When it comes to getting pregnant, you should be equipped with enough knowledge to know when you are most likely to conceive. You should be in tune with your menstrual as well as ovulation cycle, as any chance of ovulation means that you are fertile and have higher chances of getting pregnant.
You can easily know when you are ovulating or about to ovulate as well as when you have ovulated by tracking your menstrual cycle and ovulation days/cycle using some high-tech devices like ovulation predictor kits and basal body temperature thermometers.
Besides, you can keep an eye out for some of the common ovulation sign and symptoms that affect most women. Some of them can be breast tenderness, abdominal bloats, and pelvic pains as well as an increase in cervical mucus/fluid.
But you should note that not all women go through some of these ovulation signs and symptoms, some do not show signs at all. So you make use of what works for you or use a period calculator and ovulation predictor kits to determine it, as ovulation often starts 2 weeks or 14 days before the start of your next period.
So, if you want to maximize your chances of getting pregnant you can look at some of these simple ovulation concepts as well as an ovulation cycle so as to know when you are most likely to get pregnant.
Here is a brief overview of your period, pre-ovulation, ovulation and post-ovulation days/cycle.
Phase 1: Your Chances of Getting Pregnant During Period
Your period often comes once a month, that is for those with regular menstrual cycles. It is interrelated with the shedding off of the endometrium wall, the inner membrane of your uterus. It often lasts for 3-7 days and on the third day, your progesterone and estrogen level starts to rise so as to rebuild it, the endometrium wall.
By the fourth day, follicle ripening begins to go on the up-tick, meaning that the ovaries are starting to prepare loads of eggs for release. You should note that only a mature egg can connect with a sperm and start your pregnancy journey.
On the same note, the average timing of ovulation is usually 14 days before your next period. But some women ovulate early. So you can track your temperature, using ovulation predictor kits as well as watch out for other internal body signs and symptoms of ovulation so as to be sure you are about to ovulate or are ovulating already.
But when it comes to conception at this time, your chances will be zero as sperms won’t have an egg to work with. But you can have sex as much as you want stress free.
Phase 2: Your Chances of Getting Pregnant During Pre-Ovulation
In this phase, you can have frequent sex, maybe 2-3 times a week, or daily if you are capable. You can also start immediately after your period so as to cover your window of pre-ovulation.
This is because around the seventh day of your cycle you might start to experience some vaginal discharge that is a bit springy with the slightest of touch and within a few days, it becomes all creamy and white. This often means that your fertility is returning and ovulation is on its way but it does not mean that an egg has been released yet.
This creamy white substance is called the cervical fluid and is great for aiding the sperm to reach the egg as well as harboring it.
Remember, sperm can live up to five days if trapped in the cervical fluid. So, it would be a great time to have sex more often than usual as ovulation often happens around this phase and it can start early for some women.
Phase 3: Your Chances of Getting Pregnant During Ovulation
This is the best time to conceive as your chances of getting pregnant is high at this stage. No matter how long or short your periods are, ovulation often starts 14 days before your next period. And when it happens your body goes through a lot of hormonal changes as well as a rise in temperature.
But in case you are not sure, you can use ovulation predictor kits to know when to have sex. For instance, if the test kit turns positive then you should have sex in the next 24-36 hours.
Moreover, if your cervical fluid/mucus has increased tremendously all day long, then you should have sex ASAP. You can test with your finger, if it is thin and spreads easily then you are good to go.
Your chances of getting pregnant are high here as any egg released will meet with a waiting sperm or sperm that has been released then.
You should note that any egg released in this phase can only live up to 12 hours. But this is the best time for conception.
Phase 4: Your Chances of Getting Pregnant During Post Ovulation
This is also known as the luteal phase and lasts between 12-16 days. In this phase, your progesterone level will begin to rise, signaling your ovaries not to release any more eggs in the current month.
Moreover, your cervical mucus/fluid will dry up and create a plug so as to prevent any additional sperm from entering your uterus.
You should take note that it takes up to six days for any fertilized egg to travel up to your uterus. And in case one implants in your endometrium wall then you will start to see and feel a rise in human chorionic gonadotropin hormone, HCG. You can test for its presence using home pregnancy kits after a week of sexual intercourse.
But your chances of getting pregnant are often low in this phase, as a mature egg is often released once a month and once it has been released you just have to wait for the next month.
But you can have sex as much as you want it is practically safe and good for your body.
Conclusion
Conclusively, When it comes to maximizing your chances of getting pregnant, it is ideal to always try close to ovulation as well as when you are ovulating after wards it becomes harder and harder as the released egg can only last for up to 12 hours.
So, always keep you menstrual and ovulation cycle charted and marked as they determine your fertile days as well as increase your chances of getting pregnant.
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