Trying to get pregnant? While conceiving requires a number of things to line up just so, you can take some of the guesswork out of it if you know how to track ovulation correctly.
Why Ovulation Dates Matter
Not everyone will be able to get pregnant on their first try. In fact, of every 100 couples trying to conceive, about 80 to 90 will manage in the first year but the rest may take longer. Your best chance of getting pregnant is if you have sexual intercourse close to the date of release of the egg from the ovary - otherwise known as your ovulation date. In fact, experts suggest having intercourse in the five days leading up to ovulation as well as on the day of ovulation itself to improve the odds.
So how do you #track your ovulation date? Simply watching for signs like bloating, breast tenderness, or cramping won’t do - they’re just not accurate enough as indicators.
Here are the methods that are most popularly used to track ovulation.
#1 Chart Your Cycle
With a little discipline, you should be able to keep track of the length of your menstrual cycles. Note the first day of your last menstrual period or LMP. You will usually ovulate in the window between Days 11-21 if you begin the day-wise count from your first day of your LMP. This period is when you are most fertile.
- If Your Cycle Is 28 Days Long And Regular: For women with a regular 28-day cycle, your ovulation date is around 14 days from the first day of the last period you’ve had.
- If Your Cycle Isn’t Exactly 28 Days: If your cycle isn’t exactly 28 days long, the math may not be as straightforward - and take heart, because that’s true for most women. Ovulation usually occurs in the 4 days prior to or just after you cross the midpoint of your menstrual cycle.
#2 Ovulation Predictor Kits
Ovulation kits are easily available over-the-counter. You simply use them to test your urine for the characteristic rise in hormones that happens just before you ovulate. Luteinizing Hormone levels increase 24-48 hours ahead of ovulation.
#3 BBT (Basal Body Temperature) Tracking
Just after your body releases the egg each month, your body’s progesterone levels rise up to allow the uterine lining to keep building. This hormonal rise is linked to a slight increase in body temperature. A basal thermometer can be used every morning before you even step out of your bed, to determine if you have ovulated. Just be warned, this method isn’t fool proof because the temperature rise is as little as 0.5-1 degree. What’s more, it tells you after ovulation has occurred whereas your most fertile days are 2-3 days before this rise. If you have a fever for some other reason it will render this method unreliable.
#4 Cervical Mucus Method
In the window before you ovulate, your body increases cervical mucus production. The mucus itself also becomes slippery and thin. Once you’ve ovulated, the mucus is less noticeable and thicker. If you’re trying to conceive, have sexual intercourse every day (or every other day) at the time when the slippery thin mucus is evident. A word of caution - your cervical mucus may also be altered if you’re using medication or feminine hygiene products, breastfeeding, douching, having sexual intercourse or have had a pelvic exam and used lubrication during the process.
Think you’re Pregnant? Take An Accurate Test To Confirm!
If you feel you’ve managed to track your ovulation accurately and might be pregnant, confirm the pregnancy with an accurate at-home #pregnancy test kit like #Mamaxpert Pregtest. This simple test can be taken from the comfort of your own home without the need for a doctor’s visit.
Skip the guesswork and order your Mamaxpert Pregtest home pregnancy test kit today.