Trying to conceive is an exciting time in life, but it’s one that can also be confusing and stressful for a couple. There are many factors that play into the chances of getting pregnant in any given month and trying to keep track of all of them can add an extra and unnecessary burden to hopeful mothers.
With a little bit of knowledge and practice, you can learn to calculate the estimated dates for ovulation based on your menstrual cycle.
Understanding your menstrual cycle is one of the most important steps to conceiving because it will tell you when you’re most fertile in a month. This time period is roughly six days out of the month, so it’s important to get the timing right. To calculate this important date range, you first need to understand a few facts about your cycle:
Length
You’ll need to know the length of your average menstrual cycle. This varies from woman to woman, but it’s usually around 28 days, although it can be as short as 24 or as long as 34! Your cycle begins on the first day of your period. [1]
Phases
Your menstrual cycle is broken into three phases. It’s important that you understand what happens during each phase so you can have the best chance of getting pregnant.
Follicular Phase
The follicular phase starts on the first day of your menstruation. During this phase, the follicles inside your ovaries start to grow in size under the influence of hormones from pituitary gland. Each follicle contains an egg that will be released during next phase.
During late days of this phase, your ovaries are also working hard to prepare a place to house the egg. This phase lasts around 15 days and continues right until ovulation.
Ovulation
The 2nd phase of your cycle is one of the most important parts when it comes to conception. The exact day of ovulation depends on the length of your personal cycle, but it usually happens about halfway through your full cycle.
During ovulation, an egg is released from mature follicle inside the ovary and is picked up into fallopian tube, where it waits to be fertilized by a sperm.
Luteal Phase
The last phase of menstrual cycle is the luteal phase. After the release of egg, the ruptured follicle is converted into corpus luteum; hence the name luteal phase. The corpus luteum starts secreting progesterone to stimulate secretions from endometrium and fallopian tubes.
If the egg is not fertilized, the corpus luteum undergoes degeneration which results in shedding of endometrium and start of a new cycle.
After Ovulation (if fertilized) – IThe egg has to be fertilized by a sperm within 12-24 hours of its release, so the sperm has to be in place in order to make it happen. An embryo is formed after fertilization, which then travels to the uterus to implant itself into the uterine wall where it will grow for the next nine months!
Menstrual Cycle Diagram
As mentioned before, determining the timing of your ovulation is critical when you’re trying to conceive. One way to determine this is by using an online calculator like the one found here. However, if you’re concerned about the reliability of those results, you can also calculate your dates manually.
Manually Calculating Ovulation Days
Calendar
The easiest way to calculate what days you’ll be ovulating is by counting days on a calendar to get a good starting point. The first day of your cycle begins on the first day of your period, so that’s Day One.
The last day of your cycle begins the night before you start your next day period. The number of days in that period gives you the length of your cycle. For this example, let’s say you have a 28-day cycle.
You ovulate roughly midway through your cycle, so if your cycle is 28 days long, you can estimate the ovulation date on Day 14 of your cycle.
If your cycles are closer to 35 days, your ovulation day would be around day 21, so your most fertile days would be days 19-21.
If your cycle is closer to 21 days, your ovulation day would be around day 7 and your most fertile days would be days 5-7 [2]. It’s best to have sex every other day starting five days before your ovulation date, as sperm can live up to five days.
Body Temperature
Another way to manually determine if you’re ovulating is by taking your body temperature. This method is much more accurate than looking at a calendar, but you will need a basal temperature thermometer, which you can get at any pharmacy.
Take your temperature every day starting on the first day of your period and plot it on a graph or in your calendar. Before long, you’ll spot a .4F rise in your temperature over three consecutive days.
This occurs about five days before your ovulation date and continues for three days after it. That time period is your best chance of getting pregnant.
Detecting Signs
Another way to know that you’re ovulating is to be familiar with the signs and in touch with your body. Our bodies give out signals when ovulation is nearing, and when it’s passed, all we have to do is be aware of them.
When estrogen levels are highest and ovulation is coming, you’ll notice a stretchy cervical fluid that’s similar to egg whites [3] and your cervix will be high, soft and open.
You can also check your urine for high levels of estrogen using an ovulation predictor kit. Some women even experience ovulation cramping similar to period cramps.
Chances of Getting Pregnant
Tracking ovulation helps in both getting pregnant or in avoiding it. If you want to get pregnant, your fertile window is when you should be having sex. This period reflects the lifespan of sperm, which is 5 days, and the lifespan of the ovum, which is 24 hours.
Having sex six days before you ovulate gives you basically zero chance of getting pregnant. However, if you have sex five days before, your chance rises to 10%.
This percentage will increase the closer you get to ovulation and will then decrease once again after the end of the fertile period. During your fertile days, you should be having sex every 2 to 3 days to increase your chances of conception.
References
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1. https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/womens-health/in-depth/menstrual-cycle/art-20047186
2. https://www.verywellfamily.com/what-is-an-irregular-period-1959924
3. https://www.parents.com/getting-pregnant/ovulation/fertile-days/what-cervical-mucus-looks-like-at-every-point-in-your-cycle/
My Last period was June 20…I had unprotected sex last July 4. Could I possibly be pregnant?
