Ovulation Information - Tips On How To Get Pregnant.
Ovulation Information
We here at shopinprivate
occasionally like to hear the patter of little feet. If any of
our friends wish to acquire a little bundle of joy, here is some
information that may help.
By knowing when ovulation
occurs, you can increase the likelihood of conception and pregnancy.
Menstruation occurs
when an egg is not fertilized. The unfertilized egg dissolves
in the body, and then the uterine lining is shed. When a woman
ovulates, the body is releasing a mature, unfertilized egg. In
most women, this occurs around day 14 of the menstrual cycle.
When an egg is released, it moves into the fallopian tube, waiting
to be fertilized. When an egg is fertilized then it moves into
the uterus. During this time (days 1-13) The body is producing
Follicle Stimulating Hormones (FSH). Follicles are the structures
inside the ovaries that produce eggs.
Ah, but how does a
woman know when she is ovulating? For maximum results, a woman
needs to determine when she is ovulating. On day 14, the luteinizing
hormone (LH) is released. This propels the egg into the uterus
for fertilization. It is important to remember that an egg is
only able to be fertilized for 24-48 hours. (On the other hand,
sperm can live up to 72 hours). Pregnancy is more likely within
36 hours of the LH surge. To make this a little bit clearer,
we have a little chart of the fertility cycle.
| Days in the cycle |
What is occurring |
Indications |
| 1-5 |
The onset of menstruation |
The uterus sheds the lining
and the unfertilized egg |
| 5-13 |
Follicle stimulating hormones
are being produced |
The endometrium (uterine
lining) thickens in preparation |
| 13-15 |
The egg is released into
the fallopian tube awaiting fertilization |
This is when ovulation
occurs |
| 15-28 |
If the egg is not fertilized,
there is a drop in hormone levels |
The whole process starts
all over again |
Now, if a woman is
trying to get pregnant, the trick is to catch the egg around day
14 of the cycle. There are many ways to determine ovulation. Also,
too, keep in mind that every woman's cycle is different. We use
the 28 day cycle because that is the average. However, normal
cycles can vary from 23 days to 35 days. There are several ways
to determine ovulation.
1. Basal
Body Temperature. It
is believed that most women experience a slight jump in the body
temperature just after ovulation. A woman needs to measure
her body temperature every morning, before arising, and keep a
record of body temperature for every day. After a few cycles a
pattern should emerge. The drawback is that the record must be
meticulously kept, and a women has to remember that she cannot
get out of bed until she takes her temperature for the day.
2. Physical changes.
For many women, they
can determine ovulation by being observant of any changes in the
body. One change is that cervical mucus is thinner (for ease of
sperm movement), clearer and stickier. Another indication of ovulation
is pain when the egg is released from the follicle in the ovary.
This is called mittelschmerz, and is sometimes accompanied by
spotting or mild bleeding.
3.
Ovulation Test Kits.
These kits are simple to use. When a woman wants to know when
she is ovulating, she simply holds a test strip under a stream
of urine. The strip will change color indicating if the luteinizing
hormone has increased. These kits are up to 98% accurate.
We hope that you find
these facts helpful. However, if pregnancy is not desired at this
time, it is always better to use some form of birth control, and
not rely on the ovulation schedule. Remember, even though the
egg only lives from 24-48 hours, sperm lives for 72 hours. Of
course, if there are concerns regarding infertility, please consult
your doctor.
