A woman can get pregnant at any time in her cycle, but the ovulation period is when it is most likely to happen. Depending on a person’s period, ovulation can occur at different times.
One to two days after ovulation, when the ovaries produce an egg, females are at their most fertile. However, because sperm can remain viable in a woman’s body for several days before ovulation, it is possible to become pregnant during this time.
The “safe period” refers to the times in the menstrual cycle when a woman is least likely to become pregnant.
Content
Fertile window calculation methods
What factors can affect male fertility?
What changes do pills produce in fertility?
When to consult a doctor?
people also ask
Fertile window calculation methods
the menstrual cycle
The typical menstrual period lasts 28 to 32 days. While some women have much shorter cycles than others. A person’s menstrual cycle is said to begin on the first day of their period. After that, her period usually lasts 3 to 7 days.
Most menstrual cycle irregularities appear in the follicular phase, which precedes ovulation.
The luteal phase lasts from ovulation to the next menstruation and usually lasts 14 days.
Conception and ovulation.
When an egg is released from one of the ovaries, ovulation occurs. The egg travels to the fallopian tubes after being released, where it will spend the next 24 hours before reaching the uterus. If the sperm reaches the fallopian tubes and fertilizes the egg, pregnancy occurs. If the sperm does not fertilize the egg, it travels to the uterus, where it breaks down and prepares to leave the body during the subsequent menstrual cycle.
menstruation calculation
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists estimates that if a person’s monthly cycle is 28 days, ovulation occurs approximately 14 days before the expected date of the next menstrual period.
Normally, ovulation occurs between days 11 and 21 of the period. Cycle day 1 corresponds to the first day of your last menstrual period (LMP). Every month, ovulation does not always occur on the same day. Instead, it may occur one or more days before or after the scheduled date.
Because there is a higher chance of pregnancy during this period of the cycle, doctors refer to it as the fertile window. For example, if ovulation occurs on the 14th day, a woman can become pregnant on that day or the next day.
However, because sperm can live inside the female body for up to 5 days, her fertile window begins a few days before ovulation. So, if a person had sex without using birth control between days 9 and 13, they could still get pregnant even if they didn’t have sex on days 14 or 15.
The chance of conception increases starting on day 8, peaks on day 13, and then drops to zero on day 30, according to 2018 research.
It is essential to remember that these results should only be used as general guidance. Each and every era is unique.
To help determine the precise day of ovulation each month, it can be beneficial for a person to record their monthly cycle and keep track of ovulatory symptoms.
Ovulation Indicators
A person can tell exactly when they ovulate each month by tracking ovulatory symptoms.
Symptoms include
Moderate lower abdominal cramps.
Vaginal discharge that is more slippery, clear, and moist than egg white.
A slight increase in core body temperature.
An increase in libido
Some of these symptoms, such as changes in basal body temperature, will persist after fertilization. For this reason, the fertile window should not be predicted based on temperature. To get an idea of what is typical for your body, it may help to have someone write down your symptoms for a few months. However, they should be aware that there are several factors and that the time of ovulation can vary from month to month. Using an ovulation predictor kit or fertility watch is an additional option.
To determine the day of ovulation each month, fertility devices test the levels of certain hormones in your urine. Some tools can also pinpoint fertile days. A person can use a combination of these techniques to obtain the highest accuracy.
Improve fertility and pregnancy prospects
To increase the chance of getting pregnant, sexual activity should be scheduled two to three days before (included) ovulation. A 20 to 30% chance of pregnancy can result from having intercourse on any of these days.
Other suggestions to increase the chance of pregnancy include:
Have sex daily.
Couples who have sex every two to three days during the month have the highest pregnancy rates.
Do not smoke.
Smoking affects the health of the fetus and decreases fertility.
Drink in moderation.
Alcohol use can harm the fetus and decrease fertility in both sexes.
Maintain a healthy weight.
Obese or underweight people are more likely to experience irregular ovulation.
stress should be reduced
It is obvious that reducing stress can be helpful for a person trying to conceive, although the study on whether anxiety or stress can reduce fertility is inconclusive.
Take care of medical conditions
Any medical condition that may cause infertility must be ruled out or treated. This can affect women in a variety of ways, including autoimmune diseases, endometriosis, PCOS, uterine fibroids, and hormonal problems. A doctor can assess a couple’s general health and possibly suggest ways to increase the chance of pregnancy.
What factors can affect male fertility?
There may be reasons why sperm cannot reach the egg, even if a person controls ovulation and engages in regular sexual activity.
Male impotence has a variety of causes.
Sperm morphology.
Variations in the size and shape of sperm can affect fertility.
Low amount of sperm.
There is not enough sperm in the secretion fluid of the male partner. Low sperm counts, defined by fertility doctors as fewer than 15 million sperm per milliliter of semen, are associated with a lower chance of conception.
Sperm movement is low.
As a result, sperm cannot travel to the ovary as efficiently.
Avoid getting pregnant
Some people may want to control their fertility to avoid getting pregnant. This technique is called reproductive awareness. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), birth control methods that rely on fertility awareness have a 24% failure rate with typical use.
The risks of pregnancy are lowest during a person’s period and the days before and after it. Even if they ovulated early or late in their period, they can still get pregnant because the sperm can remain viable in the body for a few days.
Anyone interested in using the fertility awareness technique should first consult their doctor.
Age and fertility
The fertile window and ovulation can vary from cycle to cycle, but can also change with aging. After the age of 30, fertility begins to gradually decline. The probability of a person becoming pregnant falls to 10% per cycle at age 40.
With age, both the quantity and quality of the eggs decrease. Also, ovulation can become erratic.
Conception can be more difficult for some people due to medical problems such as endometriosis or polycystic ovarian syndrome.
What changes do pills produce in fertility?
The purpose of birth control pills is to stop unwanted pregnancies. The pill stops pregnancy by releasing artificial hormones that block ovulation and the thickening of the uterine lining.
Therefore, even if the ovaries produce an egg, a fertilized egg cannot attach to the uterine wall. The pill also thickens the cervical mucus, which prevents sperm from reaching the embryo.
According to the CDC, the birth control pill is over 99% successful when used perfectly, but only 91% effective when used normally. As a result, 9 out of 100 women who take the pill regularly will become pregnant within a year.
When to consult a doctor?
For preconception planning, women who are managing their fertile window to conceive should consult their doctor. The obstetrician-gynecologist (OB-GYN) may recommend the use of folic acid or prenatal supplements to promote a safe pregnancy and address barriers to conception.
Most people who have frequent intercourse without using contraception will conceive within a year. If a woman under the age of 35 is unable to conceive after a year of trying, she should see her doctor. After six months of infertility treatment, people over the age of 35 should see a doctor. Also, see your doctor if you experience irregular periods or don’t seem to be ovulating.
people also ask
When is the best time to get pregnant?
Having sex in the morning, especially after your partner has had a good night’s sleep, can increase your chances of conceiving.
Can I get pregnant 11 days after my period?
It is essential to remember that sperm can sometimes live in the body for up to 7 days after intercourse. This means that if you ovulate early, especially if you have a naturally short menstrual cycle, you may become pregnant soon after your period ends.
How can I increase my chances of getting pregnant?
Taking folic acid daily and eating a healthy diet is essential if you are trying to get pregnant.
Can I get pregnant 7 days before my period?
Although it is possible, it is unlikely that you will become pregnant in the days before your period. There is only a short time each month, five to six days, when you can get pregnant. Depending on when you ovulate or release an egg from your ovary determines when these fertile days actually occur.
