
Trying to Conceive
(TTC): Everything You Need to Know
TTC stands for “trying to conceive,” a simple enough acronym to describe what can be a maddening experience.
For some women, getting pregnant is no problem. They simply stop using their chosen method of birth control and—poof—the magic happens.
But for most of us, that’s not the whole story.
Getting Pregnant Can Be Maddening
Seriously. We spend our whole lives being told to avoid getting pregnant, and it feels like more women struggle with getting pregnant than those who don’t.
While women who need help getting pregnant are actually not in the majority, trying to conceive (TTC) is not as easy and exciting as many of us hope it will be.
Research suggests that 84% of couples will “get pregnant within a year if they have regular sex and don’t use contraception.”
The American Pregnancy Association suggests having “intercourse every other day of your cycle starting from day 10 through day 20. There is no need to have sex every day because sperm can live from 2 to 5 days in the woman’s body.”
But the fact remains that it’s not all having sex/fun.
Ovulation Symptoms
While 84% of couples will get pregnant within the first year of trying to conceive, that leaves 16% who will not. Also, when you’re regularly peeing on a stick hoping for a positive pregnancy test each month, a year can feel like a LONG time to wait.
That’s why many people turn to ovulation testing methods when trying to conceive.
You can learn about the different ovulation symptoms, including:
- Light spotting
- Pain or cramping on one side of the lower abdomen/pelvis
- Breast tenderness
- Increased sex drive (nature’s way of telling us to procreate)
- Egg white cervical mucus (EWCM)
Because these symptoms can be easy to overlook, or can be caused by so many other issues, many women don’t feel like tracking ovulation symptoms is enough.
Ovulation Testing
This is why, for many women, trying to conceive (TTC) often looks a lot like calendars, charts, remembering to take your temperature before you move or peeing on a stick first thing in the morning.
It’s a frustration-filled time of tracking ovulation symptoms and endlessly researching the various types of ovulation tests. How many ways to track ovulation are there, anyway? A FREAKIN’ TON, it turns out!
- Using fertility apps
- Tracking changes in cervical mucus
- Testing basal body temperature (BBT)
- Ovulation predictor kits
- Fertility monitors
It’s an overwhelming process trying to even decide if and how you want to track ovulation to improve your chances of getting pregnant.
Good thing we have you covered on choosing the best ways to track ovulation for you!
The Truth About Getting Pregnant
Trying to conceive (TTC) can be emotionally charged, isolating, and upsetting.
We’re here to teach you everything you need to know about TTC, preparing your body for pregnancy, tracking ovulation symptoms, choosing the best ovulation test for your lifestyle, and more.
You’re not alone in this journey of trying to conceive!


Trying to Conceive? Here’s What You Need to Know About Probiotics for Vaginal Health
When I was in my early twenties and super sexually active (remember those days?), I really struggled with keeping things, er, not itchy and/or uncomfortable down there. In fact, I remember being on the fourth or fifth infection in a row and breaking down about it. I was so young, out of tune with my […]
Secondary Infertility: Coping, Tips for Managing, and Treatment
Most people believe that if they successfully have one child, they can quickly and easily conceive another baby. Unfortunately, that is not always the case. Secondary infertility is the inability to conceive or carry a pregnancy to term after previously having at least one successful pregnancy. Needless to say, it can be a distressing experience […]
The Mystery of Unexplained Infertility: Here’s What You Need to Know
Imagine for a moment that you’re sick and feel like something is happening inside your body. You go to the doctor searching for the answers you believe they’ll have. They take blood, run tests, and conduct examinations before telling you they don’t know what’s wrong–your illness is a mystery. That is exactly what unexplained infertility […]
My Honest Genate Test Review: Personalized Nutrition Changes the Game for Fertility & Pregnancy
When I was pregnant with Jack, my now 6-year-old, I had one major mantra that I repeated over and over and over again: “Control what you can so you can release what you can’t.” As someone who’s lived her entire life with Generalized Anxiety Disorder, trying to conceive and pregnancy were stressful times for my…ahem…control […]
Pregnancy After Birth Control: Signs of Ovulation After Stopping the Pill
Okay, you’ve thought about it and decided that the time has come; you’re ready to have a baby! In a moment of excitement and anticipation, you throw out your birth control pills and start dreaming of the moment when you conceive. Now, what are the signs of ovulation after stopping the pill? How will you […]
What are the Chances of Getting Pregnant the First Month Off The Birth Control Pill?
You’ve reached that pivotal moment when you think you’re ready to grow a family, and now you’re probably wondering what your chances of getting pregnant the first month off the birth control pill. I know I did when we first started trying to conceive! Perhaps you and your partner (or just you if you’re single!) […]
We Need To Talk About Sperm Health & Its Role In Fertility
When I was in college, the National Council on Folic Acid (yes, that’s a real thing) started a major campaign on university campuses. The goal? To get young women to start folic acid supplementation well before they were interested in trying to conceive. This campaign was specifically geared toward reducing neural tube defects in babies, […]
Everything You Need to Know About Anovulation
When we feel like our reproductive organs have very specific jobs they’re supposed to do, it can feel really frustrating when things don’t seem to be working “properly.” Painful or inconsistent cycles, irregular bleeding, and anovulation are just a few of the things our bodies can do that leave us scratching our heads, irritated that […]