Planning a Baby  Discussion Forum

Hi Archie, SK & all,

As I had mentioned earlier in my first post, that I am ttc these, so today for the first time I detected the LH surge :-). Now to maximize chanes of conception, we should start having intercourse for the next 2-3 days( every 24 hours)- Right ?

SK, I read your message about early pregnancy symptoms- this is really helpful for all those women who are ttc, including me :-). I too have done a lot of research on Ovulation, Pregnancy and factors affecting this process. I am trying to analyse the physical changes as well that are occuring in my body. Anyway thanks again for the useful information. (hey, by the way, did you notice any spotting or light bleeding as your early pregnancy symptom? I have heard of many women who misunderstand this spotting as their menstrual period.)

Archie, SK- I have a question to ask- I have read when implantation occurs, the body starts secreting HCG(human chorionic gonadotropin)hormone to maintain & nourish the embryo and the amount of HCG dramatically increases if pregnancy occurs. What I want to know is that can we detect the increased level of HCG immediately 4-5 days after intercourse- assuming everything is in time and fertilization does occur. I mean, is it possible to detect pregnancy even before you miss your 1st period ? Because if it(pregnancy) happens, HCG has to be present in the blood- right ?

What are yor views about this ? And correct me, if my info is wrong !

Thanks. KBhavana replied. I read your post.. You had written about LH Surge and detecting ovulation. Could you please explain how as I am ttc.

Thanks in advance asha replied. Thanks a lot Archie & SK- thanks to both of you for clearning my doubts.

I am glad that I asked this question, because Archie has explained other things as well, which I think are important for all women trying for a baby( and even otherwise- for general awareness). Yes Archie, I am very calm & cool about this issue. Infact my hubby also thinks the same way- he says we have just started so we shouldn't worry about it.

Thanks SK for your response also. I didn't know that even blood tests can not tell immediately about the increased level of HCG. Yeah, I am relaxed & enjoying this phase :-).

Thanks for your wishes.

archie replied. Dear Asha,
Good luck.

Take things easy, most important than thinking too much on ttc at this time and for another 17 days till you reveal the truth.

NO, hCG does not shoot dramatically, in fact never it rises dramatically it has it's pattern and initially it can take as high as 48-60 hours to double the amount while after 7 weeks it can take as short as 24-36 hours to double the amount so remove that point from your mind.

Fertilization is something that happens within 12 hours after ovulation, it will be soon after releasing egg if the sperms are readily available if not then an intercourse within 12 hours after ovulation will make them available to fertilize. This can be the first step of conceiving baby.

However implantation can take place anywhere between 3-7 days post ovulation (dpo). Usually it happens within 5-7 dpo so again making an assay for hCG within 4 days from today will definitely lead to confusion and will not add anything to subject.

There are numerous commercial brands available and they have different sensitivity towards the hCG amount. I rely more on EPT and it can not detect below 50 untis, that's almost 16 dpo, which is nothing but estimate menses day.

The bleeding within a week time after ovulation is never a period and I never heard anyone mistaking that to menses as the menses last for 3-5 days while this bleeding should not last more than a day, it can be a few spots for few hours, typically. If lasts more than a day is a gynecological concern and less likely be a sign of pregnancy.

There are many early pregnancy signs but they again often put one in confusion as they are not radically different from PMS. These symptoms are mainly due to progesterone and still there are a few promising but not all of the pregnant women face them in their luteal phase.

You should enjoy intercourse and leave the rest to God and relax for another 17 days.

Archie SK replied. Hi Asha,

congrats on deteching your LH surge...well u r right continue to have intercourse for 3-4 days every 24 hrs..also do keep a pilow below your hips.And be relaxed and enjoy imp.Better is to forget u r trying to concieve :-)

I have never spotted or any bleeding since i have been pregnant.

Well it is true that HCG hormone is generated once conception is occured. But usually it takes days for the amount of HCG to increase to level to be deteched (and then into urine). Most home pregnancy tests detech pregnancy when HCG level in urine is about 50 to 80 IU/L. Before that even though HCG may be present in your urine it is hard to detech by the tests. It takes 15-17 days for HCG level to increase to that level in your urine. Blood tests usually detech HCG after 8-10 days after conception