You know when you go to one store to buy a pair of jeans and they don’t quite fit? Then you go to a different store and the same size is actually too big for you? Just like there’s no one size fits all when it comes to your clothes, there’s no one cycle fits all when it comes to your menstruation either. So, while it’s unlikely you’ll become pregnant just after your period, a lot of women experience irregular cycles and early ovulation, which makes it hard to pinpoint their most fertile days.
What Happens During Your Cycle?
The first day of your period is considered to be day one of your cycle. The lining of your womb breaks down and your hormone levels plummet. Around a week later your period stops, hormone levels rise and the lining of your uterus thickens. Around mid way through your cycle, your body releases an egg ready to be fertilized. At the end of your cycle, if you don’t happen to conceive, the egg breaks down and leaves your body as your period begins again.
What is the Fertile Window?
The timing of your fertile window depends on your unique cycle. Generally, it refers to the period of time when you’re most likely to get pregnant. Included in your fertile window are the day of ovulation and the five days beforehand. It’s timed this way because it allows for the lifespan of both the egg and sperm once they are released. While an egg lasts between 12 and 24 hours, sperm can live around five to seven days in your reproductive system.
What Causes an Irregular Cycle?
If you’re looking for ways to help get pregnant, timing your intercourse around your ovulation period is your best chance of conception. We now know that cycles can differ greatly between women, and more annoyingly, they can also differ from month to month. Irregular periods can be caused by conditions such as PCOS or problems with your thyroid, which can lead to infertility. Irregular periods can even be brought on suddenly by weight loss, weight gain, or stress. This makes it harder to pinpoint your most fertile days.
How To Work Out When You’re Ovulating
According to clinical guidelines, most women ovulate around day 14, or halfway through your menstrual cycle. However, this information is out-dated. If you have a long, short or irregular cycle, your ovulation period could differ from month to month, which makes it harder to calculate. If you want to be able to pinpoint exactly when you’re ovulating, you could get to know the symptoms associated with ovulation, and combine this knowledge with an accurate reading from a fertility monitor.
Ovulation Symptoms
There are several signs and symptoms you can learn to keep track of so that you can tell when you’re ovulating. During ovulation, your cervical mucus becomes wetter, clearer and more slippery. Your resting body temperature, or basal body temperature, also goes up slightly once you have ovulated, and measuring this can be a great way to accurately pinpoint your most fertile days.
Predicting Ovulation Using a Fertility Monitor
Many women choose to take the hassle out of trying to keep track of their cycles by using an accurate and clinically tested fertility monitor. Using its patented Core Body Temperature technology, Ovusense is designed to accurately predict your best time to conceive with 99% clinically proven accuracy. Find out more about the most advanced cycle monitoring system by contacting our customer support team today.