Knowing the fertile periods in the menstrual cycle will help you achieve a successful pregnancy. Infertility treatment experts often choose different treatment timings for different couples.
Choosing the right time is the basic condition for conception. There is approximately a 25% chance of conception during each menstrual cycle, including in pregnant women whose fertility is not compromised. Therefore, predicting the best time to conceive is very important. Measuring and recording a woman\’s basal body temperature (BBT) is the first thing infertility treatment experts ask infertile couples to do. This simple method you can do at home will help you stay on top of your menstrual cycle.
After ejaculation, sperm maintains its fertilizing ability for 24 to 48 hours; the egg\’s fertilizing ability after ovulation averages 12 to 24 hours, and of course there will be variations, such as when the basal body temperature rises (i.e. when ovulation occurs) If you have sex within the first 7 days of pregnancy, you may get pregnant.
Measure your basal body temperature to accurately know your ovulation period. Basal body temperature measurement refers to the body temperature measured after waking up after 6 to 8 hours of sleep without performing any activities, such as talking, eating, or getting up. The measured body temperature records are connected by date to form a curve, which is called the basal body temperature curve. The basal body temperature of ovulatory menstruation is biphasic, that is, the body temperature is low before ovulation and high after ovulation. The turning point between the two is the ovulation day. The difference in basal body temperature before and after ovulation is about 0.4°C. This is because after ovulation, the corpus luteum is formed, which secretes progesterone, causing the body temperature to rise. The body temperature rise after ovulation is divided into two different situations: one is that it rises immediately after a slight drop; the other is that the body temperature does not drop and the body temperature rises directly. Basal body temperature is an objective indicator for determining the day of ovulation, and you can easily measure it at home. It is best to measure your menstrual cycles for several consecutive months so that you can understand your own ovulation patterns. In addition, when measuring basal body temperature, factors that may affect basal body temperature, such as colds, fever, and the use of progesterone, should be excluded. Basal body temperature is one of the most accurate ways to capture the day of ovulation.
Under normal circumstances, the ovaries of women of childbearing age ovulate once a month, and the eggs survive in the body for only 1 to 2 days. Sperm is continuously produced by the testicles and can survive in the female reproductive tract for 2 to 3 days after sexual intercourse. After this time, the ability to fertilize is lost. Most women ovulate about 14 days before their next menstrual period. Therefore, 2 to 3 days before ovulation and 1 to 2 days after ovulation are the fertile periods. Adding possible errors and the survival time of sperm and eggs, we can calculate the ovulation day and 4 to 5 days before and after (a total of approximately 10 days) is the fertile period, and the remaining time is the safe period. Worth notingIt is important to note that only women with regular menstruation, couples who are often together, and can skillfully master and strictly abide by safe period sexual intercourse can use safe period contraception. However, the failure rate of this method of contraception is very high. The reason is that due to the current lack of a simple, accurate and reliable test method for the safe period and ovulation period, the first 3 days and the last 4 days of menstruation are generally counted as the safe period according to the regular menstrual cycle. Ovulation is a very complex process. Its rules are not easy for people to grasp, and it is also difficult to accurately measure, such as basal body temperature measurement. At the same time, it may also be affected by factors such as the external environment, emotional changes, and health conditions. If ovulation occurs early or late, extra ovulation may even occur. Especially for newlyweds, it is difficult to have a regular sex life after marriage, coupled with emotional instability. Therefore, using safe period contraception is even more unreliable.
The best time to get pregnant is during ovulation. Infertility treatment experts recommend that when the basal body temperature begins to drop (about 2 to 3 days before ovulation), sexual intercourse should be performed every 36 to 48 hours until 2 to 3 days after the basal body temperature rises.
Another way to help predict ovulation is to look at changes in cervical mucus, especially during a drop in basal body temperature or when estrogen levels peak, usually with ovulation As the period approaches, the thick cervical mucus gradually becomes thinner and clearer, and the amount increases. These changes are the result of changes in pH to create a microenvironment conducive to sperm residence. In addition, the feeling of vaginal moistness and swelling also means the arrival of ovulation, which is another way to predict ovulation.
A recent innovation is the application of ovulation test strips. Some ovulation test strips are available without a prescription. Test strips are used to measure the concentration of luteinizing hormone in urine (a hormone secreted before ovulation to stimulate ovulation). When the test paper is immersed in urine, the color develops quickly, and the test paper can accurately predict ovulation within 20 to 44 hours. This method is more accurate than measuring basal body temperature and observing cervical mucus to predict ovulation. The downside to ovulation test strips is the added cost.
If you can learn to measure basal body temperature, identify changes in cervical mucus, and master the use of ovulation test strips, you can choose the best time to conceive. If one method cannot accurately predict ovulation, combining the three methods will definitely improve the accuracy of predicting ovulation.
This article is provided by Baidu Reading and is excerpted from \”The Clear \”Conception\” Plan\” Author: Sun Jianqiu and Xie Yingbiao