For women who are trying to conceive, this can be a very stressful time. Even though it can take a healthy, fertile couple up to a year to conceive, it can take a toll on women’s mental health when they try month after month and keep getting negative tests. Even though pregnancy seems like such a common and routine thing, there is a lot that goes into conception and it is not always as “easy” like movies, social media, and TV shows make it out to be.
While women have fertility clinics and specialists at their disposal, most women would ideally conceive naturally. Fertility clinics are not always accessible, and they are certainly not affordable, so if a woman can skip this process, it would be ideal. There are many tips and tricks online to conceiving naturally, but the best way may be to just pay attention to your ovulation.
Ovulation: A Cliff-Notes Version
In order to work with your body and ovulation, it is always a good idea to brush up on what ovulation is. According to Very Well Family, ovulation is when an egg is released from the ovaries. It travels down the fallopian tubes, where it hopefully meets sperm and conceives a baby. The egg then has to attach and implant itself to the uterine wall to achieve a pregnancy. If this does not happen, the uterine lining will shed and a woman will start her period.
Signs Of Ovulation
Now we can see why knowing when you are ovulating is the best way to conceive a baby naturally. If a woman can figure out when she is ovulating, she can time intercourse to her most fertile days to boost her chances of getting pregnant. According to The Bump, there are signs the body gives off when it is ovulating. If a woman tracks her cycles, ovulation typically happens around day 14 of a woman’s menstrual cycle. This is 2 weeks following the first day of her period. There are apps available to help a woman track her cycles.
There are also ovulation test kits that a woman can use. These tests are similar to pregnancy tests, but they detect the LH hormone. The LH hormone “surges” about 24 hours before ovulation occurs, and these can be quite predictable at helping women conceive. These tests can be expensive, so they are not an option for everyone. Some other changes to watch out for are cervical mucus changes, heightened senses, sore breasts, and mild cramping. Some women even report a higher sex drive when they are ovulating, a “biological” signal that it is time to create life.
Timing Intercourse With Ovulation
It is one thing to know when you are ovulating, but you also have to make it work in the best way possible. According to American Pregnancy, If you have a regular cycle (28 to 32 days), then your fertile week is going to be between day 11 and day 21 of your cycles. Sperm can also live inside the woman’s body for 2 to 5 days and the best way to catch ovulation is if the sperm is already inside before ovulation happens. This will increase the chances of conceiving. It is advised to have intercourse every other day for your fertile week to make sure you have a nice supply of healthy sperm waiting for your egg to drop.
Sources: Very Well Family, The Bump, American Pregnancy
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