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/
Hi, I saw my last period 20th July and it lasted for four days. plz when am I most fertile.
Hello Marie,Your next most fertile period is August 01, 2015 to August 05, 2015.
Good evening. I know nothing about this menstral circle but I need it very much now as I am trying to get pregnant. I had this month period on the 13th and stoped on the 15th, the one for last month was on the 14th, so I guess am the 28days type. Please when is my ovulation period for this month? Thank you
Hi Eyinju, Your next most fertile period is August 25, 2015 to August 29, 2015.
I last had my periods on 7 July 2015 and now it 15 August 2015 and we’ve had sex in July during my most fertile days could I be pregnant coz I haven’t seen my periods yet while it 15 august and I’m afraid to take a pregnancy test because I can be dissapointed.
Hi Pamella, It is very possible for you to be pregnant, you should take a test also remember that you might get a negative and still be pregnant.
Pls help me. I got ma periods on 14th july it stoped on 20th july im planing to have a baby im confuse coz im sick showing symtoms of pregnancy but im not sure I need to know if im not pregnant when I will get ma next peeiod. How to calculate it.plz hlp me plz god bless.
Hi Sha,Your next most fertile period is July 26, 2015 to July 30, 2015.
Your next menstrual period is expected to start on August 11, 2015 which would mean you have missed your period take a pregnancy test.
pls I need help.my last period started on the 12th of July and on 10th of August i and my bf did got to play bt he didn’t penetrate but that same day I took contraceptive to be on a safer side but I haven’t seen my period yet. pls what could be d cause?
Hi, please read this post to learn more about why your period might be late
I don’t know when will I ovulate?? I really like to know , I have no idea how to count my menstrual cycle cause it’s so irregular my last period was on July 25,2015 next period on August 20 or 22nd ? I use the app on my phone called period tracker but I don’t think it’s correct . I really need help !!
Hi Deejah, your next most fertile period is September 01, 2015 to September 05, 2015.
I saw my period on 6 of August this month and my period last for 4 day but my menstruation cycle is 26-28 when is my fertile day
Hi there, your most fertile day will be August 17 2015 to august 21 2015.
Saw my period on the 6th of August 2015 when is my safe period to have a Hot Sex.
My last period started at 7July.I had unprotected sex on 2nd of August and I took an emergency pill on that day.Am I pregnant?
Most likely you are not. You took the emergency contraceptive in good time. Secondly it sounds as though you were close to the end of your cycle, making your chances of conceiving very low.
Hello.i need help please.my last period was on 5th July and i had sex on 19th July.my period lasts for 25-30 days.are there chances that i might be pregnant?
My period goes this way December 31st, February none, March 1st, April 2nd, May 26th, June 20th, July 21st. How can I know my ovulating period?
The irregularity of your period indicates that you may need to consider using an ovulation predictor kit to monitor future periods. This link has useful information on how calculate your ovulation period, among other things http://womanjunction.com/
Hey please, I really need help. I had my last menstrual period on the 6th of July – my period ranges from 22 to 26 days. When next will I ovulate? How can I calculate it manually by myself?
Hello! I have menstruation last July 1 that’s the first day and I had sex with my boyfriend yesterday only. Is that still safe? Because he didn’t pull out! Thank you for your reply. Best regards.
Knowing the length of your cycle is necessary to determine your fertile days. If you have a normal 28 days cycle, you were fertile on July 13 to 17. Having unprotected sex on July 18 increases your chances of being pregnant because there is a 12-48 hour period where the egg is available for fertilization from your partner’s sperm. The sperm can live for at least 5 days in your body.
my last menstrual cycle was on June 15th that was the start datemy cycles sometimes varies between 21 and 28 days and I had sex on July 4th and haven’t received my. Is there possibility I may be pregnant like I feel find out different and I just want to know
Yes, there is a possibility you are pregnant. I would recommend you take a pregnancy test within the next few days
Hello. I saw my menstruation on the 2nd to the 5th of July 2015. I had sex on the 5th and 6th of July 2015. Help me, when will be my ovulation. Usually my cycle is between 25-28 days.
Hello! Your most fertile days this month will be the 11th-16th. For August your most fertile days will be the 6th-11th. Good luck!
Had my period on the 16 th of june,then had unprotected sex from 26-28 june.My next period is due on the 14th of july had unprotected sex again on the 10th and 11th of july could I be pregnant iv been cramping for the past week. please help
Yes, it is possible you may have conceived. Your fertile days were most likely from June 27th-July 3rd. I would recommend you take a pregnancy within the next 3-5 days for the most accurate result.