Having children is a momentous decision in a person's life. Being aware of your body and how a woman's cycle each month can help achieve a pregnancy, or assist in preventing pregnancy, is the root of family planning. Ovulation signals the small window of time in which pregnancy can occur and educating yourself about this process may prove invaluable.
Time Frame
Ovulation is a part of the menstrual cycle in women. A menstrual cycle normally lasts about 28 days but can last from 23 to 35 days and is counted from day one of menstruation to day one of the next cycle. Ovulation normally occurs midway through the cycle and can be different for each woman. Charting your cycle will tell you when that middle point is and will help you determine signs of ovulation.
Identification
Each month, prior to ovulation, hormones are released in the body triggering the maturation of an egg. Once that egg has matured it is released by the ovary and travels from the ovary into the fallopian tube. When the egg leaves the ovary it lives about 12 to 24 hours as it travels down the fallopian tube into the uterus. Some women experience mild cramping or pain, called mittelschmerz, in their back, side or abdomen at the time of ovulation. Another sign of ovulation may be slight spotting of blood and changes in cervical mucus.
Significance
Around the time of ovulation, hormones trigger a change in cervical mucus which enables sperm to live longer and move more effectively towards an egg. Sperm can live in a woman's reproductive organs for three days or longer increasing the chances of pregnancy if ovulation occurs with sperm present. Considering an egg lives 24 hours or less, the window of opportunity for pregnancy is narrow.
Considerations
Understanding that the life span of an egg and sperm are limited, and when that time frame begins and ends, can result in a successful fertilization or become a means of birth control. Because sperm can live for several days, intercourse at the time of ovulation isn't always necessary for pregnancy. However, sperm must be present on the day of ovulation for a pregnancy to occur. If pregnancy is not desired, then intercourse should not take place for several days before and after ovulation is suspected due to the lifespan of sperm within a woman's body.
Warning
Ovulation, and menstruation, can be affected by many factors. If a woman is under stress, has been ill, or if there have been significant changes in day-to-day life ovulation can be delayed several days or longer. These changes can alter the time when a woman is most fertile. It is important to be aware of all aspects of your cycle, especially if you are planning or trying to prevent a pregnancy.
