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/
Comment Text*i see my period on 23 jan, but didnt see it on febuaray and it later start on 6th march 2016, when is my ovulating period, and what can cause me not seeing my period on febuaray
Hi Joy, there may be many reasons for missing period- Change of diet, change in exercise routine, hormonal changes and so on. Do you always have a regular menstruation cycle?
Comment Text*hi ,I had my menses on 9February and have sex on the 15to 18,could it be possible I will get pregnant
Hello, if it was unprotected sex, there is always a chance for pregnancy. If you want to know your most fertile days, you can use this link- http://womanjunction.com/
I’m trying to get pregnant and have been having sex every day for two months but nothing has happened until now. I still see my menses. What could be the problem?
We know that trying to conceive can be a very frustrating time. Don’t lose hope…this useful information from our blog post will guide you. Read more here http://womanjunction.com/how-to-get-pregnant-guide/
Hi steffy I had my period on March 9th and had intercourse with my husband on March 16th and 21st could I be pregnant?
Lucky guy.
My last period was the January 19 had protected sex February 11 now it’s march 7 how late is my period
Hi help me i want to become pregnant. we’re trying for 2 years but until now nothing, what vitamins to help get Pregnant?
Hi
please check this and this post
My period came Jan 26,2016 and left February 2,2016 when will it come again
Hi. If your cycles are 28 days your period was due on February 23rd. This estimate is given based on the information you provided. Are your periods normally irregular? The number of days in your mentral cyle and whether or not you have irregular periods are factors in making an accurate determination.
I seen my last menstruation on 30th Jan 2016. Under 25 days cycle. Expecting to see it again on Feb 23th. But till now nothing. Had sex between 7 – 19 days. Am I pregnant? Thank.
Hello, If you had unprotected sex, there is always a chance of pregnancy. But pregnancy is not the only reason of missing periods. To make sure, please take a pregnancy test.
I had my menses on 14-17th of February when will be my ovulation
Hi Irene. it depends on the length of your cycle. please use the calculator at this page to calculate your fertile days
we really want a baby, but we have been having sex up to now nothing has
happen and have extended my leave days untill 10th March. she is been having her meses on the following dates since i came back home; 22 Dec 2015:time 09hrs, 21 Jan 2016:time 23hrs and 19th Feb 2016:time 09hrs respectively. what could be the problem? we have two children and we want two more. i really need your help. and will be the next ovulation date?
Your ovulation dates are directly in between period cycles. The 1st-4th would be the best days of ovulation 🙂
I had my periods from 28-31 jan 2016 (4days), my cycle is 24days….Im trying for a baby everyday…I was expecting to get this month’s period on 21st but still hasnt come….what could this be?
You have the possibility of being pregnant! Take a test on the 28th if it doesn’t show up 🙂
Hi my 1st cycle last Dec starts on the 19th..then next month January is on the 24th…when should be my next cycle will starts by this month of February, last January 31 I had an intercourse with my bf..its the 8th days of my cycle..would it be possible for me to get pregnant…since I haven’t got my February cycle yet..?? Thank u so much
It is always possible to get pregnant if your intercourse is unprotected.
Hi i want to know if i will be pregnant . If i will have sex on march 08 to 11 my menstruation is January 15 and end 20. Please help. Because i want to get pregnant. By april .
Hello. According to the information you provided your most fertile days in March are 22-27. Although pregnancy is always a possibility when having unprotected sex, there is no guarantee that you will become pregnant. Best wishes.
Hi..i would like to ask when will be my ovulation date..we used to get together only every weekend..that is saturday and sunday since I’m working as a teacher monday to fri. we want to have a baby but i don’t know when will be my ovulation day..may period this february was on february 19…when will be my ovulation date? please help..i am looking forward to your reply mam..thank you…
it depends on how long is your menstrual cycle usually. you can use the calculator at this page to calculate it once you figure out how long is your cycle
pls i dont know how to calculate my menstrual cycle
Please,i need help,i usually see my period 28 0f every month,sometimes 30 and it will flow into the next month like 1st and 2nd of the new month..OK, i saw my period 26th of December 2015, then 28th of January 2016..my questions are…what is my menstrual cycle and wen next will i see my next period and lastly wen should be my ovulation?
Typically a cycle is about 24-26 days so my guess is you will see it around the 28th-3rd.
please I had my menstruation on 14th jan, then I had sex on 19th jan 2016 but am having 26days menstual cycle, so please when would I have my next menstruation on february.
Hi,Your next menstrual period was expected to start on February 09, 2016.