Determining your fertility

If you are new to the world of conception, you will probably know more than you ever thought about how your reproductive system works. Things like how long sperm survive in the female reproductive tract or how long an egg remains viable after being released from an ovary may once have seemed insignificant or unimportant, but this information takes on a deeper meaning now that you are actively trying to conceive. . .

As you may already know, for conception to occur, at least one healthy, vigorous sperm must be in the fallopian tube at the time of ovulation and must be able to fertilize an egg within 12 to 24 hours of ovulation. released from the ovary.

Because sperm can live in the female reproductive tract for a maximum of 5 days, only a small number of sperm will survive even the long journey through the female reproductive tract. Therefore, couples trying to conceive should plan to have several sexual intercourses in the days leading up to ovulation.

To do this, you need to be able to predict when you will ovulate, and this is sometimes more difficult than you think. Luckily, for those of us in need of help, there are some reliable ways to predict when each cycle's most fertile days will come.

Before we move on to a discussion of how to determine your fertile window, it may be helpful to briefly review the stages of your menstrual cycle, as the hormonal changes that occur during the various phases set the stage for the cycle, ovulation, and provide clues. ovulation time. future.

Mother tries to determine her fertility window

During the first few days of the menstrual cycle (called the follicular phase), certain hormones, especially follicle-stimulating hormone, start the process of maturation of the follicles (sacs containing the egg) in the ovaries. In the second week of the cycle, the level of follicle-stimulating hormone begins to decline, and one dominant follicle continues to grow.

This growing follicle produces more and more estrogen, which initiates the ovulatory phase. Estrogen plays a key role in the ovulation process and helps prepare the body for pregnancy. This hormone helps form the lining of the endometrium, promotes the secretion of fertile quality cervical mucus (which helps protect and transport sperm into the reproductive tract), and triggers the production of luteinizing hormone.

By paying close attention to how your body responds to rising estrogen levels during the first two weeks of your menstrual cycle, you can begin to predict ovulation. For example, many women know that ovulation is fast approaching when they notice an increase in the production of fertile quality cervical mucus.

Ovulation prediction tools

Modern technology today has provided designers with several reliable and convenient tools for predicting ovulation. Here is a brief introduction to some of the available tests and devices that you can use to determine your fertility window.

Ovulation kits are a popular method for predicting ovulation. Ovulation kits detect the presence of luteinizing hormone in the urine. For many women, the amount of luteinizing hormone in the body increases about 12 to 36 hours before ovulation. By testing ovulation kits, you can detect this luteinizing hormone surge, letting you know that ovulation is fast approaching and you are in your fertile window.

Ovulation microscopes or saliva microscopes allow women to identify their most fertile days by observing the visual changes that occur in saliva throughout the monthly cycle. Just before ovulation, women experience an "estrogen surge" and a distinct fern in their saliva becomes visible under a microscope due to the elevated estrogen levels.

Since the surge in estrogen usually precedes the surge in luteinizing hormone (luteinizing hormone is a hormone determined by urine-based ovulation tests), ovulation microscopes can often infer a later ovulation, giving women trying to conceive more time to plan their "baby" . respectively. dancing".

Taking the time and effort to identify your fertile window will help relieve the stress and frustration associated with trying to conceive a journey. So while there are many ways to predict ovulation, the most important thing is to choose the method that's right for you!