Marketers may want to step up their sexual educational programs, as results from a recent survey illustrate a misunderstanding by many women about when conception can occur.
The good news, however, is that women are aware of the lifestyle changes required of pregnant women.
According to the survey, women think it is a good idea for a couple to plan how many and when they want their children born, but that most women (76 percent) feel that they don't know all they should to plan for pregnancy, according to the just released Unipath Pregnancy Planning Awareness Survey.
When survey respondents were asked how many days in a month a woman is able to conceive, 73 percent of women guessed incorrectly -- either too high or too low -- than the actual number, estimated at approximately six days during a 28-day cycle.
In addition, more than half of women (58 percent) surveyed felt, inaccurately, that it should take three months or less for a couple to become pregnant under normal conditions.
On average, it may take six to 12 months for a couple in good health to conceive. Most women surveyed were aware that they may need to change their behavior to increase their chances of having healthy babies -- such as adopting a healthy, balanced diet and exercising regularly.
The Unipath Pregnancy Planning Awareness Survey, an omnibus survey of 477 American women between the ages of 21 and 44, was conducted by Opinion Research Corporation of Princeton, N.J. For more information, call 212/880-5361.