The average menstrual cycle is 28 days. Women who have regular menstrual cycles can predict when they are ovulating, because ovulation occurs approximately half way through the cycle. If your menstrual cycles are irregular and change every month, ovulation prediction is a little tricky. Home techniques to predict ovulation may be effective ways to help you get pregnant. Treatment with a fertility doctor can increase your chances of getting pregnant, if the home techniques do not help.
Step 1
Visit your gynecologist to rule out any health problems that may be causing irregular menstrual cycles. Diet, stress or excess exercise can sometimes cause irregular periods. In these cases, dietary adjustment, stress reduction or a change in exercise levels can often regulate menstrual cycles, making it easier to predict ovulation and get pregnant. Polycystic ovary syndrome or peri-menopause can also cause irregular cycles.
Step 2
Use an ovulation predictor kit to predict when you are ovulating. Ovulation predictor kits measure the level of luteinizing hormone (LH) in your urine. LH is released just before ovulation. Luteinizing hormone-based ovulation tests are accurate predictors of a woman's ovulation cycle, according to the "Annals of Pharmacotherapy."
Step 3
Check your vaginal discharge daily. Right before ovulation, your vaginal secretions will be translucent in color, thin in texture and have a consistency similar to raw egg whites.
Step 4
Visit a fertility specialist if you do not become pregnant within 1 year of trying. Failure to get pregnant within a year may be sign of infertility. However, do not worry, because infertility does not necessarily mean you cannot get pregnant. Two-thirds of couples who undergo fertility treatment with a specialist, successfully become pregnant, according to Medline Plus, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health (see link in References). A fertility doctor may prescribe fertility medications to increase the frequency of ovulation, perform trans-vaginal ultrasounds to predict ovulation or perform surgery when a physical problem with the reproductive system exists. Consider artificial insemination if all other fertility treatments fail.
Tips and Warnings
- Over-the-counter ovulation predictor kits are available for purchase at most pharmacies. Women with regular menstrual cycles often find it helpful to keep an ovulation calendar to help them detect the best time to get pregnant. Ovulation calendars are not as effective for women who have irregular menstrual cycles. See link in Resources to learn about ovulation calendars.
Things You'll Need
- Ovulation predictor kit
References
- Annals of Pharmacotherapy; Urinary-Based Ovulation and Pregnancy: Point-of-Care Testing; Samantha F Eichner, PharmD, Erin M Timpe, PharmD; Dec. 30, 2003
- Medline Plus: Infertility
- Mayo Clinic: Getting Pregnant
