Sooner or later, every girl has a desire to become a mother. The birth of a baby is an important stage in the life of any couple, requiring moral and physical preparation. For most women who plan to stop using protection, the question arises: on what days can you get pregnant? Consider what period is most favorable for fertilization, and how to determine the body's readiness for conception.
fertile window
Basic concepts:
- Ovulation is a phenomenon when a mature egg leaves the ovary and continues to move through the fallopian tube for further fertilization.
- The menstrual cycle is the periodic changes in a woman's reproductive system that are aimed at preparing for possible conception. It has four phases: menstrual, follicular, ovulatory and luteal.
- Conception is the occurrence of pregnancy as a result of fertilization.
In accordance with the periods of synthesis of the main sex hormones, conception is technically possible only on the day of ovulation and five days before it. This period is called the woman's fertile window and reflects the total lifespan of the sperm (5 days) and the egg (24 hours).
When sexual intercourse occurs earlier than six days before the maturation of the follicle in the ovary, the chances of fertilization are practically zero. If a woman has sex five days before the release of the egg, the chance of conception is approximately 10%.
The chances of pregnancy increase rapidly two to three days before ovulation approaches. In the second phase of the fertile window, the probability of conception rapidly decreases and 12-24 hours after the follicle is released, the woman will no longer be able to become pregnant during this month.
What can help you get pregnant?
The most reliable method to find out which days you can get pregnant is to track ovulation. This will require:
- Determine duration menstrual cycle. To do this, just put the appropriate notes on the calendar. The first day of menstruation, lasting an average of 3 to 7 days, is the beginning of each period.
- Calculate the exact day of ovulation. The egg matures approximately 14-15 days after the start of menstruation. spotting. Since the body of each woman is unique, the duration of the cycle may be different. On average, its duration varies from 21 to 35 days.
- If bleeding occurs at intervals of 28 days, then ovulation occurs in the middle of each period. It follows that the 12th, 13th and 14th days from the moment it begins are the most fertile. The chances of getting pregnant during this period of time increase significantly.
- With a long (35 days) cycle, the follicle matures after 21 days from the start of regulation. Therefore, the greatest number of sexual acts must be performed on the 19th, 20th and 21st day.
- With a short (21 day) cycle, egg maturation occurs on the 7th day after the onset of menstruation. The most favorable period for conception will be 5, 6 and 7 days. To increase the chances of pregnancy, it is recommended to have sex every 24 hours.
Studies show that 80 percent of women who have used calendar method were able to get pregnant within six months. Moreover, most of them conceived a child within three months after stopping the use of contraceptives. If the couple's attempts are not successful within 6-7 cycles, they should seek help from a specialist at a family planning center. You need to make sure that there are no health problems that interfere with the fertilization of the egg. Only a doctor can determine real reasons infertility and prescribe the right treatment.
What other methods will help to find out the days of conception?
Periodic bleeding can have a different duration and regularity. In order to determine a favorable time for fertilization, it is necessary to observe signs of fertility throughout the entire menstrual cycle, and summarize the results in a table. It should be remembered that this is a laborious process that requires a lot of time.
The most accurate methods for determining ovulation are:
- Monitoring changes in secretions. Mucous leucorrhoea from the vagina during the period of maturation of the egg ready for fertilization resembles egg white in consistency. Transparent and viscous discharge is a sure sign of approaching "opportune moment". It's time for action.
- Using a special test to determine ovulation. Using such a device is quite simple. To do this, subtract 17 days from the menstrual cycle and take a measurement on the resulting day. With a cycle duration of 28 days, you should use the test from day 11. A positive result means that the maturation of the female gamete will occur in a period of 24-36 hours.
- Measurement of basal body temperature. The procedure should be performed every morning without getting out of bed. For a more accurate result, there is a special thermometer that measures the required parameter at rest. BBT during ovulation rises by about half a degree Celsius. To see this, you need to build a graph based on daily measurements. The rise in temperature depends on the degree of maturity of the egg. The method will help develop your own calendar method template, however, a change in basal body temperature indicates that the maturation of the follicle has already occurred. Thanks to the schedule, it will be easy next time to determine your fertile window and be ready for it.
