Am I fertile?

As females we tend to worry about everything. So when we don’t get pregnant right away we start to worry that we aren’t fertile. Many couples go through infertility fears when trying to conceive. It is really just a matter of sticking it out and being patient. The fact is that most of the time a couple’s fertility is compromised but not completely. There are so many stories of couples who were frustrated and gave up only getting pregnant soon after. Many women over thirty have the fears of not being fertile. A woman can usually get pregnant for 5 days each month when ovulation begins. This is 12-16 days before the menstruation period begins. Sperm can live for 3-5 days in a woman’s reproductive tract so it is possible to get pregnant if sex occurs 2-3 days before ovulation.

The average time to conceive will vary with each individual couple. You are not considered infertile until you have been trying for at least six months over 35 and at least a year if they are fewer than 35. Here are some questions that may help you to figure it out.

-Do I ovulate on a regular basis?

-Have I taken any drugs that may be affecting my fertility?

-Have I been tested for sexually transmitted diseases?

-Is there a reproductive problem like endometriosis?

-How is my general health?

You may want to have fertility testing done. However, that can turn out to be pricey in the end. A fertility monitor is good to keep track of hormonal changes in your body, letting you know when a woman is the most fertile. A lot of it comes down to knowing your body. The fact is that there are only certain times during your menstrual cycle when you are fertile or can become pregnant. Your body actually gives you clues and signals to when that time is approaching. Women are fertile when they are ovulating and a few days prior to ovulating when cervical mucus is present. Ovulation usually occurs mid cycle or at least 14 days before the onset of bleeding.

However, this can be upset and delayed by many factors like sickness, alcohol, travel, stress and more. One of the best ways to tell if you are fertile is when you come across mucous. If it is watery or slippery then you should avoid intercourse. It is likely to be clear or have a cloud/white color to it. Fertile mucous takes on a sweeter smell then less fertile mucous which could have a more vinegar scent. You may also want to get a thermometer and check your Basal Body Temperature. If your partners sperm count is low it could be affecting your rate of getting pregnant in which case you may have to increase the amount of sex you have to build up his sperm count.

Fertile Times

The most fertile period is when a woman has the highest chances of getting pregnant. The fact is that there are only certain times during your cycle when you are fertile enough to get pregnant. You should know when these times come up and your body will give you signs. Each month during ovulation the ovary releases an egg that travels down to the mouth of the fallopian tubes. It is crucial that a woman makes love with her partner prior to ovulation of perhaps even after ovulation. If sperms are present in the uterus when the woman ovulates then fertilization can occur. Unfortunately, many couples don’t understand the concept of the fertile period so many accidental pregnancies may occur and in some cases delays in pregnancy.

Women can determine their fertile period if they study their menstruation cycle. It varies between 23 and 35 days among women and come in two parts. There is before ovulation and post ovulation. You are most fertile 14 days before your period. You have to keep in mind that there are factors that can affect ovulation like sickness, alcohol, travel and stress. You could find your ovulation occurs during the natal lunar phase. It is also called the “moon” phase and can occur anytime during your menstrual cycle. This time is individual to you and is calculated from your birth date. It has to do with the phase of the moon you were born under. The moon can actually bring on ovulation and fertility at any time during the menstrual cycle. If you think you are safe during your period, you may want to think again. The word “menstruation” actually comes from the Greek meaning “moon”.

The signs of ovulation are not difficult to spot. One change you may notice is the cervical mucus. As ovulation approaches the mucous becomes more abundant and takes on a watery to raw egg white consistency and stretches up to an inch between your fingers. Another sign of ovulation is an increased sex drive. Women feel more sexual desire and this is the best time to have sex if you want to get pregnant. Using a body basal temperature chart is the best way to track ovulation.  During ovulation the position of the cervix may change and become higher, softer and more open. A woman may experience breast tenderness before ovulation. You could also opt to get an Ovulation Predicator Test or check for Saliva Ferning on your tongue with a microscope. It looks like frosting on a window and appears 24-48 hours before ovulation.

Basal Body Temperature

The basal body temperature is also known as the symptom-thermal method. It involves charting your core body temperature through your menstrual cycle. The Basal Body Temperature is the lowest temperature the body goes during sleep.  However, it is very important to take your temperature as soon as you wake up. A woman’s temperature rises slightly around the time of ovulation so finding the spike in your core temperature will alert you to when you are most fertile. Start tracking on the first day of your period. You will need to take your temperature everyday first thing in the morning before getting out of bed. Once you have recorded your temperature you can follow the fluctuations day to day. Ideally, your temperature should hover around 97.2F and 97.4F. Temperature can be recorded using a special type of thermometer or digital thermometer.

