How To Figure Out When You Can Get Pregnant

Ovulation is when a mature egg is released from the ovaries. This is the only period of time that a woman can get pregnant, since it takes the combining of the woman's egg and the male's sperm to create a new life. The average time during each cycle that a woman can get pregnant is 24 to 48 hours. Understanding when you are ovulating is possible by monitoring your body's signs.

Step 1

Monitor your temperature daily. The normal pattern of a cycle is that your temperature will drop at the start of your menstrual period and will continue to rise until ovulation. At ovulation, your temperature will drop again and then will usually spike back up. Look for the drop around the middle of your cycle, as that will indicate you may be ovulating.

Step 2

Watch for cervical mucus changes. Fertile cervical mucus will appear watery or the consistency of egg-whites. This type of cervical mucus is often present only around ovulation.

Step 3

Check your cervix for changes. The best way to do this is by inserting a clean finger inside the vagina and feeling for a soft blockage at the end of the canal. During ovulation, the cervix will be soft to the touch, located high in the vagina, and the small hole (known as the cervical OS) will be slightly open, and the overall feel will be wet. This is known as S.H.O.W. (Soft, High, Open, Wet).

Step 4

Count 14 days from the start of your last menstrual period. This method will give you a general idea of when you can get pregnant. The average day that women ovulate is around 14 days past the start of the menstrual period. Since ovulation will vary with each individual and does not always occur on day 14, it is important to monitor other signs.

Step 5

Take an ovulation test to see if you're ovulating. These tests can be found at a drugstore and cost about the same as a pregnancy test. These tests are highly accurate, especially when combined with monitoring your body signs.