These methods for calculating the period of release of the egg from the follicle give an accurate answer to the question of which days you can get pregnant. Many women who have mastered the calculation of ovulation quickly become happy mothers.
The fair sex, on the one hand, is easy to get pregnant, but on the other, it is difficult. Why is there such a duality? Let's turn to physiology. A woman of reproductive age ovulates every month around the middle of her cycle. This term refers to the release of a mature egg from the ovary. This process takes only 1-2 days.
Many people, after reading the text written above, will probably think that getting pregnant is very simple - you just need to calculate the day of ovulation, and before and after it, have sex with your partner. However, everything is not as simple as it seems. If it was possible to get pregnant strictly in the middle of the cycle, then there would be no unwanted pregnancies and women who dream of a child, but cannot get pregnant for some reason.
We are sorry for women who have chosen the calendar method of contraception and refused other means of protection (condoms, various drugs), because there are no absolutely safe days. You can get pregnant at any time. It is only necessary to take into account that on some days the chances of conceiving a baby are great, while on other days they are significantly reduced. There are no periods with zero probability.
A relatively “safe” time can be considered a couple of days before menstruation and a couple of days after them. To calculate "dangerous" days, you need to know the duration of the menstrual cycle. It must be stable - this is the main condition.
With a 28-30-day menstrual cycle, the highest chances of conception occur on the 14-15th day, since ovulation occurs around this time. Deviations are also possible for a number of reasons: due to nervous breakdowns, stress, the presence of diseases, the use medicines.
How to calculate without errors what days you can get pregnant?
Calculating the days on which you can conceive a child is not so simple. To do this, you need to analyze the entire menstrual cycle, taking data for the last 6-12 months. If hormonal contraceptives were used at that time, the calculation results may be incorrect.
In order not to forget what days menstruation occurs, you should create a special calendar. If the menstrual cycle is not regular, then it will not work to determine which days you can get pregnant. It is best in such cases to use other methods of calculating favorable periods for conception.
If minor deviations are observed during the studied time period, then the following step-by-step calculation can be made:
- Select the longest and shortest menstrual cycles for 6-12 months;
- Subtract the number 18 from the number of days of a short cycle. The result obtained is the day from which the period with a high probability of becoming pregnant begins. For example, the shortest cycle is 25 days. Subtracting 18, we end up with the number 7. This means that the favorable period for conception begins from the 7th day of the menstrual cycle;
- Subtract the number 11 from the number of days of the longest period. The result obtained is the day on which the period with a high probability of becoming pregnant ends. For example, the longest cycle is 29 days. Subtracting 11, we get the number 18. Thus, on the 18th day of the menstrual cycle, the favorable period for conception ends;
From this example it can be seen that the greatest probability of becoming pregnant remains in the period from the 7th to the 18th day.
Table of favorable days for conception:
Is it possible to conceive before menstruation?
An unequivocal answer to this question cannot be given. Conception may or may not occur. First, let's see why the above question can be answered in the negative.
As you know, ovulation occurs in the middle of the cycle. Before the onset of menstruation, the egg dies. If ovulation occurs much later or repeatedly, then an interesting situation may not occur, since hormonal background women will be set for a new cycle.
Now we will explain why conception can occur before menstruation. At healthy women, leading an irregular sex life, the chance of getting pregnant is quite high. Conception can occur after any sexual intercourse.
The body can react to such a rare event with unscheduled ovulation. It can also be provoked by substances contained in semen. Women who regularly have sex with a regular partner may not experience this.
Is it possible to conceive during menstruation?
Pregnancy during the first days of menstruation is unlikely. This is due to the unfavorable environment for spermatozoa and for embryo implantation ( copious excretion blood). However, "surprises" from nature should not be ruled out.
Conception in an unfavorable period can occur in the following cases:
- with prolonged menstruation (for example, less than a week may remain before ovulation, and then the sperm will wait for the release of a mature egg);
- due to menstrual irregularities due to diseases, infections, physical activity, stress;
- with an incorrect calculation of the period of safe sex (due to the irregularity of the menstrual cycle).
Is it possible to conceive immediately after menstruation?
