Are you hoping to hold your own little bundle of joy soon?
Trying to get pregnant can be a lot of fun, but for many couples it
can be frustrating too! Understanding the basics about ovulation
can help you to take some steps that could increase your chances of
conceiving.
A woman's menstrual cycle (starting from the first day of her
period to the first day of her next period) is usually 23-35 days long. Although ovulation can be irregular, it typically
occurs 12-16 days before the start of your next menstrual
period. In a 28-day cycle, ovulation often occurs on the 14th day.
During ovulation, an egg is released into the fallopian tube, where
it waits to be fertilized—something that must occur within 24-48 hours for pregnancy to take place. If the egg is not
fertilized, menstruation will usually occur in about two weeks.
Determining Ovulation
Aside from estimating ovulation using the calendar of your
cycle, the following methods can help you determine when you are
fertile:
Rise in Basal Body Temperature
Right after ovulation, many women have an increase in basal (early morning) body
temperature (approximately 0.5°F-1.6°F) [degrees Fahrenheit]. By taking and
recording your temperature every morning before rising, you should
note a pattern over the next few cycles. Plan to have intercourse
during the two or three days before your temperature normally
rises. The downside of this method is that you must be vigilant in
taking and recording your temperature every day for several
months.
Physical Changes
You may be able to determine ovulation by observing changes in
your body. One change is that your cervical mucus becomes clear,
slippery, stretchy, and similar to raw egg whites on the days before ovulation. This mucus helps
to increase the movement of the sperm through your uterus to the
fallopian tubes where it meets the egg. Some women also experience
discomfort, achiness, or twinges of pain in the lower abdomen during
ovulation. Known as
mittelschmerz, the discomfort may last for a few minutes or several hours.
Ovulation Test Kits
Easy-to-use kits for determining ovulation are available in many
stores. They involve urinating on test strips which change color
when you are ovulating. Accuracy varies depending on the product.
Increasing Your Chances of Conceiving
- Have intercourse frequently. It will not decrease male
fertility, but will increase your chance of getting pregnant during your fertile period.
- Track your cycle. The closer intercourse is to ovulation, the more likely you will become pregnant. Since the egg can only be fertilized 24-48 hours after ovulation, it will probably be difficult to get pregnant if you have intercourse either after or more than six days before this peak time.
Other Facts About Conception and Infertility
- It is possible that you may not be able to conceive in the first few months after stopping the use of birth control.
- Healthy couples can have fertility problems.
- Unless you have a perfect, consistent 28-day cycle, which is not the
norm for most women, you are not necessarily most fertile on day
14.
-
Infertility
can affect up to one in six couples.
- Even if conceiving your previous child was easy, it
does not mean that future pregnancies will be easy to
achieve.
- Women in their twenties can have fertility problems too.
- Lubricants can slow sperm motility, so researchers recommend avoiding them if you are trying
to conceive.
More results