Most women do not think much about ovulation unless they are trying to get pregnant, or are trying not to get pregnant. Using estimated ovulation time as a contraceptive method is not a good idea and there are many babies that can attest to that. But, if you want to conceive, you need to know your ovulation time very precisely.
What is ovulation?
Every woman is born with millions of eggs that are waiting in the ovaries. Once a month, one mature egg descends from the ovary down the fallopian tube, to be fertilized, or not. Once released from the ovary, egg lives 12 to 24 hours. This is what we call the time of ovulation. If the egg is not fertilized during this period, it will be expelled with the uterine lining during the next menstruation.
For most women, possible time of ovulation is between 11th and 21st day of their menstrual cycle, counting from the first day of the last period. This is fairly long period, but if you want to conceive, this is the time to put most effort into it. Ovulation can happen on any of these days and it does not even happen on the same day every month.
More precise timing
Much more precise timing of your ovulation can be done by monitoring LH (Luteinizing Hormone, which triggers ovulation, as well as estrogen, which is present in increased quantity just before ovulation. There is number of electronic fertility non-invasive monitors that allow you to pinpoint the exact time when you are fertile. Great advantage of these devices is that they can detect raise in the two hormones a day or two before ovulation, giving you increased time to conceive.
Listen to your body
An old-fashioned way of monitoring fertile days is by monitoring your basal temperature. Increase is estrogen in the body gradually raises your temperature by almost one degree. The problem is that it happens a day or two after the ovulation, and many doctors believe that it might be too late to conceive when you detect that your temperature spiked. One way to use this method is to monitor your temperature for a few months, to figure out the cycle and to find out exactly when the temperature starts rising.
You can probably feel your ovulation by sensing discomfort and slight pain in the abdomen. Listen to the signs your body is sending you, and you will know exactly when you are most ready to conceive, these are called the symptoms of ovulation.
You can use an ovulation calculator to help determine the days that you are most fertile.
Of course, you can try to stack the odds by combining all of the known methods. Don”t forget the most important part: make sure that your partner is not going on any business trip during the crucial time, or all monitoring will be for nothing.
Reply