Many representatives of the fair sex claim that it is impossible to get pregnant within a few days after the end of menstruation. Doctors do not adhere to this point of view. They warn that at any time you can get pregnant.
Spermatozoa entering the female genital tract can remain viable and active for several days. If the menstrual cycle is short and the periods are long, then the chances of getting pregnant will be high. Sexual intercourse can just take place during the most favorable days for conception.
Pregnancy immediately after menstruation can occur for the following reasons:
- due to the ability of spermatozoa to maintain their activity for several days;
- due to the maturation of several eggs in one menstrual cycle;
- due to the timing of ovulation. It can happen not in the middle of the menstrual cycle, but much earlier or later. The "culprit" of such disorders in young girls is the irregularity of the menstrual cycle, and in adult women - hormonal abnormalities.
Based on this, we can say that the calendar method is not a reliable means of contraception. For some women, it is not suitable at all.
What period is most likely to become pregnant: ways to determine
Calculate the most auspicious days for conception, you can not only use the calendar method. There are several other more efficient ways:
- Determination of basal temperature;
- Conducting ovulation tests;
- folliculometry;
- Subjective feelings.
Determination of basal temperature
To calculate the period when the probability of conceiving a child is high, it is necessary to measure the basal temperature in the anus every morning after waking up from the beginning of the menstrual cycle (from the 1st day of menstruation).
Errors can occur for several reasons:
- due to overwork or illness (during such periods, the temperature is always elevated);
- if a lot of alcohol was drunk before the measurement;
- due to taking certain medications;
- if sexual intercourse occurred 6 hours (or less) before the measurement;
- due to lack of sleep.
Based on the measured data, a graph should be drawn up, which can be supplemented daily with new results. In the first half of the menstrual cycle, the temperature ranges from 36.6 to 36.9 degrees. It rises above 37 degrees after the release of a mature egg.
You can find out when ovulation occurs if you carefully study the schedule. On days 12-16, the basal temperature may slightly decrease. This will herald the onset of ovulation in the coming hours. That's when you can get pregnant. At this time, women who dream of a baby should have sex.
Conducting ovulation tests
Modern and more accurate means of determining the release of an egg are ovulation tests. They even look like tests with which you can find out about pregnancy. The result is shown as 2 bars. The difference between the tests is only in the reagents. For example, ovulation-determining products contain a substance that responds to the presence of luteinizing hormone (LH), the level of which in the body rises 23-36 hours before ovulation.
In order not to miss the long-awaited event, you need to do tests every day and at the same time. After ovulation, the LH level drops significantly, and then the strips begin to show a negative result. Manufacturers that produce ovulation tests put several strips in the package. Due to this, this method of determining favorable days for conception is the most justified and convenient.
Folliculometry
Diagnosing the period in which you can get pregnant is very simple. using ultrasound(ultrasound). This method cannot be called economical. It is suitable for those women who want to conceive a child, but they can’t do it.
It is recommended to visit the ultrasound room from the 10th day after the start of the last menstruation. Within a few days, the doctor will evaluate the growth of the dominant follicle in the ovary. When it reaches a size of 18-24 mm in diameter, an egg ready for fertilization will come out of it. The formation of the follicle may not lead to ovulation. It may not break, but regress. Such cases are rare, but they do occur in real life.
The main signs of the onset of a favorable period for conception, which a medical worker sees on a monitor during an ultrasound scan, are a corpus luteum located in the ovary without a dominant follicle, as well as a little fluid behind the uterus.
The quality of the endometrium affects the onset of pregnancy. It is known that an egg fertilized by a sperm must be implanted in the uterine wall for subsequent development. If by the time of ovulation the endometrium does not reach a certain thickness, then pregnancy will not occur, since the fertilized egg will not be able to attach to the uterus and will die.
When trying to conceive a baby, the question often arises, how to get pregnant after menstruation quickly? To answer, you need to understand the physiological processes of the female body. The menstrual cycle is divided into three stages - follicular, ovulatory and luteal, each in time proceeds in accordance with individual parameters. The main calendar method for calculating an auspicious day is the main one, in which the date of ovulation is determined.
