Trying to Conceive: What Days Am I Most Fertile?

Getting pregnant can be a challenge, and any woman who has successfully conceived knows it can take patience and even a little bit of luck. If you’re trying to conceive, know that it’s highly unlikely to get pregnant outside of the narrow, monthly window when you are your most fertile. Understanding when you are most fertile can make it easier to get pregnant, though, because conception only occurs during ovulation, which is what happens when one of your ovaries releases a mature egg to be fertilized. To understand when you are most fertile, you’ll have to take an in-depth look at your menstrual cycle, and it helps to do a little planning in advance.

Why Should I Track My Menstrual Cycle to Get Pregnant?

It may be useful to use a period-tracking method if you’re trying to conceive because it provides information about your fertile window, which is often as brief as 48 hours every month. There are plenty of smartphone apps to track your cycle, even plenty of websites you can use to calculate when you ovulate. A good old-fashioned paper and pencil will also work when tracking ovulation, but an app or website can provide useful insight without extra work.

An ovulation calendar will help you keep track of the first day of your cycle every month, number of days in the cycle, and any symptoms that may indicate you are ovulating. Period tracking can also help you identify any changes to your menstrual cycle which that indicate a health issue.

Symptoms of ovulation include:

• Rise in basal body temperature of up to 1 degree
• Cervical mucus from vaginal discharge may appear clearer, thinner, and stretchy
• Breast tenderness
• Bloating
• Light spotting
• Slight pain or cramping on your side (this is from the ovaries releasing an egg)

How Do I Know Which Period Tracking App to Use?

A good period tracking app will provide insight into when you are most fertile and a potential ovulation date. It can help you identify menstruation flow, and even provide insights about your mood during your menstrual cycle. It will also let you record dates you had higher libido (sex drive), or when you had sex with your partner. A good app is an inclusive one that doesn’t use euphemistic language and is more to-the-point about when you should be having sex for the best odds of conceiving.

Experiment with different apps to see which is the most user-friendly and most aesthetically-pleasing to you. Some apps are designed to invite your partner to the app, so you can both be aware of your ovulation. This could even be useful to plan trips and romantic evenings around the time of the month you are most fertile. If you’d rather communicate with other women than your partner about ovulation, other apps have message boards where you can discuss menstruation, sex, and health. That way, if you have a concern, you can ask the community of women – many of whom are actively trying to conceive, like you.

When Should I Be Having Sex if I Want to Get Pregnant?

Your odds of getting pregnant are highest when you have sex 1 to 2 days before ovulation, but it is possible for sperm to survive in a woman’s body for up to 5 days. To have the best odds of successfully getting pregnant, have frequent intercourse starting 3 days before ovulation and continuing for 2 to 3 days after ovulation ends. However, some women have conceived well outside of their fertility window, but the odds of getting pregnant more than 5 days outside of this time every cycle is less than 1%.

The road to motherhood is not always simple. If you need help trying to conceive, contact the Palm Beach Fertility Clinic for a consultation today at (888) 819-5177 or book your appointment online.