It would seem that getting pregnant should be an easy thing to do, after all humans have been procreating for millions of years. However, for the people who suffer from infertility, getting pregnant is anything but easy.
It is important to understand just how and when can you get pregnant. Of course, sexual intercourse is required but the timing of the sexual intercourse is one of the most important factors when it comes to becoming pregnant. So when are you most fertile? There is only a short window of time when conception can occur every month and the more informed a woman is about her menstrual cycle and ovulation the better the chances are for her to become pregnant.
When To Get Pregnant – Ovulate
Ovulation is the only phase of the menstrual cycle where conception can occur. Ovulation is when the egg or the ovum is released from the ovaries. If the egg meets with the male sperm on its way down the fallopian tube, conception can take place. While it would seem rather simple, there are women who do not ovulate regularly and there are men who have lazy or inadequate amounts of sperm. Either way these factors my prevent conception from taking place.
Ovulation is a complex interplay of glands and hormones. The hypothalamus is the gland that affects ovulation. It uses hormones to connect with the pituitary gland, the master gland of the endocrine system. The pituitary gland then produces luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH).
Calculating Ovulation
High levels of LH will cause ovulation within 2 days. The cycle continues as the ovum is released into the peritoneal cavity ad on to the fallopian tube on down to the uterus. The ovum is primed and ready to be fertilized by the sperm. If the ovum does not encounter a sperm within 24 hours, it dies and the ovum and the excess cells are sloughed off in a period. The ovum dies within 24 hours if it is not fertilized by an egg but sperm can live for as long as 5 to 6 days in the uterine cavity.
So when do you ovulate? Ovulation typically occurs within 14 days before the onset of the menstrual period, one time every month until menopause, with breaks for pregnancy and child birth. Sometimes other factors come into play and ovulation may not be occurring. This is a possible cause of infertility.
When is Ovulation – Symptoms of Ovulation
There are often signs of ovulation. The basal body temperature will rise a slight amount and there are significant changes in cervical mucus discharge, which most women can learn to identify. If you are planning to become pregnant it may be wise to track your basal body temperature for a few months to learn exactly when you may be ovulating.
You should also learn to identify and track the changes in your cervical mucus discharge so you can identify the best possible days for conception. There are also ovulation indicator tests available at your local drugstore that you may want to check out.
You can only get pregnant for a window of about 5 days during each and every month. These are the days when your body is ovulating. Learning about ovulation can help you to maximize your chances of getting pregnant.