Stages of the menstrual cycle
At the first stage of the menstrual cycle, a follicle is formed, from which the egg subsequently matures. After that, ovulation or “fertile window” occurs from 1.5 to 3 days, when the probability of conception is the highest. If the egg is fertilized, then the body is rebuilt at the hormonal level in order to maintain pregnancy. The absence of a male spermatozoon leads to the reverse process, a natural process occurs - uterine bleeding.The likelihood of conception after the ovulation period is getting smaller every day. If a woman's regular menstrual cycle is 28 days, then the fertile window is formed between the 13th and 15th day. In the next few days, the chances decrease to 10% and further, the figure is about 2-5%.
When is the best time to get pregnant before or after your period?
When a man and a woman choose best time for conception, it is necessary to focus on the ovulation period and use the calendar method of calculation. If menstruation is irregular, and it is not possible to calculate the fertile window, then when planning a pregnancy, it is recommended that both partners go through full examination to exclude or identify possible diseases affecting fetal development.When answering the question, when is it better to get pregnant before or after menstruation, you should focus on regularity, so the correct answer will be - 7-10 days after the start.
Best days to conceive after period
When days are determined, they are guided by the number of days and the regularity of the cycle. Favorable days come exactly in the middle, at this moment the egg is ready for fertilization.It cannot be guaranteed that pregnancy will not occur immediately after the end of menstruation, the probability of conception is small, but it exists, especially with irregular periods and the inability to calculate the time of ovulation. In such a situation, you can use ultrasound, which most accurately determines the required day.
When calculating the date, the following factors are taken into account:
- short duration - less than 21 days, due to conception in the next day by the end of menstruation;
- prolonged menstruation indicates the possibility of fertilization closer to the beginning;
- irregularity - indicates the impossibility of calculating the day of ovulation;
- additional bleeding can be confused with menstruation, which will allow you to miss a prosperous day due to the impossibility of calculating;
- ovulation of 2 eggs, a rare occurrence, hereditary.
IN adolescence menstruation has not yet been properly established, the risk of conception in the absence of bleeding increases significantly. At this age stage, one should be attentive not only to the calculations, but also to the methods of contraception.
When can I get pregnant after menstruation - calculator
When choosing a method of counting, you should evaluate the regularity of menstruation, if there is no constancy, you will have to use additional methods to determine ovulation. To date, there are special tests that determine the appropriate days. You can keep a basal diary, where you need to record rectal temperature, as it will differ during ovulation.Stressful situations, bad habits, taking certain medications, unreasonable and uncontrolled diets with a sharp decrease in weight disrupt the hormonal balance, which leads to malfunctions, egg maturation will occur earlier or later than the due date.
To calculate favorable days, you need to understand that the first day of the onset of bleeding leads the countdown. In the next month, the date is shifted by 2-3 days and the first day is considered the final one in the cycle. Thus, in the absence of disruptions in the hormonal background, it becomes not difficult to calculate when you can get pregnant after menstruation. The calculator for calculating the most suitable day will help determine the successful date for the conception of a baby.
Content
The birth of a baby is a great happiness for those who are waiting for it. What days are favorable for conception for some women - actual question, others are interested in how to prevent an unplanned pregnancy. Simple, time-tested methods for determining the period for conception will help in both the first and second cases.
Probability of getting pregnant
Fertilization of the egg occurs if there was unprotected intercourse, and ovulation occurred in the current month. When planning a pregnancy, a woman should initially visit a gynecologist, undergo an examination and make sure that there are no health problems. Before taking, you need to calculate your cycle and remember the date of the beginning of the last menstruation. A 28-day cycle is considered ideal. High probability of pregnancy is especially high on day 14.
What days of the cycle can you get pregnant
Contrary to methods of protection and condoms, any days of the cycle for conception are favorable. The fertile period begins five days before ovulation - the maturation of the egg. This means that hormonal changes have begun in the cervical mucus. It creates favorable conditions for spermatozoa, and expansion uterine os facilitates the penetration of the sperm into the egg.
Chances of getting pregnant during your period
What days can you get pregnant? All days. For example, with a hormonal failure or prolonged nervous tension, the egg matures until the middle of the menstrual cycle or does not mature at all. So if you are interested in what is the probability of getting pregnant during menstruation, then it is very high, especially in last days. Abundant bleeding in the first menstrual days they create an unfavorable atmosphere for spermatozoa, but with a long protracted menstruation, the risk of conceiving a baby increases.
