Planning to Conceive
Although about half of pregnancies in industrialized countries are unplanned, among the other half it's become fashionable to plan out every phase of the pregnancy, from ovulation to birth. This is accomplished through the use of an ovulation chart and/or an ovulation predictor, careful self-monitoring, fertility awareness, and the use of an online pregnancy test.
An online pregnancy test is more like a calculator that adjusts your percentile chance for conception based on medical history and lifestyle habits. While the online pregnancy test can't actually measure whether or not you're pregnant, it can offer an educated guess based on statistical probability and the information you provide. Some versions of the online pregnancy test can predict your chances of conceiving, as well.
The Tools of Conception
An ovulation chart is not complex, but requires strict daily adherence to make it work. A woman tracks her basal body temperature each day and marks it down, and over the course of a month develops a good idea of when her body passes into each phase of her menstrual cycle. Using this information, she can better plan when to have intercourse in hopes of conceiving.
If she begins to think she might be pregnant, she can use an online pregnancy test to judge her symptoms and get a "best guess" estimated answer. The online pregnancy test will ask about her last menstrual period, most recent sexual encounter, and a brief series of symptoms, among other things. If the online pregnancy test says she's probably pregnant, if her symptoms continue, or if she misses her period, she may then decide to take the next step beyond the online pregnancy test and purchase a "real" test or visit her doctor.
Accuracy and Estimate
The main reasons for using an online pregnancy test are probably to save money (as high-quality pregnancy tests can cost upwards of $10 each), check one's symptoms against a standardized list, and emotional reassurance or encouragement. When you're trying to conceive, sometimes you feel like it may never happen - that everyone else in the world is going to have happy babies and you'll still be working hard for no results. A little bit of encouragement and support, even from such an anonymous and pre-programmed source as an online pregnancy test, can be all you need to get yourself back in a hopeful and excited mood.
However, the online pregnancy test only offers an educated guess. You won't know your pregnancy status for certain until you've been seen by your doctor. It's equally important to remember that, while charting your ovulation can be helpful, it is not guaranteed by any means. Errors in checking or charting your temperature can lead you to mistake yourself for fertile when in fact you aren't - but the effort of tracking your ovulation will bring you into a higher level of body awareness. When or if you finally do get pregnant, you'll be all that much more "in tune" with your pregnant self, thanks to the training you had through basal body temperature tracking and charting your ovulation.
