HomePregnancyTrying To Get Pregnant? Know How to Track Your Menstrual Cycle

Trying To Get Pregnant? Know How to Track Your Menstrual Cycle

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Ovulation and the menstrual cycle plays a key role in deciding a woman’s fertility quotient. If you are trying to conceive naturally, it is a given that you have to track your menstrual cycle, especially the period you are ovulation.

Typically, engaging in sexual intercourse 3-4 days before ovulation and a day after ovulation is considered the “peak” time for a natural conception. However, every woman has varying lengths of their menstrual cycle. Some have it for 28 days, some for 23-24 days and some for even up to 40 days.

Irrespective of the duration of the menstrual cycle, tracking it is imperative when you are trying for a natural conception without any medical interventions.

How Many Days Following my Last Period will I Ovulate?

When trying for a baby, being aware of the ovulation period is essential. This is what helps you assert higher chances of pregnancy.

However, when do I ovulate? This is a question that most women wonder about but don’t have a solid answer to. Let us clear up that doubt first.

In order to find out your ovulation days in a menstrual cycle, your first task is to assess the average menstrual cycle duration. Once you know the length of the cycle, you need to indulge in some mathematics.

If your periods are like clockwork and happen on the same day each month, tracking your ovulation should be a breeze. Calculate the first day of your next period.

Let’s say your first day of the next period is the 24th of next month. So, your ovulation will happen 14-days before the first day of the period, which is the 10th of next month.

However, your “fertile window” for a successful conception will be around the 8th or 9th of the next month.

If your period doesn’t happen like clockwork, we’d recommend tracking your menstrual cycle for at least 3-6 months to notice the average length and recurrence. This should give you a clear idea about your ovulation and fertile window before that.

How Should I Track my Menstrual Cycle efficiently?

Now that you have an idea of what is menstrual cycle and ovulation are, it is important we discuss how you can track your menstrual cycle. Typically, there are three common ways we’d recommend:

The apps are very efficient nowadays and are a go-to for almost every woman that’s trying to get pregnant or keeping a track of their menstrual cycle.

Basal Body Temperature

Besides these manual and technology-led methods of tracking your menstrual cycle, there is another factor worth considering – Basal Body Temperature.

The basal body temperature (BBT) is the body’s temperature at rest. Typically, when you are ovulating, the BBT rises subsequently. You can measure it with a thermometer in the morning right after getting out of your bed.

Generally, the body temperature will rise by 0.5 degrees, which isn’t a lot but still enough to indicate that you are ovulating and your period will start in the coming two weeks or so. We’d recommend that you don’t singlehandedly rely on the BBT as a way to track your menstrual period since it can be influenced by certain other factors too.

Cervical Mucus

Another physical change in the body that is indicative of active ovulation is cervical mucus discharge. It is a white or clear-colored transparent vaginal discharge. The discharge is generally non-existent before your fertile period.

However, following ovulation, the discharge becomes thicker, almost resembling the appearance of an egg white.

Follicular Monitoring

If you want medical intervention to get accurate results of your peak fertility period during the length of the menstrual cycle, we’d recommend undergoing an ultrasound session for follicular monitoring.

The scan typically happens on the 10th day of the menstrual cycle. The first scan assesses the size of the follicle, following which the doctor will again ask the patient to come in after three days. The follicular size is monitored again. Once the follicle reaches 20 mm in size, it indicates that it’s time for ovulation.

Waiting period

If you have indulged in unprotected sexual intercourse during the fertile period during the menstrual cycle, you typically need to wait for 15-16 days after that. If the egg hasn’t been fertilized, your period will start.

However, if you miss your period, then it’s indicative of the fact that you might be pregnant. Getting an at-home pregnancy kit should be enough to confirm your suspicions by that point.

Does Having Unprotected Sex Regularly Enhance the Chances of Pregnancy?

If you have an irregular menstrual cycle where you can’t track the individual phases of menstrual cycle, indulging in regular unprotected sex might help with conception.

Ovulation monitoring is extremely helpful for an “assured” chance at a natural conception but it’s not mandatory. One can get pregnant even without tracking their ovulation and menstrual cycle provided that you are having sex 2-3 times a week or every 2-3 days for better chances.

Studies have found that indulging in “conception sex”, which involves specific sexual positions, timing and a stress-free experience has been found to enhance the chances of conception as well.

Conclusion

Pregnancy is a rewarding experience but the process isn’t as easy for every individual or couple. Tracking one’s menstrual cycle proportionately enhances the chances of a successful pregnancy, something that we’d highly recommend you consider as well. If you are experiencing issues conceiving naturally even after trying the aforementioned methods, we’d suggest seeking medical intervention. With proper guidance and councelling you can also have the surreal experience of pregancy and childbirth.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do fertility apps track your period?

The primary objective of a fertility app is to provide a comprehensive idea and breakdown of the menstrual cycle days. This involves alerting one about their ovulation, period days, etc.

How long should I track my cycle before getting pregnant?

When tracking your cycle for a successful pregnancy, we’d recommend focusing on the ovulation period. 3-4 days before ovulation and a day after ovulation is considered the fertile window. That’s when your chances of pregnancy are the highest.

What causes menstrual cycle to change dates?

Changes to the menstrual cycle date primarily depend on the body’s hormonal balance, especially that of estrogen and progesterone. But external factors like stress, exercise etc. can also cause fluctuations.

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