Trying to Conceive? Chart Your Cycle
Timing is everything! It’s very helpful to know which days you are most fertile when you’re trying to get pregnant, and charting your cycles can help you figure out when the best time to have sex is. Generally speaking, the menstrual cycle is 28 days (or so). Ovulation generally occurs about 14 days after the first day of your period, or cycle day 14. If this is the case, you’d be most fertile from days 9-14 of your cycle. But all cycles aren’t so predictable, so here are some ways to get a more accurate view of your fertile window.
Basal Body Temperature
This is your temperature as soon as you wake up. You can buy a basal body thermometer at most stores. Take your temperature each morning before you get out of bed and chart it. Just after you ovulate, your temperature rises slightly and stays up until your period begins. By charting your temps for a few months, you’ll have a pretty good idea when you ovulate by the increase in your temperature.
Cervical Mucus
The mucus that your cervix makes is made by the same hormones that control your menstrual cycle. Just before ovulation, your cervix produces more mucus, and it is often the consistency of egg whites and can be stretchy and slippery. When you see this type of mucus, you are most fertile. Cervical mucus throughout your cycle can be sticky, cloudy, or cream-like. To chart, check your mucus at the same time each day either with a tissue wipe or your fingers. Record its color and consistency. When it’s clear, slippery, and stretchy, you’re fertile and near ovulation.
Ovulation Predictor Kits
These are found near the pregnancy tests and can help you pinpoint your fertile days. It’s probably the easiest and quickest way to find out, though of course they aren’t 100% accurate.
Charting Apps
As with most things, when it comes to charting your cycle, there’s an app for that!
Fertility Friend is an easy to use app that let’s you track your basal body temperature, cervical mucus, sex, and more.
Ovia Fertility – Ovulation Calculator claims to be the #1 most accurate fertility app.
Kindara Fertility Tracker is another high-ranking fertility app that allows you to track temperature, mucus, mood, and ovulation predictor kits.
Now that you understand your cycle, here are 5 tips to increase your chances of getting pregnant.
- Have sex every other day during your fertile window.
- Start a prenatal vitamin.
- Go easy on the caffeine and eat a healthy diet.
- Don’t get up after intercourse for at least 5 minutes to allow the swimmers to get to where they need to go.
- Avoid alcohol and kick the smoking habit. Smoking and drinking alcohol can both lead to fertility problems.
Now that you’re equipped with all of the tools for charting your cycle, the only left to do is to have fun! Good luck!
