If you're trying to conceive, understanding your menstrual cycle and pinpointing the most fertile days can maximize your chances of getting pregnant. While it may seem like a daunting task, tracking ovulation is actually pretty simple - even for those who might not have taken biology in high school.
Here's everything you need to know about calculating the most fertile days naturally!
Step 1: Know Your Menstrual Cycle
It all starts with knowing your menstrual cycle! The average woman’s menstrual cycle ranges from 24-38 days, but if yours varies each month or lasts longer than that range, don’t panic.
There are many phone apps available that offer an easy way for women to track their periods every month. Otherwise, keep a handwritten calendar handy next time so you have something tangible that clearly states when Aunt Flo will visit.
Step 2: Record Ovulation Signs
When menstruating has come and gone – congratulations! You've made it past step one successfully.
Now pay close attention as we get down into details on how to determine which day (or two) is optimal for doing some baby-making magic. Some women experience physical symptoms such as cramps, bloating or tender breasts when they begin ovulating; however this isn't always the case.
The more reliable method for finding out if you’ve begun ovulating comes in three primary tools:
- [ ] Cervical mucus discharge
- [ ] Saliva ferning patterns
- [ ] Basal body temperature fluctuations
Cervical mucus discharge increases up until peak ovulation date then declines quickly thereafter while saliva ferning pattern changes indicate rising estrogen levels occurring before an LH surge causes an egg release later one.
Finally basal body temperatures take great strides during post-period timeframes following conception cycles pass over (indicative of sharp hormonal variations).
Step 3: Calculate Your Fertile Window
Your fertile window is the time when it’s possible for you to get pregnant. It includes your most fertile days (the days leading up to ovulation) and the day of ovulation itself.
A healthy sperm can survive in a female reproductive system for as many as five days after ejaculation, so having intercourse within the five-day period before ovulation would yield highest likely results while accounting from around four-days post-peak fertility date.
Ovulation predictor kits are also available that will test urine samples once per day between menstrual periods & give easy-to-read results indicating LH surge occurrence(s), enabling users to know immediately if they’ve begun O'ing or not!
Step 4: Plan Intercourse Accordingly
Now that we have all vital details accounted for - start planning out when you and your partner should be getting frisky!
It's recommended by health professionals that sexually active couples try at least every other day during their "high-fertility" stage until desired conception has been achieved. This may involve continuity over two menstrual cycles in some instances!
But don't worry – this doesn't mean scheduling out sex like it's another job on your calendar; treat it as another opportunity to bond with each additional event planned accordingly with intuitive passion!!
Conclusion
We hope this article has given helpful advice about how one can maximize their chances of becoming pregnant. By monitoring vital signs such as cervical mucus discharge levels or using ovulation predictor kits together along with keeping track of normal monthly cycle patterns, readers here will be better prepared than ever before towards achieving positive pregnancy outcomes!