Determining Fertile Days

Ready, Set,  Go:  It's What Family Planning Is All About

Deciding to have a family is one of the most exciting times of any woman's life, but did you know that despite all good intentions nearly 90% of couples take more than one year to reach pregnancy? Determining fertile days is the most important factor when trying to get pregnant.  Let's look at a few conceiving tips that will be likely to assist in you having to miss the mark for too long. It's all simply a matter of getting the timing right. So come on; let's examine the days when you are most fertile as opposed to the least fertile days. 

Taking the Steps Toward Pregnancy:  Know Your Body

First of all you need to work out the length of your menstrual cycle which can differ although twenty eight days is thought to be standard. Your cycle is counted from the first day of one cycle to the start of the next one.

When is a Woman Most Fertile?

A woman is most fertile about five days before ovulation. So, when is that you ask?  And what should you do you do about it?  Simple animal inscinct, right?  Ovulation occurs about 14 days prior to the start of your menstrual period and this is the time that you need to have plenty of sexual intercourse. Tell your partner he's got five days where you can both go at it like newlyweds.  That news will certainly put a smile on his face!  If only it was that simple.

Determining fertile days isn't as straight forward as you may think because no two women have the same menstrual cycle and more often than not you cycle may vary depending upon many factors. It is usually somewhere around the middle of your menstrual cycle though. The best way to precisely pinpoint the most fertile days in your cycle are to keep a detailed record in which you confirm the days of your actual period and the days of ovulation on an ovulation calendar. It may be difficult to work out the actual ovulation days as you may only have ovulation symptoms for one or two days.

A fertility ovulation chart is the best method to keep track of your periods and which days you ovulate. This will make it easier to work out when you are most fertile. You can purchase an ovulation calculator from most pharmacies or online which is helpful.

Measuring your body temperature is another method of calculating ovulation. You will need to purchase a basal body temperature thermometer and a chart. You must record your temperature first thing every morning without fail, and you will notice that it rise a few days around your fertile time. Your most fertile days are just prior this rise in temperature but you will need to keep track for several months to get a pattern.

Another way to know roughly when ovulation will occur is by observing the mucous in the vagina that is secreted from the cervix just prior to ovulation. The mucus is white or clear, as well as thinner and more stretchy than usual at this time. During ovulation the vagina is even wetter and the mucus thins further. After ovulation when the cycle returns to normal with a noticeable decrease in vaginal wetness and the mucus becomes thicker or vanishes completely until the following cycle.  It's all about working with Mother Nature.

Once you've worked out which are your most fertile days, then it's a matter of relaxing and staying as calm and relaxed about getting pregnant as possible.  More often than not, the pressure of trying too hard to get pregnant is what prevents many couples from conceiving.[source]