Chances of getting pregnant after period
Most girls believe that it is impossible to get pregnant after menstruation. Two days after the regulation are characterized by a low chance of pregnancy. However, it is worth considering that it is not zero. What is the chance of getting pregnant immediately after menstruation? In theory female body works by the hour, but in practice - there is no way to accurately calculate how many days after menstruation you can get pregnant.
Is it possible to get pregnant a few days before menstruation
When menstruation comes, this does not mean that a woman cannot become pregnant. Women with a stable menstrual cycle are as likely to become a mother as those with irregular cycles. The chances of conceiving a child are different on certain days of the cycle. The best time to get pregnant is a week before your period . The days of the cycle can be divided into 4 phases:
- With follicular, the maturation of the follicle begins.
- Ovulatory accompanies the release of the egg.
- During the luteal phase, a change in the hormonal background for conception occurs.
- End: desquamation - the egg is released with the endometrium.
Calculate ovulation calculate
Gynecologists call a good time for getting pregnant ovulation - the procession of an egg in fallopian tube as a result of rupture of a mature follicle. Some women can even feel it. You can feel that you have ovulated by signs:
- the breast is enlarged;
- sensations of sipping, heaviness in the lower abdomen;
- basal temperature rises;
- increased desire to have sex;
- the amount of clear discharge increases.
At this moment, the body itself tells the woman what her main purpose is. How to correctly determine ovulation for conception if you do not have the above symptoms? For this purpose, online calculators are suitable, where you need to enter the start date of the last menstruation and the duration of the entire cycle. You can calculate the days using a regular calendar: ovulation cannot occur earlier than 14 days before menstruation, but it all depends on the length of the cycle.
Safe days from pregnancy
There is a myth that there is safe days after menstruation, in which it will not be possible to become pregnant. But with unprotected intercourse, there is always a chance of fertilization of the egg. So what day after menstruation can you get pregnant? Gynecologists say that in any: without contraception, you will not be 100% protected from the likelihood of a child. The chance of conception is lowest two days before and after bleeding.
Dangerous days for pregnancy
Pregnancy is always possible when a woman is healthy and disposed to childbearing. There are dangerous days that those who have not yet thought about procreation are afraid of. You can determine the chances of getting pregnant using an online menstruation counter or by yourself. Calculating which days are favorable for conception is simple: you need to take your menstrual calendar for the last six months and calculate the average cycle (from the first days of the regulation to the next):
- 28 days - ovulation occurs on the 14th day.
- 33 days, a good moment falls on the 17th day.
ovulation chart
The table of ovulation days implies the entry of basal temperature data. It's an easy way to know when your body is changing and calculate the days to conceive. . Ovulation occurs in the second phase of the cycle and is characterized by an increase in basal body temperature. The measurement procedure is carried out in the morning, using a conventional thermometer, which is inserted into the vagina immediately after waking up. The ovulation schedule includes two phases of the cycle:
- vertical line - basal temperature value from 35.7 to 37.2;
- horizontal line - days of the menstrual cycle (normal range from 28 to 32).
When is the best time to get pregnant
If you can’t conceive a child, then you should increase the chances and calculate which days are best to get pregnant. First you need to visit a gynecologist, drink vitamins, follow the diet prescribed by the doctor, refuse bad habits. To plan better days for pregnancy, fixing BBT during the cycle will help. Its decrease or increase will tell you about the days that will contribute to conception (the day of egg maturation, ovulation).
When planning pregnancy, a woman may need to take complexes of biologically active substances that normalize and support reproductive function. For example, the biologically active food supplement TIME FACTOR®, which contains vitamins C and E, folic acid, rutin, minerals (iron, magnesium and zinc), indole-3-carbinol, glutamic acid, aucubin, gingerols, as well as standardized plant extracts of angelica root, ginger root and sacred vitex fruit. The complex of biologically active substances that make up the dietary supplement TIME-FACTOR® helps to normalize the menstrual cycle and maintain hormonal balance
Video: what is the day of ovulation
Successful conception requires not only the desire and readiness of two people to become parents, but also the right time for this.
