Women are most fertile during the several days that precede ovulation, as well as on the day of ovulation itself. According to several research studies, most women become pregnant when the sperm fertilizes the egg within 5 days of ovulation, says The Fertile Window - Scientific Literature Review. To identify one's own fertile periods, it becomes important for each woman to understand the variations in her own menstrual cycles, and be able to identify and predict when ovulation occurs. This is known as fertility awareness. Some women, who do not ovulate on a regular basis, may need professional guidance in identifying their fertile periods, as their cycles may not fit within the norms.
Calendar Method
A woman's most fertile times to get pregnant can often be tracked on a calendar. On average, most women have 28-day menstrual cycles. This means that the first day of menstrual bleeding occurs 28 days before the next cycle of menstrual bleeding begins. For women with 28-day cycles, ovulation usually takes place on cycle day 14. The most fertile time to try to get pregnant occurs during the 5 days leading up to ovulation, as well as on the day of ovulation itself. By tracking one's menstrual cycle on a calendar, a woman can observe patterns in her own cycles, and possibly estimate when ovulation will occur, says the American Pregnancy Association. However, some women have menstrual cycles that last two weeks long, and some have cycles that last up to eight weeks long. Because the actual date of ovulation varies from woman to woman, it proves best to combine the calendar method with over forms of fertility awareness to most accurately predict one's fertile days.
Basal Body Temperature
Taking one's basal body temperature (BBT) each morning, before arising, can prove helpful in identifying one's fertile periods to get pregnant. When a woman takes her BBT each morning, she will notice patterns emerging in her menstrual cycle. Starting with cycle day 1, the first day of bleeding, she should start taking her BBT each day and writing the number down on a chart or calendar. On the day of ovulation, most women will notice a temperature spike, indicating that ovulation just occurred. Tracking this temperature spike each month usually yields a pattern as to which day the spike or ovulation will most likely to occur each month. When the BBT is taken over several months' time, it becomes easier to predict one's most fertile days. Then, couples can plan to have intercourse on the cycle days before the predicted ovulation day, says the American Pregnancy Association.
Cervical Mucus
Most women notice that their vaginal secretions change from day to day. However, many women do not realize that cervical mucus indicates their most fertile time of the month. After menstruation ends, most women will have little to no cervical discharge for several days. Nevertheless, as ovulation approaches, cervical mucus secretions become more plentiful, wet and stretchy. The most fertile mucus, which indicates that ovulation is about to occur, is called egg white cervical mucus. Egg white mucus only occurs during a woman's most fertile days. Some women have this egg white mucus for one day, usually on the day before ovulation, while others may have it for up to a week before ovulating. By observing her mucus for several months' time, a woman can start to identify her most fertile days.
Other Indications of Fertile Periods
Some women report a variety of signs each month that indicate that ovulation is about to occur. Along with the increase of egg white cervical mucus, some women notice that their sex drive noticeably increases as ovulation approaches. Another common sign of ovulation includes a light cramping in the uterus, called Mittelschmerz, that occurs anywhere from two days before ovulation until the actual moment of ovulation itself. By tracking one's cycle on a calendar, observing one's BBT and cervical mucus and paying attention to other physiological signs, it becomes quite easy to identify one's own fertile periods of getting pregnant.
