How Do I Use The Ovulation And Fertility Calculator And Calendar
First, enter the first day of your last menstrual period. Then enter the average length of your menstrual cycles . If you don’t know the exact length of your menstrual cycle or luteal phase, you can leave these at their default values . Try to record your cycle lengths if possible because that will help you to more accurately predict your likely date of ovulation.
What is the difference between the fertility window versus your fertile days?
The “fertility window” or “fertile window” consists of the 5-6 days during the menstrual cycle during which intercourse is most likely to result in pregnancy. You can get pregnant during these days, and your chances of getting pregnant increase the closer you have sex to the day of ovulation. This fertile window extends runs for 6 days starting at 5 days before ovulation until the day of ovulation. Your most fertile days are the 4-5 days before and the day of ovulation.
Calculate your fertile days and your fertility window HERE.
Trouble Keeping An Erection
Erectile dysfunction , also called impotence, is a condition where you have trouble keeping or getting an erection hard enough for sex. While impotence can be emotional or psychological, its usually caused by other health problems like high blood pressure, diabetes, stress, and hormones. Low testosterone can cause infertility, so its a good idea to have erection problems assessed.
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What Are The Risk Factors For Anovulation
Risk factors for having anovulation can include:
- Having polycystic ovary syndrome : PCOS is a common condition that causes 70% of anovulation cases. PCOS causes your body to make too many androgens, which cause the follicles in your ovaries to remain small instead of maturing and growing as they should to prepare for ovulation.
- Having obesity: Having obesity can cause your body to make too many androgens, which affects your ovaries ability to produce mature follicles.
- Having a low body weight and/or doing long-term excessive exercise: A very low body mass index or participating in routine intense physical exercise can affect your pituitary gland, which could cause it to not produce enough luteinizing hormone and/or follicle-stimulating hormone. These hormones are needed to ovulate regularly.
- Experiencing excessive stress: Experiencing excessive stress can cause imbalances in your bodys gonadotropin-releasing hormone , luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone , which are all needed for ovulation.
- Having just started getting periods or having your last periods: During both of these transitional times, an imbalance in your bodys hormones can cause anovulation.
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How Long Does Ovulation Last
So youre probably wondering, for how many days do women ovulate? Once the mature egg is released from the surface of the ovary, it can potentially be fertilized for about 24 hours, explains Patricia Pollio, MD, director of OB-GYN at Good Samaritan Hospital in Suffern, New York.
That said, you dont have to have sex on the exact day of ovulation in order to get pregnant! In reality, theres a six-day fertile window in your cyclethe five days leading up to ovulation and the day you ovulate, Moore says. Of those six days, youre most fertile during the two to three days prior to ovulation and the day of ovulation itself.
Beyond 24 hours after ovulation, the egg is no longer viable and you typically cant get pregnant until your next menstrual cycle.
When To See A Fertility Doctor
If youre having intercourse twice a week for a year and you arent getting pregnant, its unlikely that timing is to blame. Something else could be at play and you should see your doctor to tackle the challenge together. If you are 35 or older, see a fertility specialist after 6 months of trying to get pregnant.
You should also seek care if you know you have polycystic ovary syndrome or irregular periods. For example, if youve been taking birth control for years and dont get your period within three months after you stop taking it, make an appointment. Otherwise, you could waste time collecting data with an ovulation kit and be nowhere closer to conceiving.
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What Tests Will Be Done To Diagnose Anovulation
Tests for diagnosing anovulation depend on what your healthcare provider suspects are causing your anovulation. Tests that can help diagnose anovulation, include:
- Blood progesterone levels.
- Blood prolactin levels.
- An ultrasound exam of your pelvic organs.
Many of the hormone imbalances that cause anovulation have other symptoms, so your provider may have you undergo other tests if youre experiencing symptoms of a certain hormone imbalance condition.
How Do I Start Charting Cervical Mucus To Get Pregnant
Charting or tracking your cervical mucus is called the cervical mucus method of family planning. Determining ovulation is one of the best tools you can have in your toolbox if you want to conceive.
To chart your cervical mucus, keep track of the changes you see each day â the amount, texture and color. It might be helpful to use a calendar and label days as pasty, creamy, wet or dry. You’re most fertile around the time your mucus becomes slippery and wet, like raw egg whites. Once you see this type of mucus, it’s time to have sex if conception is your goal. To prevent pregnancy, you should abstain from sex or use another method of birth control.
If you need help recognizing patterns or think your cervical mucus never reaches a fertile stage, talk to your healthcare provider for guidance.
A note from Cleveland Clinic
Tracking your cervical mucus is a helpful way to track your menstrual cycle and identify when you’re fertile. Learn how to check your vaginal discharge and note your findings, especially if you’re trying to conceive. Cervical mucus alone isn’t a reliable form of contraception, so if you don’t wish to become pregnant, talk to your healthcare provider about more effective contraception. If you notice any foul-smelling discharge, speak with your healthcare provider so they can rule out any issues.
