1. It's All About Ovulation
Women are most likely to get pregnant 12 to 24 hours after ovulation (which is when a mature egg drops from the ovary to the fallopian tube and is available to be fertilized). But determining when this magical window occurs from month-to-month is not so simple. One way to go about it is to track when you get your period each month as well as when it ends. Most women ovulate anywhere between Day 11 and Day 21 of their cycle, counting from the first day of your last period. So do the math and then get busy.
2. Get Extra Help to Find Out When You Are Fertile
Not a chart kind of person? Let a little technology tell you when you are most fertile. Ovulation kits, like the Clear Blue Easy monitor, take the guesswork out of it all by picking up the luteinizing hormone (LH), which is present in your urine and increases 24 to 48 hours prior to ovulation. You can buy one of these simple-to-use and highly accurate kits at any pharmacy. Or, check out an online ovulation calendars like those offered from Babycenter.com. All you have to do is plug in the date of your last menstrual period, and it will calculate when you're slated to ovulate as well as a potential due date if you do conceive during that window.
3. Know the Signs of Ovulation
Besides just sticking to facts and figures, paying close attention to the changes in your body throughout the month will also help you to determine ovulation. The telltale sign is an increase of cervical mucus, which will go from a slippery, clear substance prior to ovulation to one that has an opaque white hue. Additionally, an increase in your basal body temperature (charting your temps first thing each morning and monitoring spikes can help you isolate your ovulation date). You can also check the position and feel of your cervix. During your most fertile days, the cervix is soft and fleshy and located higher in the vagina.
4. Time it Right
Sometimes it seems like the baby-making window of opportunity is so small that the chances of pregnant are like winning the lottery. But the good news is that your egg will live for about 24 hours after ovulation, and sperm can live inside you for up to five days. So if you have sex three to six days before ovulation or the day after, you can still get pregnant. Bottom line: Don't wait until ovulation day to have sex. Besides, there's nothing wrong with getting plenty of practice.
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