Another method is to keep a chart which allows you to see the changes in temperature during the cycle. You can also measure cervical mucus, breast tenderness and mood swings. Below you will find the chart. Your chart should ideally contain the date of your last period. Date and time of test and Basal Body Temp. Reading. After a few months you can review your chart and find the pattern. The pattern you would be looking for are the numbers of days after your period and before your BBT shows a regular increase. With this information you should be able to narrow down your ovulation cycle. Your BBT rises approx. 2-3 days after you ovulate. This will also help you decide if you want to refrain from sex during that time to prevent pregnancy. However, if you are trying to get pregnant you can now let your partner know that their services are needed.

The LH Surge

The LH Surge refers to the Luteinizing hormone which if produced in both men and women. It is secreted from the small gland called the pituitary gland which is located in the brain. LH is necessary for fertility. In women the LH helps regulate ovulation and turns empty follicles into corpus luteum. There are a number of test you can take to measure the levels of LH in your bloodstream. The ovulation predictor kits allow you to predict your most fertile time of the month. Easy to use and accurate these kits can improve your chances on getting pregnant.

The kits usually come with five to seven sticks. You may need to test for several days to detect a surge. Just urinate on the test stick midstream or urinate in a container and leave the strip inside. If you turn a certain color then you are on the right track. Another test for pregnancy is the saliva test. With this test you simply take a small sample of saliva and allow it to dry and then look at its appearance. If small fern like shapes are observed in the dried saliva then the hormone levels are increasing. That means that ovulation is imminent.

Cervical Secretions

We touched on this subject a little earlier. You are considered the most fertile when your cervical mucus becomes clear, slippery and stretchy. To test these just slip a clean finger into the vaginal canal as far as a possible. Remove your finger would should be coated with mucous. Then just test it by stretching it between your thumb and index finger. The hormonal fluctuations in the body are responsible for the changes in the cervix. The cervix will show changes and the mucous will increase in volume and change texture.

After menstruation the cervix gets dry, lumpy and appears closed to the touch. At this time there will be little to no discharge. You will feel the dryness and the conception rate is low. During ovulation the cervix is high and wet. The discharge will appear moist, sticky and white. The mucous breaks easily and becomes greater in volume. After the cervix returns to the dryer, lower closed state. Charting the quantity, consistency and appearance of your cervical mucus can help in deciphering when you are the most fertile and likely to conceive. Remember that some medical conditions and medications could damage the state of the mucous.

Luteal Phase

The luteal phase is referred to as the “days past ovulation” or “DPO” and is the part of the cycle that begins at ovulation and ends the day before the next period. It last around 14 days. The only way to determine the exact length of your luteal phase is through a hormone specific blood test. The doctor will be checking the progesterone levels. An adequate amount of progesterone is crucial to women trying to become pregnant. It will prepare the uterine wall for the implantation of the fertilized egg. Insufficient levels can mean that the egg can’t survive inside the uterine lining. This is known as the luteal phase defect.

The levels of progesterone in your blood fluctuate from hour to hour throughout the day. Also, the blood progesterone levels vary for normal pregnancies making it hard to tell what level is inadequate to sustain pregnancy. On the twenty first day of your cycle the progesterone levels should be tested. The body increases the production of progesterone after releasing an egg. The test will confirm whether ovulation has taken place. The blood test will clearly show if the level of progesterone exists in order to maintain a sufficient luteal phase. You may also run into a defective luteal phase when the length of time during which progesterone is produced between ovulation and menstruation is not enough to allow a fertilized egg to implant because the lining has began to disintegrate.

At the beginning of the cycle the body produces the follicle stimulating hormone FSH. This works on developing a follicle on one of the ovaries. The follicle contains and nurtures the egg. When the follicle matures a surge of luteinizing hormone causes the follicle to burst and passes the egg into the fallopian tube where fertilization can take place. When the follicle expels the egg the follicle called the corpus luteum produces the progesterone. The progesterone facilitates a thickening of the uterine lining and the growth of blood vessels. This gives the embryo a place to attach itself. During the luteal phase the corpus luteum produces progesterone for around twelve days.

Progesterone levels will increase after ovulation and make the women more fertile. Progesterone rises in the blood following ovulation and peaks on days 5-9 and then declines around day 26 and will be followed by the menstrual period. This is best times using a basal body temperature record.