Fairhaven Health, a leading trying-to-conceive, pregnancy and nursing site, explains the role of hCG in your new pregnancy: "Human Chorionic Gonadotrophin, hCG, is the hormone detected on a pregnancy test, produced by the placenta right when implantation first takes place. The point of hCG isn’t just to alert a woman of pregnancy, it is produced in order to let the corpus luteum to maintain the production of progesterone. Elevated levels of progesterone are vital in sustaining pregnancy, warming the body and preventing menstruation to begin as well as preserving the integrity of the endometrial-uterine lining. When testing for pregnancy, make sure to check the pregnancy test for when you can begin testing; pregnancy tests detect hCG at different levels so ensure you are testing at the appropriate time in your cycle!" For more helpful tips, go to www.fairhavenhealth.com.

This week's fertili-tip from TTC, pregnancy and nursing resource Fairhaven Health tells why all lubricants are not created equally when it comes to trying to conceive.  "What is Pre-Seed Lubricant and how can it increase your chances of conceiving? Well, first things first, were you aware that many lubricants on the market are not fertility-friendly? They actually hinder your chances of conceiving by acting as a barrier and preventing sperm from reaching their destination! Pre-Seed is a lubricant specifically designed for couples that are trying-to-conceive. The formula actually mimics your fertile quality cervical mucus to create a healthy environment for the sperm to travel. The applicator format is especially helpful for couples that are trying-to-conceive as it allows the lubricant to be inserted into the vaginal canal—coating the vaginal canal and cervical opening creating an optimal environment for conception." For more from Fairhaven Health, go to www.fairhavenhealth.com.

This week's fertili-tip from Fairhaven Health talks about the hormone that affects the quality of your eggs: "FSH (Follicle Stimulating Hormone) is a very important reproductive hormone, which correlates to the quality and quantity of your remaining eggs. As you can imagine, FSH levels have quite an impact on a woman’s ability to conceive. If your body isn’t producing enough FSH, it cannot sustain a healthy ovarian reserve and you may experience irregular cycles (as seen in PCOS). High FSH levels can be seen in women experiencing early menopause – as their egg quality and quantity dwindles, their body tries to compensate by producing more FSH to stimulate ovarian function. Supplements, such as FertilAid for Women, help to keep FSH levels from increasing and has even helped to decrease FSH levels in some women." For more from the natural fertility, pregnancy and nursing product depot, go to www.fairhavenhealth.com.