Ovulation is thought to happen about 14 days before your next period begins, but it can vary from month to month – even if you have regular cycles. To get a better sense of when you’re ovulating, chart your basal body temperature and your cervical mucus. Use an over-the-counter ovulation predictor kit, ovulation tracking bracelet, or lab tests to check for hormonal changes before ovulation.

Your odds of getting pregnant are best when you have sex 1 to 2 days before you ovulate. But cycle length can vary. You may have an irregular cycle or miscalculate your ovulation date. Sperm can survive in your body for up to 5 days. To hedge your bets, have sex often starting 3 days before ovulation and continuing for 2 to 3 days after you think you've ovulated.

It was long believed that you should stay in bed for at least 15 minutes after sex to give sperm a chance to reach the egg. But recent studies found no evidence to back up this claim.

Studies show that weighing too little – or too much – may disrupt ovulation and cycle length and affect the production of key hormones. Doctors consider a healthy body mass index to be between 18.5 and 24.9. Staying fit with moderate exercise is fine, but this isn’t the time to train for a marathon: Strenuous exercise can mess with your menstrual cycle, making it more difficult for you to conceive.

Research shows that stress may make it harder to get pregnant. Yoga, meditation, and long walks can help lower stress and improve your overall well-being.

If you have a medical condition such as diabetes, asthma, or epilepsy, be sure it’s under control. Speak with your doctor about any prescription or over-the-counter medications you may be taking, since they might affect your chances of getting pregnant.

More than 33% of fertility issues involve only the sperm-producing partner, and another 33% involve both partners. Either partner can improve their reproductive health by quitting smoking, limiting alcohol, eating healthy, and lowering stress.

Several theories claim you can influence the gender of your baby by having sex at a certain time of the month or in a specific position. But there’s no surefire, natural way to choose the sex of your baby. Your odds are 50-50 unless you use a sperm-sorting technique, followed by artificial insemination.