Learn how to determine fertile days in the cycle, when is the best time for sex, and what are your chances of conceiving during menstruation, as well as before, during, and after ovulation.
Knowing your own menstrual cycle well can help you when you are working on a child and improve your chances of conceiving. But, into which phases is the menstrual cycle divided, how to determine fertile days in the cycle, and when is the best time for sex?
The menstrual cycle is divided into the follicular phase, which is the period of egg maturation, then the luteal phase after ovulation. The first phase is variable and of different duration, depending on the length of the menstrual cycle, while the second phase has a fixed duration of usually 14 days. The time of ovulation is easiest to determine retrograde, ie by monitoring the duration of several cycles.
We can determine ovulation, which is usually 14 days before the expected menstruation. For example, day 14 is in a cycle that lasts an average of 28 days. Fertile days are a few days before ovulation because if the sperm is of good quality, it is possible to survive after intercourse for up to four days while the egg survives a maximum of 12 to 24 hours after ovulation. Therefore, it is important to time the relationship through 3 to 4 days before the expected ovulation and the day after ovulation. But what happens in your body throughout the cycle and what are your chances of getting pregnant at different stages of the cycle?
Menstruation
Menstruation is actually the peeling off the endometrium, the inner wall of the uterus, and usually lasts from three to seven days. By the third day, the level of progesterone and estrogen is increasing, and then the renewal of the endometrium starts again. Around the fourth day, the follicles begin to mature, which means that the ovaries are preparing for the release of eggs. However, during this period there is still a very small chance of conception, almost none unless you have very early ovulation. "Theoretically, it is possible to get pregnant during menstruation, especially on the last day, if a woman has shorter cycles and earlier ovulation. For example, with a cycle duration of 24 days, ovulation can be around the 9th to 10th day of the cycle, which means that the relationship and the fifth day of the cycle can lead to conception if the sperm are 'durable' ".
The period before ovulation
In the period before ovulation, sexual intercourse is recommended at least two to three times a week, preferably every other day, and you can start immediately after the last day of menstruation.
On the seventh day of the cycle, you may notice a vaginal discharge that is elastic to the touch, and which will become whitish and creamy in a few days. This does not mean that the egg has already been released, but it means that ovulation is approaching and that your vaginal mucus has become a 'friendly' environment for sperm. Sperm can survive for up to five days ‘trapped’ in cervical mucus.
"One study showed that conception did occur in couples who had only one sexual intercourse at this stage, and that was even four or five days before ovulation," says Dr. Steven R. Bayer, an endocrinologist at the Fertility Clinic and IVF in Boston
The chance of conceiving in this period is good. Although the egg has not yet been released, this is an ideal time for regular sex, especially if you will ovulate earlier than planned.
Ovulation
Ovulation usually begins 14 days before the next menstruation, during which time your body temperature is slightly elevated. However, it may be too late for sex then, so it is good to monitor ovulation.
"As many as 70 percent of women cannot accurately predict the day of ovulation because they do not have completely regular cycles, so it may be recommended to determine ovulation by measuring basal temperature or a more reliable urine test with LH strips and thus easier to plan relationships. it is recommended to have intercourse 1 to 2 times in two days, meaning every day or at least every other day. But it is not advisable to have intercourse more than once a day because the concentration of quality sperm decreases ". Monitoring cervical mucus is also a good way to monitor fertile days. Follow your vaginal discharge, which becomes similar to an egg white, and shows that then is the ideal time for sex. You can check it yourself by placing the mucus between your fingers, and if it stretches easily (like chewing gum), it means that you are ovulating. The chance of conception is now high if the sex is within 36 hours because the released eggs do not live longer than 12 hours, and ideally when the sperm meets the eggs four to six hours after release.
The period after ovulation
The last, luteal phase of the cycle lasts from 12 to 16 days. Then the level of progesterone begins to rise and thus gives a signal to the ovaries that they no longer need to produce eggs for this month. The cervical mucus will become dry and thus create a 'wall' that will prevent sperm from entering the uterus. The fertilized egg travels to the uterus for about six days. If one fertilized egg is implanted in the endometrium, the hormone hCG begins to grow, the increase of which can be seen on a home pregnancy test. At this stage, the chance of conceiving is small. Namely, after the egg is already released, you will have to wait until next month for the opportunity to conceive.
Thanks for these,I have got knowledge about the different phases