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How many women don't know when their fertile period falls?
Why is ovulation called a fertile window?
May 7, 2024 · Definitions of fertile period. noun. the time in the menstrual cycle when fertilization is most likely to be possible (7 days before to 7 days after ovulation) synonyms: fertile phase. see more.
2 days ago · fertile period in British English. (ˈfɜːtaɪl ˈpɪərɪəd ) noun. the time during a woman's menstrual cycle at which she is most likely to become pregnant, or the equivalent time for an animal. Two thirds of women don't even know that their fertile period falls in the middle of their cycle. Collins English Dictionary.
- Overview
- Ovulation and the menstrual cycle
- The “fertile window”
- Symptoms of ovulation
- Ovulation pain
- How do I know if I’m ovulating?
- Tracking ovulation at home
- Irregular ovulation
- How often should you have sex if you’re trying to conceive?
- If you aren’t trying to conceive
Ovulation is the term for when a mature egg is released from the ovary. It’s part of the menstrual cycle and plays a major role in pregnancy.
Ovulation is a part of your menstrual cycle. It occurs when an egg is released from your ovary.
When the egg is released, it may or may not be fertilized by sperm. If fertilized, the egg may travel to the uterus and implant to develop into a pregnancy. If left unfertilized, the egg disintegrates and the uterine lining is shed during your period.
Understanding how ovulation happens and when it takes place can help you achieve or prevent pregnancy. It can also help you diagnose certain medical conditions.
Where does ovulation fit into your overall menstrual cycle?
Your menstrual cycle resets the day that your menstrual flow begins. This is the start of the follicular phase, where the egg matures and is later released during ovulation.
During the follicular phase, your body will release follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) that helps the egg inside your ovary mature and prepare for release.
Once the egg is mature, your body releases a surge of luteinizing hormone (LH), triggering the egg’s release. Ovulation usually happens around day 14, in the 28 to 36 hours after the LH surge.
After ovulation comes the luteal phase. If pregnancy occurs during this phase, hormones will keep the lining from shedding. Otherwise, bleeding will start around day 28 of the cycle, beginning the next cycle.
In short: Ovulation generally occurs in the middle of the menstrual cycle.
The 6 days leading up to and including ovulation make up what’s called the “fertile window.” This is the period of time when sexual intercourse may lead to pregnancy.
The sperm may wait around for several days in the fallopian tubes after sex, ready to fertilize the egg once it’s finally released. Once the egg is in the fallopian tubes, it lives for around 24 hours before it can no longer be fertilized, thus ending the fertile window.
Impending ovulation can cause more vaginal discharge. This discharge is often clear and stretchy. Sometimes it may resemble raw egg whites. After ovulation, your discharge may decrease in volume and appear thicker or cloudier.
Ovulation may also cause:
•light bleeding or spotting
•breast tenderness
•increased sexual drive
•ovary pain, characterized by discomfort or pain on one side of the abdomen
It’s fairly common to experience pain during ovulation. Up to 40 percent of people who ovulate feel some discomfort around the midpoint of their menstrual cycle.
This condition is also known as mittelschmerz, which means “middle pain“ in German.
The pain usually occurs each month. You’ll feel it on either the left or right side of the lower abdomen, depending on which ovary is releasing an egg that month.
The pain can range from mild to severe. It might feel achy, or sharp like a cramp.
If the pain is severe, talk with a doctor. There may be options to reduce your discomfort. A doctor can also determine if further testing or treatment is necessary.
In rare cases, pain during ovulation is a sign of an underlying condition, such as:
There are several ways to figure out when ovulation happens:
•Menstrual cycle. Ovulation typically happens around day 14 of a 28-day menstrual cycle, counting from the first day of your period. But normal cycles can be as short as 21 days in adults, or as long as 35 days. You’ll want to track your cycle over multiple months to learn its length. You’re likely to ovulate around the middle date of your cycle, give or take a few days.
•Body temperature. Your temperature rises slightly for a few days after ovulation takes place, by about 0.5 to 1.3°F (0.3 to 0.7°C). You may be able to detect the change by taking your temperature every morning. Read more about Basal Body Temperature (BBT) charting.
•Vaginal discharge. There’s likely more of it around the time of ovulation. It’s usually more clear and more slippery.
•Using at-home trackers. Over-the-counter (OTC) options include ovulation predictor kits and fertility monitors.
Using several of these methods together is more likely to give you an accurate answer.
While the most accurate way to confirm ovulation is with an ultrasound or hormonal blood tests ordered by your doctor, you have options when it comes to tracking ovulation at home.
•Ovulation predictor kits (OPKs). These are generally available OTC at your corner drugstore. They detect the presence of LH in your urine, which usually means you will ovulate soon.
•Fertility monitors. These are also available OTC. They track two hormones — estrogen and LH — to help identify your fertile window. Fertility monitors can be pricier than options that track LH only. Some monitors claim to detect 4 or more fertile days each month with 99 percent accuracy.
Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions to ensure you’re making the best use of at-home trackers. Talk with a doctor or pharmacist to determine which of these tools is right for you.
If you track ovulation from one month to the next, you may notice that you’re either not ovulating regularly or, in some cases, not ovulating at all. This is a reason to speak with a doctor.
Things like stress or diet may affect the exact day of ovulation from month to month. There are also medical conditions, like polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) or thyroid disorders, that may make ovulation irregular or stop completely.
These conditions may cause other symptoms related to changes in hormone levels, including:
•increased growth of facial or body hair
•acne
•infertility, in some cases
You only need to have sex once during your fertile window to achieve pregnancy. People who are actively trying to conceive may increase their chances by having sex every day or every other day during the fertile window.
For those using intrauterine insemination (IUI) to try to conceive, IUI is also conducted during the fertile window.
If you want to prevent pregnancy, it’s important to use birth control. This is especially important during your fertile window.
Although barrier methods like condoms are better than no protection at all, you may have greater peace of mind when using a more effective method. Options with very high efficacy include the contraceptive implant and IUDs. Birth control pills are also more effective than barrier methods.
Keep in mind that in a year of “typical” use, 12 to 24 out of 100 people will get pregnant while using fertility awareness methods, like BBT charting, to prevent pregnancy.
Your doctor can walk you through your options and help you find the best approach.
- Ashley Marcin
Jan 19, 2023 · What is a fertile window and how long is it? For many people, their fertile window is around six days long. “Because the egg is viable for 1 to 2 days, and sperm can live in the female genital tract for 4 to 5 days, the fertile window is generally considered to be 6 to 7 days each cycle,” says obstetrician-gynecologist (OB-GYN) Dr. Jenna Flanagan.
The menstrual cycle is the time from the first day of a woman's period to the day before her next period. Girls can start their periods anywhere from age 8 upwards, but the average is around 12 years. The average age for the menopause (when periods stop) in this country is 51.
Dec 7, 2022 · Your chance of getting pregnant is highest when live sperm are present in the fallopian tubes during ovulation. In an average 28-day menstrual cycle, ovulation typically occurs about 14 days before the start of the next menstrual period.
Dec 18, 2023 · What days can you get pregnant? The menstrual cycle. Ovulation and conception. Maximizing fertility. Avoiding pregnancy. Fertility and age. Fertility on the pill. Seeing a doctor. FAQ....
