Anyone who wishes to be pregnant must understand what ovulation is and more importantly what their ovulation cycle is. It increases the chances of pregnancy as well as helps eliminate any misconceptions.
So, what is ovulation?
Every month, the ovaries release a mature egg which travels down to the fallopian tube in order to get fertilized. If the egg fertilizes, the lining of the uterus would thicken in order to protect the egg and help it grow. The life of the mature egg is about 12 to 24 hours and hence if it isn’t fertilized within that window, the uterus sheds its lining which is what is called the period.
How does know when one is ovulating?
While some women may actually feel the ovulation in the form of a back ache or cramp on the side of the body, usually ovulation is one of the many thigs that go on inside the body that we are not consciously aware of. So how then do women know when they are ovulating?
Women with a regular period cycle usually ovulate around the same time every month. With calculators available online and on the app store to help one figure out their ovulating cycle, it is not very difficult to pin the days of ovulation down.
However, there are certain signs of ovulation that the body emits which one must be aware of. Cervical mucus, for example, becomes wetter and clearer when one is about to ovulate. The base temperature of the body also undergoes a change i.e. it is about half a degree higher than usual.
Which is the most fertile period for a women?
As per a regular and healthy menstrual cycle, most women are fertile 5 days before they ovulate and on the day of ovulation itself. Ovulation usually occurs 2 weeks prior to the onset of the next period. Again, there are online calculators to help you understand your cycle. However, if you want to know exact windows of fertility and receive medical advice, at Apollo Fertility, we encourage to meet your Ob/Gyn.
This brings us to some important things about ovulation that one must know:
• Menstrual cycle has phases – follicular phase from the first day of the last menstrual period and continues up to ovulation day and the luteal phase which is usually from day 12 to 16.
• Typically, a single egg is released but more than one can be released which would result into twins, triplets, etc. if and when fertilized.
• Stress, eating habits, medications and climate change can affect the ovulation cycle.
• Ovulation can occur despite the fact that a menstrual cycle has not occurred.
• Every female is born with the eggs she will ever have and their quality and quantity declines as she ages
• Having intercourse just before ovulation increases the chances of pregnancy. Sperms can stick around for about 4 to 7 days so having sex in the day 11 to day 16 range of the menstrual cycle has the highest chance of turning into a pregnancy.
In case of any doubts about your reproductive health, we at Apollo Fertility encourage to be more sensitize about your ovulation cycle and talk to your Ob/Gyn.