We are not talking about the phase of the moon, retrograde Mercury or the most favorable period of the day. We are talking about the phases of the menstrual cycle. Evgenia Balashova, PhD, obstetrician-gynecologist, endocrinologist, reproductive specialist at the Gynecology Clinic, tells about this to the readers of Letidor in a simple and accessible language.
Traditionally, women who are interested in this issue can be divided into two groups: those who are protected by the cycle, and those who calculate the most favorable days for conception in order to increase the chances of becoming pregnant.
I want to immediately note the fact that the "peak fertility" in women is 24 years (the frequency of pregnancy per menstrual cycle is 20%).
On the one hand, this is quite a bit (it is worth imagining 80 out of 100 married couples who were upset when they did not see the coveted two stripes on the test). On the other hand, this is a lot for those couples who are protected by the “physiological method”.
Phases of the menstrual cycle
Let me remind you the phases of the menstrual cycle: this is menstruation, which is the starting point, the follicular phase (first), ovulation and the luteal phase (second). Then everything repeats from the beginning.
In fact, the menstrual cycle is different for everyone - it can be short (21 days) and long (35 days). But here the luteal (second phase) of the cycle is more than 10 days, as a rule, does not happen.
Accordingly, the most convenient option to calculate ovulation is to subtract 10-12 days from the average duration of your menstrual cycle.
For example, with a menstrual cycle of 21 days, this is the 9th - 11th day, for a menstrual cycle of 30 days, this is the 18th - 20th day.
What happens in the follicular phase
Let's see why the duration of the follicular phase is so different.
At the beginning of each menstrual cycle (2-3 days), a group of follicles is determined in both ovaries, which are going to grow. These are the so-called antral follicles. Usually, the doctor counts them during an ultrasound scan and draws a conclusion about the woman's follicular reserve.
For some period of time, these follicles "agree among themselves" - which of them will be the leader, and the rest of the "support group" goes into atresia - that is, into regression. From that moment on, no more follicles will grow.
The duration of the follicular phase depends on the duration of these "negotiations".
Sometimes for this group of follicles it is immediately obvious which of them is the leader. Then ovulation can happen in 8-10 days. But sometimes they can't "negotiate" long enough - for example, for 30 or more days. Moreover, such scenarios can be with the same woman!
Usually this is influenced by a combination of external factors - the phase of the moon, a change in atmospheric pressure by 15-20 mm Hg, a change in the length of daylight hours - and internal factors such as hormonal levels, the presence or absence of functional ovarian cysts in the previous cycle, etc. .
Sometimes, for example, during an ultrasound performed on days 9-11 of the menstrual cycle, I announce to patients that they are ovulating, which is happening right here and now. And this is in women who tend to have a cycle of 30 - 32 days! But they, as we have already understood, usually ovulate on the 20-22nd day.
This is why contraception is not a reliable method of contraception.
And that is why those women who dream of pregnancy need regular sex life, and not just on the estimated dates of ovulation.
What happens to the leading follicle
After the follicles have agreed, the leading follicle grows with average speed 3 mm in two days to 19 mm in diameter. And after that - at a rate of 3 mm per day up to 27 mm. Then it bursts - this is ovulation. This period takes on average no more than 10-12 days. In place of the bursting follicle, a temporary endocrine gland (yellow body) is formed, which secretes progesterone. This hormone is necessary to maintain the onset of pregnancy.
If pregnancy does not occur, the concentration of progesterone decreases, and menstruation begins.
Sometimes, in the case of "particularly long negotiations" lasting 20-25 days, when the next menstruation should already come, the leading follicle is just maturing and it ruptures. It turns out that ovulation occurred on the days of the expected next menstruation, and the woman is not protected, because she thinks that menstruation will come today or tomorrow.
If the menstrual cycle is irregular
We considered the options for physiological deviations of the normal regular menstrual cycle. If the cycle is irregular (with fluctuations of 7-10 days or more), then such calculations are not relevant at all. What to do?
For women planning a pregnancy, I advise either to conduct ovulation tests or go for folliculometry (ultrasound).
Women who are not planning a pregnancy should choose the optimal and reliable method of contraception together with their doctor.
