When is a Woman Most Fertile

Get to Know Your Body

Before even attempting to get pregnant, you should spend a couple of months getting your body to optimum preconception health and getting to know how your body works throughout the menstrual cycle. Some women can pinpoint the day their period is due whereas others live through the month unsure when their period will begin, which is no good when planning a pregnancy.

Women should be keeping a note of:

• How long is the cycle? – the average monthly cycle is 28 days.
• Do my periods come every 28 days? – if not, keep track of how many days are in between your periods for a few months.
• Do I get any pre-period pains or symptoms? - Abdominal bloating, low pelvic and back pain, and mood changes can all be symptoms that a period is imminent.
• Are there obvious changes in vaginal discharge throughout the month? – vaginal discharge changes in consistency depending on where a woman is at in her menstrual cycle.

Keeping a journal with this information may help establish a clear pattern of the optimum time to conceive.

When is a Woman Most Fertile: Key Observations

There are a few key observations a woman can make when trying to pinpoint the crucial time to try for a baby. The question "when is a woman most fertile" has answers that are the same for all women. The difficulty for many women is pinpointing when these observations apply to them.

Timing the Menstrual Cycle

Most importantly, a woman must be aware how to time the cycle. If the average menstrual cycle is believed to be 28 days, then those trying to conceive must assume this applies to them also. You may find out that after months of plotting, your cycle length is longer or shorter.

Day one of the cycle is the first day of the menstrual period, when a woman has a proper ‘bleed’. The average period lasts for between three and seven days; this is the time when a woman is least likely to become pregnant. Day fourteen of the cycle (mid-cycle) is the crucial day for conception when the egg is released from the ovary and begins its journey toward the fallopian tube. The egg survives for a maximum of 48 hours, so a couple should aim to have frequent intercourse between day 13 and day 16 in order to ensure the peak time is covered.

Observing Vaginal Secretions

The second factor that women must monitor is their vaginal secretions. At the time of ovulation, vaginal fluid becomes thin and stretchy, a similar consistency to that of egg white. During other times of the cycle, secretions may be thin and watery or even non-existent. This particular type of vaginal secretion ensures that the sperm has a greater chance of survival on its long journey to meet the egg.

Observing vaginal secretions is a complex but highly accurate aid to the timing of peak fertility. Women may choose to discuss this method with their physician.

Recording Body Temperature

For women who are unsure of the peak or fertile time of their cycle, it is often recommended that basal body temperature (BBT) recordings be maintained. At the time of ovulation, the temperature is expected to make a notable rise. It is recommended that a core temperature be taken on day one of the menstrual cycle and then at the same time of the day before rising throughout the month. A rise in temperature indicates ovulation. An even greater rise following that can indicate fertilization has taken place.

Ovulation Prediction Kits

There are numerous ovulation prediction kits on the market today. These kits help women to detect their most fertile time by means of measuring levels of hormones present in the urine. These kits can be a useful aid, however, over a prolonged period of time they can be expensive, which is why the methods above can be far more beneficial.

Don’t Get Disheartened

For many couples trying to conceive, the action of timing and observing activity throughout the menstrual cycle can become a vocation. It requires a great deal of effort and commitment to remain familiar with the menstrual cycle and, for many couples, this can be a stressful undertaking.

It is best to try for the first few months by simply having regular intercourse throughout the month. In many cases, a couple conceives as a result of luck rather than judgement, which proves that rigorous timing and monitoring is not always necessary.

If pregnancy is not achieved after 6-12 months despite adhering to the advice above, then it may be advisable to seek advice from a physician. There are some medical conditions that disrupt the menstrual cycle and reduce the incidence of ovulation. If this is the case, some women may find it difficult to determine their most fertile time of the month. The question "when is a woman most fertile" can often only be answered when referring to a healthy female with no apparent fertility problems. The most important thing to remember is not to get too stressed when trying to conceive, since stress itself can alter the menstrual pattern.