What is ovulation and why is it important? Let’s go over this conception issue: Egg meets sperm- simple enough, right? Not exactly. The sperm has to meet the egg at the right time. The average menstrual cycle is 28 days and the first day of your period is considered day 1. Your body has to prepare the uterus and the egg before the egg can be released (this is ovulation). This takes about two weeks. So about 14 days after your period starts is when the egg is released (aka ovulation occurs). The egg is making its way down the fallopian tube to the uterus and if it meets the sperm along the way, then fertilization occurs. Once the fertilized egg reaches the uterus, this is when implantation of the pregnancy can occur. If implantation does not occur, then your period will start and the cycle will repeat itself. The tricky part here is that the sperm has to be waiting and ready to meet the egg after ovulation happens. Remember, it takes the sperm a while to get there too. The best time to have intercourse is really the day before or the day of ovulation. If you have intercourse the day after ovulation has occurred, this will likely be too late (the egg only lives about 12-24 hours).
How do I know when ovulation occurs? Some people may have some pelvic pain at the time of ovulation. However, most of us don’t get any special signals as to the time or day that it is occurring. It is a bit of a guessing game.
What is the best way to approximate ovulation? The best way to do this is to use an app (this is the cheapest way as well). There are so many apps online that you can use: Fertility Friend, Glow, Kindara, Clue, Period Tracker, and Ovia, just to name a few. Many of these are free. Just download it and input the first day of your last menstrual period and it will give you a fertility window. The window is trying to capture the day before and the day of ovulation but it gives you a couple days before and a couple days after.
Remember to have sex every day during your fertility window. Many places will encourage you to have sex every other day to save up the sperm- don’t do this. There is no truth to this- just have sex every day during your fertility window and if you happen to have sex the day of or the day before ovulation your chance of becoming pregnant can be as high as 30%.
A more expensive way to predict this is an over the counter ovulation kit. What is this test for? This test works by detecting a rise in Luteinizing Hormone (LH) in your urine, which usually occurs 24 to 36 hours prior to ovulation. Several reasons my patients don’t tend to like this: Many people never get a rise in LH even if they are ovulating and it is also an added expense.
What not to do: Don’t check your basal body temperature!!! Many places online will have you measure your temperature and record it. This is useless, because your temperature does not go up until after ovulation has occurred and now you have missed your fertility window.
Am I ovulating? If you have a period every month, you are probably ovulating. If you have very irregular periods (such as every 3 to 4 months), you are not likely ovulating. If this is the case, you should talk to your provider right away. I hope this helps you determine when you are ovulating and taking that first step towards creating your family. Still have questions? Give us a call at 208-523-2060 and make an appointment to discuss your fertility issues. Good luck, and happy conceiving :)
Dr. Pam
How do I know when ovulation occurs? Some people may have some pelvic pain at the time of ovulation. However, most of us don’t get any special signals as to the time or day that it is occurring. It is a bit of a guessing game.
What is the best way to approximate ovulation? The best way to do this is to use an app (this is the cheapest way as well). There are so many apps online that you can use: Fertility Friend, Glow, Kindara, Clue, Period Tracker, and Ovia, just to name a few. Many of these are free. Just download it and input the first day of your last menstrual period and it will give you a fertility window. The window is trying to capture the day before and the day of ovulation but it gives you a couple days before and a couple days after.
Remember to have sex every day during your fertility window. Many places will encourage you to have sex every other day to save up the sperm- don’t do this. There is no truth to this- just have sex every day during your fertility window and if you happen to have sex the day of or the day before ovulation your chance of becoming pregnant can be as high as 30%.
A more expensive way to predict this is an over the counter ovulation kit. What is this test for? This test works by detecting a rise in Luteinizing Hormone (LH) in your urine, which usually occurs 24 to 36 hours prior to ovulation. Several reasons my patients don’t tend to like this: Many people never get a rise in LH even if they are ovulating and it is also an added expense.
What not to do: Don’t check your basal body temperature!!! Many places online will have you measure your temperature and record it. This is useless, because your temperature does not go up until after ovulation has occurred and now you have missed your fertility window.
Am I ovulating? If you have a period every month, you are probably ovulating. If you have very irregular periods (such as every 3 to 4 months), you are not likely ovulating. If this is the case, you should talk to your provider right away. I hope this helps you determine when you are ovulating and taking that first step towards creating your family. Still have questions? Give us a call at 208-523-2060 and make an appointment to discuss your fertility issues. Good luck, and happy conceiving :)
Dr. Pam
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