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If you and your spouse are planning to get pregnant, then one thing that you need to be aware of is your fertile window. A lot of couples struggle in conceiving simply because they are not aware of their best days to conceive. The human body is made in such a way, that it has certain days each month when the body prepares itself for pregnancy. Knowing these days can pave the way to a long-awaited pregnancy for you and your spouse.
What Is a Fertile Window?
When a woman is ovulating, her ovaries release an egg into the fallopian tube. The egg stays in the fallopian tube for 24 hours before making its way to the uterus. In the absence of sperm, the egg, along with the uterine lining that was prepared for pregnancy, disintegrates and comes out in the form of a menstrual period. However, in the presence of sperm, the egg gets fertilized to become a zygote, which then attaches itself to the uterine wall. This zygote becomes an embryo, which then later evolves into a foetus. A lot of people misunderstand how ovulation works. They assume that there’s only one day in the month that a woman can get pregnant because the egg survives only for a day. However, here’s a fact – sperms can live in the uterus for over five to six days. This is why having intercourse during the five to seven days before ovulation increases the chances of getting pregnant.
How to Calculate Your Fertile Window
Keep track of your cycle for about five months. You need to know how many days are there in your cycle. You can even download a period app, as this will make the calculations for you. You can also download a fertile window calculator app.
The most common way to determine your fertile window is by choosing one of your shortest cycles. Let’s say it is 27 days. You then have to subtract 18 from it. The answer you have now is 9. Then choose your longest cycle. Let’s say it is 30 days. You need to subtract 11 from this. Here, then answer is 19. Your fertile window is most likely to be from the 9th to 19th day of your cycle.
Another way of measuring your cycle is by jotting down your basal body temperature, which is the body temperature first thing in the morning after you get out of bed. The average temperature ranges from 96 to 98 degrees Fahrenheit. During your fertile window, your body temperature rises by over four to eight-tenths of a degree. This is another indication that you have ovulated.
Yet another way to identify your fertile window is by keeping a tab on your cervical mucus. After menstruation, the discharge is dry. Shortly before ovulation, it gets sticky. During ovulation, the mucus is semi-transparent, wet, and stretchy.
How Does a Fertility Chart Help?
A fertility chart can help boost your chances of getting pregnant by keeping a tab on your fertility window and knowing when your body is best prepared for pregnancy. No one knows your body better and tracking down all the changes in your body with a fertility chart will help you know your fertility window better.
For couples who are trying to conceive, the fertility window is like a pregnancy calendar. When you try to get pregnant, every month counts. Don’t miss yet another month – the fertility window might be just what you need to finally have your baby.
