Two of the major conditions that are essential for conception to happen are a woman’s menstrual cycle and ovulation.
The menstrual cycle is a monthly series of changes that occur in a woman’s body in preparation for possible pregnancy.
Strictly, it is regulated by hormones, primarily estrogen and progesterone.
Typically, menstrual cycle lasts about 28 days, although it can vary from person to person.
On the other hand, ovulation is the process in a woman’s menstrual cycle when a mature egg is released from one of the ovaries. This egg is then made available for fertilisation by sperm, leading to pregnancy once fertilisation occurs.
Ovulation typically occurs around the middle of a woman’s menstrual cycle, approximately 14 days before the start of her next period. However, the exact timing of ovulation can vary from woman to woman and from cycle to cycle.
As a result, a good understanding and tracking of your menstrual cycle and ovulation can indeed increase your chances of getting pregnant.
Here are some tips that can help you optimise menstrual cycle and ovulation for pregnancy to happen.
1. Know Your Cycle
Understand your menstrual cycle length and when you typically ovulate. A normal menstrual cycle is around 28 days, but it can vary from person to person.
Keep a tract record for three consecutive months and check if the cycle is regular. If it is not, that is a sign that something could be wrong.
2. Track Ovulation
Use methods like basal body temperature tracking, ovulation predictor kits, cervical mucus monitoring, or smartphone apps to pinpoint your ovulation window.
Typically, this is around 12-14 days before your next expected period.
3. Have Regular Intercourse During The Fertile Window
Aim to have sexual intercourse every 1-2 days during your fertile window, which includes the few days leading up to ovulation and the day of ovulation itself.
You see, sperm can survive in the female reproductive tract for several days. So, having sexual intercourse before ovulation increases the chances of sperm being present when the egg is released.
4. Healthy Lifestyle
Maintain a healthy weight, eat a balanced diet, exercise regularly, avoid smoking and excessive alcohol consumption, and manage stress.
These factors can all affect fertility.
Here is how weight affects fertility.
5. Consider Prenatal Vitamins
Taking prenatal vitamins containing folic acid before conception can help prevent birth defects and support a healthy pregnancy.
However, caution must be applied as there are side-effects of too much folic acid consumption.
6. Consult A Healthcare Provider Or Fertility Coach
If you have been trying to conceive for a while without success, consider consulting a healthcare provider or a fertility coach.
They can provide personalised advice and may recommend fertility testing or treatments if needed.
Remember that conception may not happen immediately, and it’s normal for it to take several months for a healthy couple to conceive.
As a result, we advise you to stay patient, keep track of your cycle, and focus on maintaining a healthy lifestyle.