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/
I saw my period on 10 February 2018 and I have unprotected sex on 23rd and 25th February and I’m having 30 days cycle. And my period started on 12 March, I don’t know if I’m pregnant or not. Plz help me
Hi Deborah, if you got your period after your unprotected sex, then you most likely aren’t pregnant.
Hi, I had my period on dec, 11,2017 and I have a menstrual cycle of 21 to 24 days, and my period usually stop after 6 days. Please when will my next ovulation take place and when will I be able to have sex without getting pregnant. I need your urgent assistance.
Hello Shamsiyya, please use the below link to determine when you will ovulate and when you are less fertile: https://womanjunction.com/
Hello, usually my periods are on 31 day cycles but my last one was late and was a 35 day cycle (starting on the 7th October). How do I calculate when my next period will start? Will it be 31 days after the 7th?
Hello Justine, use this link to help you do so: https://womanjunction.com/
So I have regular 28 day cycles had regular cycle 20th 2017, around ovulation day 13 I began bleeding and clotting for another 7 days, went to docs, no pregnancy,ultrasound,done,every thing fine, now I’m confused should I consider or count it as a period?
Hi there KittyvonD, this might have been an early period.
Hi I had my period on the 9/14/17 and it end on the 20 when is my next period due
Hello Bendu, please use link below to determine this: https://womanjunction.com/
Hello Alison, I saw my period on 27th July, had unprotected sex on 14th -18th August, I thought that am pregnant, I saw it again on 19th August. I thought that I would be pregnant. What should I do to be pregnant cause am still with my husband, should I continue having sex.
Hi there Anny, just keep having sex around your most fertile days. https://womanjunction.com/
Hi ..I had unprotected sex with my girlfriend on 30 July 2017 ……her period came on 14th July at morning I had sex with her after 17 days of her period …can she get pregnant ??? By the way she took emergency pills (unwanted 72) after 22 hours of sex …please tell me .. I am worried.
Hello Honey, once birth control was taken then risk of pregnancy is lowered. All the best.
I had my last period on 9 of April 2017 please when will I see the one of this month
Hi there Serah, please use the link below to calculate your next menstrual period.
https://womanjunction.com/
Hi, I had my period on the 5th April and had unprotected sex on the 12th. I took the ecp the next day and I haven’t seen my period. Could I be pregnant?
Hi there Jay, once the ECP was taken within 72 days after all should be well. Also please note that the Emergency Contraceptive Pill might delay your period. All the best.
Hi, I had my period on the 1st of April, so I didn’t see it until the 31st of April as well,all I thought was am pregnant because I had unprotected sex around the 17th to 29th of April until I saw my period this morning 2nd of May. Please what is the problem please I need to conceive.
I am confused. Is my cycle 28 or 30 or did I lose the pregnancy ?
Hello Kemmy, use the following link to help you to know when you are most fertile and have sex on those days: http://womanjunction.com/
I have an IUD, not trying to get pregnant. Got the IUD in November of 2015. My period is so irregular, it always has been. Sometimes 26 day cycle, sometimes 36 days. Is this normal, and is there anything I can do to make it more predictable?
Hello there Kaitlin, I would advise that you speak with your doctor on this matter. All the best.
I had my period February 4 lasted till the 8th 2017. I’m already past due I think for my next period but I’m not sure my cycles are normally 28 days and this one was actually shorter than most cycles. What could this mean?
Hi there Isabella, women’s cycle vary for different reasons. Stress, hormonal imbalance, pregnancy, etc are the culprits. See your doctor if you suspect something might be wrong. All the very best.
Hi had my period 26th of December and it last up to January 1st am trying to get pregnant but I took two pregnancy test and it shows negative I haven’t see any period up till now I had unprotected sex am feeling dizzy sometimes also feeling tenderness in my breast a for two days what could be the reason
Hi there Allison! Please refer to this article for information. Best Regards
I am trying to get pregnant I had a miscarriage on the 22 of Dec 2016 and same day had a d and e. I have been having unprotected sex since Dec 25 everyday at least once a day. I had gotten my period on Jan 22 2017 it was light for the most part maybe heavy for a day and half and only had it for 5 days. what are the chances of me now being pregnant. by looking at calendars and stuff it says I should have my period by the 19 of this month. I am nauseous on and off and crampy now on and off. Any thoughts for me?
Hello Lisa, I really hope you are given that you are trying to be. If you think you might be pregnant do not hesitate to take a pregnancy test.
I had my period two times in a month and on the sixth day of the second period I had unprotected sex can it lead to pregnancy
Hi there Mariam! It might be the implantation bleeding. Please refer to this article for information. Best Regards
Hi.i had my period on 23 January and now I’m again having period on 2 February. It’s too early .i wanna ask that it’s okay.im unmarried
Hello Ari, you did not mention if you had unprotected sex or are trying for a baby.