Last reviewed by a Cleveland Clinic medical professional on 10/24/2021.
References
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Urine Test Kits To Measure Luteinizing Hormone Levels
These home test kits are available at drug stores and show changes in the level of LH in a womans urine. Since LH hormone builds up in the urine, once it is detected in the urine, ovulation usually takes place within 12 to 24 hours . For women with irregular periods, urine testing should be timed according to the earliest and latest possible dates one is expected to ovulate. Urine testing for LH surge should begin at least 2 days before the expected day of ovulation and continue until the LH surge or through day 20.
There is an 80% chance of detecting ovulation with 5 days of testing, and a 95% chance with 10 days of testing. Once an LH surge is documented, it is no longer necessary to continue testing during that cycle. Occasionally, ovulation may not occur in a cycle despite an LH surge. If ovulation is not detected in 2 or more cycles in a row, there may be a problem with ovulation and you should discuss this with your healthcare provider.
Some fertility test kits check for both LH and estrogen in the urine. This does not necessarily increase your chances of pregnancy and should not be used if you are taking medicines to help you ovulate.
How Long Does It Take To Get Pregnant After Your Period
On average, women ovulate on day 14 of their menstrual cycle, but their fertile days are from day 10 to 16. That means it would be about a week after your period ends when an egg is released and you can become pregnant during sex. Still, you may not know you are pregnant for another 2 weeks after that . Some women know they are pregnant before they get that BFP based on these early symptoms.
That being said, variation in cycle length is not uncommon and should be taken into account. For example, if you have a 24-day cycle and a period that lasts 6 days, the end of your period will run up against the beginning of your fertile window, meaning you could conceive as soon as your period ends.
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Irregular Or Missing Periods
Its normal if your menstrual cycle varies by a couple days each month. Its not if the variations span several days. Similarly, A “normal” cycle can be as short as 21 days or as long as 35 days. If your cycles are commonly shorter or longer than this, you may have an ovulation problem.
Assuming youre of childbearing age, not getting your period at all or going many months between cycles can both be strong signs that youre not ovulating.
Truth: Male Fertility Also Declines With Age
Youve likely seen stories of male celebrities fathering children past age 60. This may have given you the impression that male fertility has no age limit, but thats not entirely true. While men dont go through a biological process like menopause, with a definite ending to their fertile years, male fertility does decline with age.
Besides an increased risk of infertility, pregnancies conceived with men over 40 are more likely to end in miscarriage or stillbirth. There is also an increased risk of certain diseases and conditions, including autism, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and childhood leukemia.
One study found an increased risk of fertility problems when both parents are older. They found that when a woman was age 35 to 39 and her partner was five or more years older than she was, their odds of conception dropped from 29% to just 15%.
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How Does Ovulation Work
Ovulation is the release of an egg from your ovary. Ovulation is part of the menstrual cycle. On average, it happens on day 14 of a 28-day menstrual cycle. There are multiple hormones involved in ovulation.
The process of ovulation begins when your hypothalamus releases gonadotropin-releasing hormone . GnRH causes your pituitary gland to secrete follicle-stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone .
Between days six and 14 of the menstrual cycle, FSH causes follicles in one ovary to begin to mature. During days 10 to 14 of the cycle, only one of the developing follicles forms a fully mature egg. Around day 14 in the menstrual cycle, a sudden surge in LH causes the ovary to release its egg. This is called ovulation.
After ovulation, the egg begins its five-day journey through your fallopian tube to your uterus. As the egg travels through your fallopian tube, the level of progesterone, another hormone, in your body rises, which helps prepare your uterine lining for pregnancy.
Do You Ovulate Every Month
While cycle lengths vary, most women will ovulate or release an egg every month. Not ovulating every month could be a sign of an underlying condition that should be discussed with your health care professional. However, stress can cause an occasional missed ovulation as well, so be sure to find ways do de-stress regularly to get your cycle on track. There are also many natural ways to balance hormones and prepare for pregnancy, so dont give up hope if youre unbalanced now.
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Can You Get Pregnant If Youre Not Ovulating
There is a very slight chance of pregnancy when youre not ovulating. However, this is only because sperm can live inside the body for up to five days, so theres a chance of conception if intercourse occurs near the time of ovulation. The answer to the question can you get pregnant without ovulating is no, though.
Typically, if youre not ovulating, you will not be releasing an egg each month, and therefore you will not get pregnant. This is called having an anovulatory cycle, and it is one of the most common causes of infertility and abnormal bleeding.
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Truth: You Can Get Pregnant During Your Period
You can get pregnant if you have sex during your period. Your ability to get pregnant is dependent on when you ovulate, and not directly associated with menstruation.
