How Do I Calculate My Ovulation Cycle?
If you are trying to conceive a child, it is important to know how to calculate your ovulation cycle, as it is during this time that conception is most likely to occur. When you ovulate, a mature egg, or one that is ready for fertilization, is released from the ovary follicle. The egg has a lifespan of only 24 hours, and must be fertilized within this short window of time for pregnancy to occur. If fertilization does not occur, however, the egg will disintegrate into the uterine lining and your menstrual period will begin.
To predict your ovulation cycle, you must first determine the length of your menstrual cycle. Although a woman's cycle typically lasts between 28 and 30 days, you should count the number of days between the first and last days of your menstrual period, to determine the exact length of your cycle. For the most accurate results, you should calculate the length of your cycle for two to three months to determine your average cycle length. If the length of your cycle varies by more than a few days each month, you may have to speak with a doctor to determine a better way to calculate your ovulation cycle.
Once you know how long your menstrual cycle lasts, you will need to determine the length of your luteal phase, or days past ovulation (DPO). Beginning the day after ovulation, and lasting until the day before your next menstrual period, your luteal phase must last at least 10 days in order for you to become pregnant. Although blood tests are the only way to determine the exact length of your luteal phase, 14 days is the average length for most women. As a result, if you do not have your exact information, you can assume that your luteal phase is 14 days long.
After determining the length of your luteal phase, you can subtract those days from the total length of your cycle to predict when ovulation will occur. For example, if your menstrual cycle lasts 30 days and your luteal phase is 14 days long, your ovulation cycle will begin on the 16th day of your cycle (because 30 minus 14 is 16). Although an egg will only be available for about 24 hours, sperm can survive for three to five days. Therefore, your most fertile time will be about two to three days prior to, and after, your ovulation cycle begins. To increase your chances of becoming pregnant, you should plan to have intercourse approximately two days before you ovulate.
Written by Jessica Saras
