We often get questions from our readers about what to do when you're trying to get pregnant, how to figure out your cycle, and where to get help if you are having trouble conceiving, so we are taking the time to research the answers to your top questions. Below you'll find answers from some of the leading experts on the Internet. As with any advice you find here or elsewhere on the 'net, you should first consult your health care provider and do your own research. If you've got additions, comments, links, questions or any feedback feel free to post a comment (comment link is on the bottom of this post).

Frequently Asked Questions:

1. I want to get pregnant, but I'm on the pill. How long will it take me to get pregnant once I stop?
2. What happens if I get pregnant while I am on the pill?
3. What should I eat if I want to get pregnant soon?
4. Does drinking or smoking affect my chances of getting pregnant?
5. How do I know when I'm ovulating?
6. How soon can I find out if I'm pregnant?
7. I'm having trouble getting pregnant. Where can I go for help?
8. I've been struggling with infertility. Who else has had trouble and can give me some encouraging words?
9. When should I get an obstetrician or a midwife, and how do I find one?
10. My friends have been telling me tricks on getting pregnant. Which are myths and which are true?

1. I want to get pregnant, but I'm on the pill. How long will it take me to get pregnant once I stop?
According to all the sources we've read, it takes your body two to three months to regulate itself after stopping the pill. Fertilitext warns that, in rare cases, it can take up to six months to begin ovulating again. Dr. Spock recommends using an alternate "barrier" method of birth control in the meantime, as your periods may be irregular. Of course, as iVillage says, how long it will be before you get pregnant could be anywhere from immediately to indefinitely.

2. What happens if I get pregnant while I am on the pill?
Many of my friends have gotten pregnant while still taking the pill. Dr. Spock has good news if you, too, conceived while on birth control: no known birth defects, higher risk of miscarriage, or other pregnancy complications have been linked to the use of the pill, right before or during conception. PregnancyAntenatal has more comforting words - the amounts of hormones in the pill, they say, are too small to harm the baby.

3. What should I eat if I am trying to conceive?
Conception occurs in the middle of your cycle, and it's often a few weeks or more before you know that you're pregnant. That's why familydoctor.org recommends starting to act like you are pregnant - taking prenatal vitamins, stopping drinking and smoking, and eating a balanced, healthy diet - as soon as you decide you're ready to try to conceive. Baby Hopes says that studies have linked excessive caffeine use and poor diet to trouble conceiving; so you may want to cut down on coffee and soda consumption and make sure your diet includes lots of fruits, vegetables and whole grains.

4. Does drinking or smoking affect my chances of getting pregnant?
Recent studies have shown that drinking alcohol and smoking can affect your chances of conceiving, according to March of Dimes. We reported on a Dutch study last week that suggests that alcohol consumption by men can increase the chances of miscarriage, possibly because alcohol can cause chromosomal abnormalities in sperm; similar studies have linked excessive smoking in men to miscarriages. So both you and your partner should consider stopping smoking and drinking to increase your chances of conception and a healthy pregnancy.

5. How do I know when I'm ovulating?
If your period is regular, there are many different ways to find out when you are ovulating. (Women with persistent irregular periods should consult their medical professional.) The "Fertility Awareness Method" is one that a lot of my friends have used; the book Taking Charge of Your Fertility, written by a fertility specialist, is helpful to learn more about how your cycle works and describes in detail how to read your body's signs to know when you're ovulating. Ovulation predictor kits are favorites of women who would rather leave the charting to the more detail-oriented of us. If you have learned a lot about your cycle already, and you know that you're quite regular, ovulation calendar software can be very helpful.

6. How soon can I find out if I'm pregnant?
There are a wide variety of pregnancy tests on the market, most of which measure the level of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in your urine. The more time between conception and testing, the more hCG you should have, and according to FertilityPlus, the most sensitive tests might show a positive result between six and 10 days after ovulation. Most tests register a positive result 14 to 16 days after ovulation, or by the first day or two of your missed period. As babyworld reminds us, however, many women don't realize they are pregnant until they start feeling pregnancy symptoms such as breast tenderness and nausea, which can begin anywhere from a week to four weeks following conception.

7. I'm having trouble getting pregnant. Where can I go for help?
As the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reminds us, infertility can have many causes, so the first thing you should do is arm yourself with information. According to the NIH, couples who have been having intercourse during ovulation for six months to one year without conception are categorized as having infertility problems - so if you haven't been trying for that long, don't despair - according to one doctor, you might just want to try having sex more frequently.

If you've been trying for a long time, write down how long you have been trying, when you stopped using birth control, and chronicle all you know about your cycle, your frequency and timing of intercourse, you and your partners' nutrition and general health, and your medical history. The American Society of Reproductive Medicine answers a wide variety of questions, and has a database of fertility specialists. Resolve also has a comprehensive list of resources. Prepared with everything you know, consult your health care provider. They will help you decide on the next steps.

8. I've been struggling with infertility. Who else has had trouble and can give me some encouraging words?
For some reason, women who struggle with infertility are well-represented in the blog world, and many of them are powerful writers with amazing networks of readers, friends, and online support. A few that we find especially moving are Chez Miscarriage, A Little Pregnant, and The Naked Ovary. You can find a huge list of fertility blogs here. Resolve, the national infertility association, has lots of resources for both medical and psychological support.

9. When should I get an obstetrician or a midwife, and how do I find one?
WebMD reminds us that it's wise to consult your health care provider as soon as you're ready to start trying to get pregnant. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists has a directory of its members if you're looking for an obstetrician. If you've decided a midwife is the way to go, try the American College of Nurse-Midwives. You may also want to check first with your health insurance company to see which professionals in your area are covered, and it's always a good idea to ask friends and acquaintances who are pregnant or who have kids for recommendations.

Discovery Health has a list of common conception myths; everything from having sex during the day to having your partner wear an ice pack in his underwear. (Which are wrong, and wrong, they say.) They should help you sort out truth from fiction.