If you’re a woman reading this, you’re probably at a point in your life where you’re thinking very seriously about your ability to conceive. Now, there are two ways to think about fertility. Either you’re ready to conceive and establish a family, or you’re doing it to prevent becoming pregnant. In either case, tracking your ovulation is the first step.
Ovulation occurs when a developed egg is released from the ovary for fertilization. It is a crucial component of the menstrual cycle and affects a woman’s fertility significantly. Ovulation monitoring is a fertility awareness technique or a natural family planning method.
Every woman should be able to track her ovulation, whether she is attempting to get pregnant or prevent becoming pregnant. And it is the main topic of this article.
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Tracking ovulation
There are seven ways to determine when you ovulate:
#1. Use the calendar
The calendar approach, also known as the “conventional days” method, determines when you are most likely to ovulate by taking into account the length of your average menstrual cycle and the date of your last menstruation. The average luteal phase lasts 14 days, and the normal menstrual cycle lasts between 21 and 35 days. Between ovulation and the first day of your subsequent menstruation is a period known as the luteal phase. It could last for ten to fifteen days.
For those who have regular periods, the calendar approaches frequently work. Even so, it still lacks perfect accuracy. It’s common for regular periods to occasionally change. Therefore, to get an accurate picture, it’s always a good idea to keep track of the duration of your menstrual cycle for at least six cycles. Fortunately, you can download a number of apps to make things simpler for you.
#2. The method of basal body temperature
Your internal temperature when you first wake up in the morning is known as your basal body temperature (BBT). Typically, your BBT fluctuates throughout your menstrual cycle. It is usually lower before ovulation (between 0.2- 0.5 degree Celsius) and higher above your regular temperature and remains u for 3 full days after ovulation. Your body’s temperature rises as a result of the increase in progesterone levels.
Take your temperature every morning before you get out of bed to check for changes in your BBT so you can apply the BBT method efficiently. Your BBT is a good indicator that you are ovulating if it is high and stable for at least three days. To achieve a precise forecast of your fertile window, it is advised that you chart your BBT for at least three months. Oh, you can use a thermometer to monitor your BBT.
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#3.Using cervical mucus
Your vaginal discharge, which is known as cervical mucus, is actually produced by glands in and around your cervix. It has two functions: it keeps items out of your uterus through your cervix outside of your fertile window, and it makes room for the sperm to fertilize the egg in your uterus. window,
The cervical mucus changes throughout your menstrual cycle in terms of volume, color, and texture. Cervical mucus that is stickier and drier is a sign that you are not ovulating. Cervical mucus that is drier and thinner typically signals ovulation. As an aid to comprehension, take notice of the following:
- The mucus is sticky or dry and not ovulating
- If your mucus is creamy, you might be ovulating.
- The mucus is wet and runny, indicating that ovulation is imminent.
- Ovulation has taken place if the mucus is extremely moist, stretchy, and resembles raw egg whites.
You only need to examine your mucus daily to use this method to track your ovulation. Yeah, sticking your finger down there could make you uncomfortable, but it’s vital. To prevent infections, you should only make sure your hands are clean before insertion. The BBT approach is best used in conjunction with this technique.
#4. Sympto-Thermal Method
The Sympto-Thermal Method (STM) combines the cervical mucus, BBT, and calendar approaches. STM is the most accurate awareness-based approach to fertility, with a 99.6% effectiveness rate. This is due to the fact that each of the three methods uses a distinct set of indicators to forecast your fertile window. It’s a fantastic fallback technique you may rely on if your hormones are out of whack as a result of illness or stress, which can impair the precision of other techniques.
#5. Cervical position technique
Throughout your menstrual cycle, your cervix’s position shifts. Firmness and transparency are also a part of this. At the start of your menstrual cycle, your cervix is harder, closed, and positioned lower in your vagina. Your cervix does, however, shift up higher, open somewhat, and soften to the touch as you get closer to your ovulation. This method of tracking ovulation requires you to thoroughly wash your hands, find a comfortable posture where you can access your cervix, and then enter your middle or index finger into your vagina to reach your cervix and note your results.
#6. kits for predicting ovulation
The best way to monitor your ovulation is with ovulation prediction kits. They resemble urine pregnancy test kits for at-home use. Your luteinizing hormone (LH) levels are measured by ovulation test strips, which display a certain color when these levels rise. Your ovaries release an egg during ovulation as a result of LH. An increase in LH levels typically signals ovulation within 12 to 36 hours. To achieve the best results, it is advised to use these test strips daily.
How to monitor ovulation to prevent conception
The STM method is the most effective strategy to monitor your ovulation in order to prevent pregnancy. You must first be able to keep track of your menstrual cycle To find out, follow these steps:
- On your calendar, mark with X the first day of your period.
- Make another X on the first day of your next menstruation.
- Count the number of days between the two Xs. Those are the number of days in your menstrual cycle.
- As was previously said, it’s common for your cycle to change occasionally. For greater accuracy, it is advised that you follow your cycle for at least six months.
To determine your fertile days, take the steps below.
- From your calendar, identify the longest and shortest cycles. Your longest period might be 31 days, while your smallest could be 28 days.
- The first day of your fertility window can be calculated by deducting 18 days from your shortest cycle. For instance, if your cycle lasts 28 days and you take 18 off of that, your cycle’s 10th day would be the first day of your fertile window.
- Subtract 11 days from your longest cycle to determine the last day of your fertile window. If your longest cycle is 31 days and you subtract 11 from 31, your fertile window ends on the 20th day of your cycle.
Simply avoid having sex or use protection on the days that indicate your fertile period.
How to monitor ovulation in order to become pregnant
When you are fertile, use the methods mentioned above and engage in unprotected sex.
How to monitor ovulation when having irregular periods
If you have irregular cycles, you can find it difficult to track your ovulation. Don’t give up, though, especially if you’re wanting to get pregnant.
When your cycle is unpredictable, manually tracking your ovulation will undoubtedly be difficult. Fortunately, ovulation predictor kits will take care of the task. The main drawback is that you will always need to utilize the kits to determine when you are ovulating.
Summary
Finally, focus on having sex consistently, if feasible, every day to improve your chances if you want to become pregnant but have irregular periods and are bored of monitoring your ovulation. Use the strategies suggested above to prevent asking “God, why me?” if you are not prepared for the pregnancy journey.
