How To Calculate Fertile Days

If you are trying to conceive, making love without using any contraceptive methods during fertile days is crucial for you. In your pregnancy plan, you must have an accurate idea about your fertile days. Here are some points you should know before you start calculating your fertile days:

• The time when I am most fertile - You are most fertile close to or around the days of your ovulation. The time is before the release of an egg from one of your ovaries. After the release, your egg survives only for 12-24 hours. On the other hand, your male partner’s sperm can survive in your fallopian tubes for 3-5 days. So, reproductive health experts advise you (couples) to have unprotected physical intimacy each day or each other days in your (females) fertile days. With it, sperm waits for the release of an egg from one of your ovaries. If you wait for the occurrence of ovulation, you might not have a conception.  
• The right time when conception occurs - A pregnancy begins with the fertilisation of your egg with your male partner’s sperm. During the fertilisation, your male partner’s sperm gets into your egg shell and your egg converts into an embryo thereafter. During the next 4-6 days, the embryo travels to the uterus from the fallopian tube. After reaching the uterus, the implantation of the embryo on the uterus lining takes place and keeps growing. You need to wait for 2 weeks after ovulation to check whether you are pregnant or not. In the case of a negative result, you should wait for another 2 weeks. 

How to calculate my fertile days

For the calculation of your fertile window/days, you need to know the time of your ovulation. And for this, you have to keep the length of your menstrual cycle in mind or chart it. Here is more on the calculation of fertile days:

• Usually, a regular menstrual cycle lasts for  days. However, it can range anything between 23 and 35/40 days. You have ovulation on around day 14 if you have a 28-day menstrual cycle. Your ovulation time would be on or around day 12 in the case of a 26-day menstrual cycle and on or around day 16 in the case of a 30-day menstrual cycle. 
• Know the days gone from the day on which you had first vaginal bleeding to calculate your fertile days. In the calculation, you need to note down the first bleeding day to the next one. You need to minus 14 days from the total days, from the day one to the last day before the next bleeding starts. Your ovulation day is the 14th day if you have a regular menstrual cycle. Your menstrual cycle can vary from one month to another. In the case of an irregular menstrual cycle, you need to watch your cervical mucus or use an ovulation prediction tool/kit.  
• Your cervical mucus is clear, scratchy, and slipper around ovulation. After that, it becomes thicker and gets dry gradually. The ovulation prediction kit can indicate your ovulation is around the corner. When it is about to happen, the kit indicates an increase of luteinizing hormone (LH) level in your urine. An increase in the level of LH means you are in your fertile days.    

How long should I try before consulting a doctor?

Conception is a complex series of events that happen inside your body. It is as it requires the following things to happen:

• Ovulation (regular egg production in the ovaries and release of eggs from there)
• Healthy sperm (normal sperm count, shape, motility, and concentration)
• No obstruction in the fallopian tubes or uterus in a female body
• Age (20-30 is an ideal time to get pregnant)  

You should try to conceive for more than a year if you are under 35. Otherwise, you should try for 6 months. Consult a doctor when your effort does not bear fruit.  

Eager to know more?

Whether you are curious to know more about your reproductive health or you have conception issues, you should consult a fertility doctor. At FSIVF, we are always ready to counsel you and treat your fertility problems to facilitate you in your parenthood journey.