Visit our US site
Buy Fertell now
Print pageMany women are unsure about ovulation and what job their hormones do in controlling it. It is estimated that although 90% of women know what ovulation is, there still is a lot of confusion on how this relates to their fertility.
What is ovulation?
Ovulation is the release of a mature egg from the ovary. Ovulation occurs only once in every menstrual cycle, usually around 12 - 16 days before your next period. Most women in the UK believe there is a chance of getting pregnant whenever sexual intercourse takes place. This is not the case, the few days surrounding ovulation, (up to 2 days before ovulation and immediately afterwards) are the only days in the cycle when you could get pregnant.
Around the time of ovulation there are other key changes in your body to look out for. Your cervical mucus changes during your cycle, going from thick and yellowy white at the beginning and end of your cycle, to thin and clear at time of ovulation.
Another key indicator is your body temperature, which drops slightly just before ovulation, then rises again once you have ovulated. You do need to keep regular records of your temperature at the same time everyday; the best time is first thing in the morning as you wake.(moved from current page).
Having intercourse at the right time each month is absolutely vital - no egg, no fertilisation! The key to good timing is understanding roughly when you ovulate.
Why?
Ideally you need to have intercourse two days or less before ovulation, so sperm are waiting when the egg is released. Eggs only survive for a maximum of 24-hours - unless they're fertilised. As it's impossible to predict exactly when that precious window will be, take advantage of the fact that sperm can survive for up to five days, and have them already present.
The number of days from the start of your period until you ovulate can vary each month and from woman to woman. It can be delayed by stress, heavy exercise, illness, and other factors.
Ovulation Calculator
When a baby girl is born she can have up to 450,000 eggs. Women do not produce eggs; their egg store is depleted through each monthly cycle.
Cycle length differs from woman to woman with an average of 28 days.
Remember your most fertile time is about up to 2 days before ovulation and immediately afterwards. If your cycle is irregular please consult your GP for advice.
For educational purposes only
