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It is important to understand ovulation schedules and how the menstrual cycle works if you want to either prevent or plan a pregnancy. By keeping record of your ovulation schedule you can know when your body is the most fertile and able to conceive.
Chart your cycle correctly and plan ahead. Charting your menstrual cycle correctly will help you know your ovulation schedule. Women generally ovulate 12-16 days before their next period. If you can chart generally when your next period will be, you can count backwards 12-16 days and know you will most likely ovulate then.
To correctly chart your menstrual cycle count the first day of your period as day 1 on your calendar. Keep track of how many days until your next period. The next first day of your period is day 1 again. Note how many days are in your cycle between the first days of your periods. If the length of your menstrual cycle varies, average the number of days in your cycles for the past 3 months. Use this averaged number to help estimate your ovulation schedule by knowing in how many days your next period should come, and then count 12-16 days backwards from this day to estimate your time of ovulation.
Be aware of how ovulation works. An egg only lives for 24 hours after it is released into the fallopian tube to be fertilized during ovulation. However sperm can linger inside a woman’s body for up to a week, so it is possible to get pregnant during your ovulation even if you do not have intercourse during this time. If you are trying to avoid pregnancy by natural family planning, note that the time between the end of the menstrual period’s blood flow through ovulation (the first half of the menstrual cycle) is when you are most fertile and should either avoid intercourse or use protection.
Chart ovulation as it occurs. When you experience the physical changes ovulation causes mark it on your calendar. This will help you see patterns to your ovulation schedule. For example, do you notice a change in discharge or a rise in body temperature? Here is a list of some of the symptoms of ovulation to look out for:
- Rise in body temperature. Your body’s temperature will rise briefly after ovulation has occurred. If you take your temperature just after waking up at the same time every day you will be able to notice a change in body temperature. When you do, mark it down.
- Change in cervical mucus. You will notice that your vaginal discharge increases and is a slimy, clear and even a stringy substance. Make a note of any changes you notice on your calendar.
- Sudden surge of LH. If you take ovulation urine tests twice a day you will notice a spike in Luteinizing Hormone just before ovulation occurs. Mark it this LH surge in your calendar.
- Sharp pain or dull ache. Some women experience pain or aches near their ovaries while they are ovulating. If you have a lower side ache and it is in the middle of your cycle, then you are most likely feeling your body ovulate.
Spotting. Some women have light blood spotting while they ovulate, almost like a brief and light period. If you naturally have bleeding in the middle of your cycle it is most likely caused by ovulation and should be marked in your calendar.
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