If you have a 28 days cycle, you were fertile from July 2 to 6, 2015. You had sex during your fertile period so it’s possible that you conceived during that time. Your next menstrual period is expected to start on July 18, 2015. You can take a pregnancy test by July 20 to confirm.
hello .. i had my period on the 17th of june and had unprotected sex on the 26th of june. is it possible that am pregnant? meanwhile, my last period was on the 23rd of may
There is a chance you are pregnant, but not high. Your possible dates of ovulation began on the 30th to the 10th. Even if you were to begin ovulating on the 30th, every day semen lose a little more strength making their job difficult. Though it is still possible, because they an survive up to a week, I would recommend you take a pregnancy test on the 20th of July.
Hey i started my period on 1th of June and done on 5th of June, were expecting my period today 3 july 2015 but didn’t get them yet and pregnant test done two times but still negative, i want to know if there is something wrong in me or do i still keep on waiting my periods ?
Hello Honie. If you still haven’t gotten your period I would recommend you take another pregnancy test. If the test still says negative, I would recommend you speak with a doctor or a professional.
Hi, i have a 31 day circle. First day of my cycle was may 31 and last day was jun 5. I took an ovulation test on may 16 had a peak, but on the 17th around 3am we did the good deed. Is there any chance i could be pregnant. Please help me.
Yes, there is a small chance. Your best day would have been the 17th but some the day before and after can be just as effective.
my cycle is usually 28 days.
on may 25, day 1 of my period.
had unprotected sex on 3,4,9,10 june.
no period as of jun 26.
am i pregnant?
It is very possible. You had intercourse before and during your ovulation period. I would recommend you take a pregnancy test. If you get one such as First Response, now is not too early. But other test need more time.
Hi I see my period on the 31st of May and it takes 4 days on the 17th of June it takes only one day help please I don’t know how to calculate I have 25 days i didn’t see my period
I believe you may be experiencing irregular cycles. They can be caused by specific foods in your diet or stress and other factors.
My period stopped on 26 of may. Had sex 27th I think my ovulation started 9th June n I made love that night n also 19th June
My cycle was to come 23 of June. I think am late. Could I be pregnant?
Yes it is possible that you are pregnant. I would recommend taking a pregnancy test in the next few days.
Hello Sandy. If you have sexual intercourse during your fertile days, the odds of getting pregnant are very high. Since your period is also late then it could mean that you’re pregnant and you need to take a pregnancy test to confirm this.
I had my last mensuration june 5 to june 8 I had unprotected sex June 12 and June 14 I av been feeling weak and sleepy lately I also had a clear tick discharge for about 3 days it was odorless but now it has changed to a white milk watery odorless color pls am I pregnant?
Hello Kafayat. If you have a 28 days menstrual cycle, you were likely to be most fertile during June 17 to 21. Since you had sex outside of this window than it’s possible that you are not pregnant. The feelings that you’re experiencing may be due to anxiety. Please take a prenancy test to confirm your status.
I saw my menstruation on the 24th of december 2014, 31st of january 2015, 3rd of march 2015, 3rd of april 2015, 8th of may 2015 and 12th of june 2015 .pls with this information I just provided now how do I calculate ovulation
Hi Mavis, based on the information given one can see that you have a long menstrual cycle between 31 and 35 days.
The first day of your period and the last day before your next period is the length of your menstrual cycle. Ovulation happens about 2 weeks before the next expected period.
For this example, let’s use the length of time between May 8 and June 12; 35 days. If ovulation occurs about 2 weeks before your next period then it will probably occur around day 21 (July 3, 2015).
So it is basically calculated by weeks: 21 days cycle = ovulation on day 7, 28 days cycle = ovulation on day 14, 35 days cycle = ovulation on day 21.
If it falls between these set days such 31 days cycle, you would subtract 4 days from the basic 35 days; therefore ovulation would be around day 17.
I hope this information is of help to you. Good luck.
my period came on the 5th of June 2015, when will i start ovulating process? been trying to get period for the longest while now, could someone help me out please?! giving it one last try 🙁
Hi Tash. I think you meant that you’re trying to get pregnant? If that’s the case then you should be trying right now since you’re ovulating. Your most fertile days for the month are between June 17th and June 21st, assuming you have a regular 28 day cycle. If you still aren’t able to conceive after this, see a fertility doctor and he/she will advise you of how you can increase your chances of conception. Best of luck.
Had my period March 31 when is good time to have sex to have a baby
please how can i know my average menstrual cycle
There is no exact ‘average’ in anything. A human body is not a mathematically precise device to be calculated up to a day, or even a week.
The best thing is that you monitor how many days elapse from the first day of the period to the next first day of a period and then calculate some sort of the average value during the dormant part of a year.
In the fall and spring body chemistry changes and you can experience the lapses ( jumps in the average duration of the period).
The same effect can be expected during any stressful period, either psychological, physical or due to the medications that a person may take.
Had my period on the 18th of February which lasted for 4 days . Had sex on the 5 & 6 of March , Today is the 7th of March and my period started again . pls what’s wrong with me .
My last period was January 25,2015, I still not have gotten it. Could I be pregnant? My cycle is usually 30-32 days.
Please did you later see your period before am having the same issue now. Thank you
I went on my period on second of last month I was suppose to be on periods on 26 of last month I see my periods always after 25-28 days not more than that but I haven’t see my period since. am I pregnant?
hello mpummy. It’s hard to tell just from those details. to be on a sure side though, you could visit your doctor and take a test, or use a home pregnancy kit, it’s not expensive. good luck
what’s the best way to predict your ovulation?
Hi,
well, ovulation kits or tests usually give the highest accuracy:
http://womanjunction.com/ovulation-predictor-kits/
But a lot of women have good success just observing their body and looking for ovualation signs:
http://womanjunction.com/category/ovulation-signs/