you on whatever worked for you last time). It goes up in increments of 50 until 200mg. The lowest dose needed is recommended because the higher the dosage, the more it can make your mucus hostile to sperm and cause uterine lining issues.

What are the side effects?

Side effects on Clomid aren't THAT bad but they aren't exactly pleasant. The number 1 side effect I get and that people I know who have taken it have gotten is hot flashes. Oh the hot flashes! It seems to be the general consensus around the internet too. And this also seems to be the one that hangs around the longest (I think I had hot flashes for 3 months after 3 rounds of Clomid). Side effects include:

• Hot flashes
• Nausea
• Dizziness
• Hostile cervical mucus
• Mood Swings
• Headaches
• Tender breasts
• Hyperstimulation (OHSS)
• Twins

Did you just write twins as a side effect?

Yes, but it's not really a side effect. It's more like a slight possibility. You have about a 10% chance of having multiples while on Clomid.

How successful is Clomid?

Clomid will get women to ovulate 80% of the time. About 40%-45% will get pregnant in 6 cycles of use.

Clomid Use In Men

Men can also take Clomid to raise testosterone levels and therefore sperm counts. Read more about it here.

Checking Your Cervix

One of the easiest ways to tell if you're in your fertile phase is by checking your cervix. Don't worry, it's not as difficult as you think and once you start doing it, it'll become second nature.

• Check your cervix at the same time every day. (It can be naturally lower at night which is why it is important to check at the same time every day).
• Wash your hands first! You certainly don't want to get an infection.
• Find the position that works for you. It can be sitting on the toilet, putting a leg up on the toilet or tub or even squatting.
• You'll find your cervix at the very "top" of your vagina. It's best to first start checking your cervix after your period because it will be at it's lowest and easiest to find. It may not be exactly straight up (mine is more to the left) but with a little searching and practice you'll find it right away. It will feel different from the rest of your vagina being a bit harder and smoother.
• During non fertile times, your cervix will be low, firm, and closed. As you get closer to ovulation, your cervix starts to rise and get softer. It is considered most fertile when it is high, soft, and open(HSO).  The best explanation I've heard is when it is firm, it feels like the tip of your nose. When it is soft, it feels more like pressing on your lip.
• You'll also notice more fertile cervical mucus when it is HSO. Checking  your cervical fluid while checking your cervix is like killing two birds with one stone. I always check my cervical fluid before I pee and then empty my bladder and then check my cervix. I've found that my cervix is much higher when my bladder is full and can give misleading results.
• Don't expect to start checking your cervix and have it all figured out the first month you try it. It may take a few months to get the hang of it and it's best when you check your cervix while temping or using OPKs. You can even use a ferning test (More on that later!)
• Don't be alarmed if you find your cervix always feels a bit open. Especially if you already have a child. You will still be able to tell the difference between non fertile and fertile times.
• Avoid checking your cervix during or after sex because your cervix can move around based on your level of arousal.

Signs Of Ovulation

Keep In Mind Not Every Woman Will Experience These Signs. But You Will Definitely Notice The More You Pay Attention To Your Body, The More You May Experience

• Change in cervical fluid (Most fertile being like egg whites [EWCM])
• Change in cervical position and cervical firmness (Most fertile is high, soft, open)
• Brief twinge of pain or dull ache that is felt on one side of the abdomen
• Light spotting (Not all women get this)
• Increase in sex drive
• Elevated level of the luteinizing hormone which can be detected on a test (Ovulation test aka "OPK")
• Body temperature chart that shows a consistent change (Temp rise that will occur day after ovulation but need 3 days of a sustained temp rise to confirm)
• Breast tenderness
• Abdominal bloating
• Heightened sense of vision, smell or taste