Some women mistakenly believe that if they are still on their period, they arent yet in the “fertile window.” But if your cycle is short, and you ovulate on day 7 or 8, you can conceive from sex during your period.
Another misconception people have is that menstruation will “wash out” any sperm along with period blood. But thats not true. Your period wont stop sperm from swimming up to your reproductive system.
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How To Know When Youre Ovulating
Knowing when you ovulate can help you plan for sex at the right time and improve your chance of getting pregnant. You can keep track of your menstrual cycles on a chart, in a diary, or on a free period-tracker app on your smartphone.
To work out the length of your menstrual cycle, record the first day you start bleeding . This is day 1. The last day of your cycle is the day before your next period begins.
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Some people think the menstrual cycle and a period are the same thing.
A period is when you bleed .
A menstrual cycle starts on the day when a period starts and ends the day before the next period. A cycles length is considered normal if its between 21 and 35 days. They can vary between women and from one cycle to the next.
- Working out your average menstrual cycle length
If your menstrual cycles are different lengths you can work out your average cycle length.
The number of days in a womans menstrual cycle can vary month to month. Periods are not always regular. It can be useful to work out an average cycle length, based on the length of three menstrual cycles, to estimate when youre most likely to be ovulating.
If you add the number of days in three cycles and divide the total number by three, it gives you your average cycle length.
Example
Sarah tracked her last three menstrual cycles by counting the time from the first day of one period, to the day before the next period.
Cycle 1 was 28 days Cycle 2 was 32 days Cycle 3 was 27 days
28 + 32 + 27 = 87
Am I Pregnant Or Am I Fat
Usually, by the time a woman starts seeing visible weight gain she is already into her second trimester. Typically by this point, you would have noticed some other signs telling you that you may be pregnant.
If you feel that youve been gaining weight, ask yourself a few questions. Have you missed the last couple/few periods? Were you having unprotected sex before that? Have you been having other pregnancy symptoms ? If you answered yes to these, it may be time to take a pregnancy test.
If not, have you been eating more in general or more unhealthy food than usual? Have you been exercising less than usual? Have you had any hormonal imbalances or extra stress? All of these can lead to weight gain. If you are experiencing rapid weight gain and you dont feel your lifestyle has changed, it may be time to see a doctor.
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What Causes Ovulation To Occur
When your body is close to ovulation, LH levels start to rise. FSH, or follicle-stimulating hormone, causes the egg to quickly mature in preparation for the ovulatory phase when the egg is released from the ovary. The luteinizing hormone causes a gradual increase in estrogen. As you move from the follicular phase to the ovulatory phase, LH rebuilds the lining of the uterus. The uterine lining thickens and fills with blood and nutrients in preparation for egg implantation. This process occurs every month until an egg is implanted in the uterine lining or your period begins. Increased estrogen thins cervical mucus to help sperm travel toward the egg. Estrogen levels continue to gradually rise until they hit the tipping point that triggers an LH surge. LH surge is a drastic increase in estrogen that forces the follicle to release the mature egg. When the egg releases into the fallopian tube it is known as ovulation.
Increasing Fertility And Chance Of Conception:
You have to make sexual intercourse during the 2 to 3 days leading up to, and including ovulation day to increase the chances of becoming pregnant. Doing sexual intercourse during any of these days may provide 2030 percent chances.
There are different other tips to improve the chances of conception that includes:
- Have regular sexual intercourse. The doctor revealed that pregnancy rates are highest amount individuals who have sexual intercourse every 2 or 3 days throughout the month
- Avoid smoking as tobacco reduces fertility and highly impacts the health of a developing fetus
- Avoid alcohol intake, consuming alcohol can reduce fertility both in males and females also harm a fetus
- Do best to maintain a normal weight. Individuals with overweight or underweight are prone to infertility
Well, make fertility faster and easier by figuring out a fertility calendar that estimates the most fertile days for your cycle length.
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Truth: Birth Control Does Not Cause Infertility
Hormonal birth control does prevent pregnancy when youre using it properly, but once you stop taking it, your fertility returns. Research has found that birth control does not increase your risk of infertility.
Sometimes, a woman will have regular periods while taking birth control, and then, after she stops, they become irregular. She may think that this means the birth control caused her cycles to be irregular, especially if she had regular cycles before taking contraception. This isnt accurate, however.
Most hormonal birth control drugs cause an artificial regular cycle. Once you stop taking it, the body takes over. Its not that the birth control caused your cycles to become irregular, its that the birth control was creating an artificial regular cycle.
Sometimes, it happens that a woman easily conceives her first or second child, goes on birth control for a while, and then when she tries to have another, she experiences infertility. Its easy to blame birth control for this, but secondary infertility isnt caused by birth control use.
There is one form of birth control that may impact your fertility longer than a month or so after discontinuation: the birth control shot, or Depo-Provera. Depo-Provera doesn’t cause infertilityyour fertility will return.
