For some women trying to conceive and get pregnant can be a no-brainer and quiet easy but for some, it can be a challenge for the couple.
After a year of marriage, my Husband and I decided to try to conceive or TTC. We first went to an Obstetrician-Gynecologist to have myself checked. Prior to this, we were in a Calendar Method as our method of contraception making sure we skip contact during my fertile days. The doctor said there was no apparent problem to begin with and all we had to do was to actively try during my ovulation period and see from there.
True enough, when we started trying to conceive, it took us two cycles to get that big fat positive (BFT). That was our first pregnancy. Our second pregnancy was also the same, getting that BFT right after the cycle. And even though those two pregnancies did not progress and I had miscarriages, getting pregnant for me, it turns out was quite easy.
Before we tried to conceive again, we found out I had APAS, which made the third pregnancy different. But when the Immunologist gave us the GO Signal to TTC, she and the OB-Gyne were surprised to find us 2-3 weeks after back in the clinics and pregnant already.
READ: How we found out I had APAS
Here are some of the things that we did to track my ovulation period when we were trying to conceive.
When is the best time to try to conceive?
A woman’s fertile window is the best time to get pregnant. Fertile window is when an egg is released from the ovary (ovulation) and the five days beforehand. Having contact with your spouse gives you a higher chance of getting pregnant.
Ovulation happens about 14 days before your period starts. If your average menstrual cycle is 28 days, you ovulate around day 14, and your most fertile days are days 12, 13 and 14. If your average menstrual cycle is 35 days ovulation happens around day 21 and your most fertile days are days 19,20 and 21.
https://www.yourfertility.org.au
How To Know When Your Ovulation Period
Track Menstrual Cycle
I tracked my menstrual cycle by taking note of every first day of my period and get an average of it to know how long my cycle is. Once I learned how long my cycle it was easy to count the days after each period start and pinpoint my ovulation period it.
If you’re not confident tracking your cycle by yourself, you can use menstrual tracker apps. I personally use Flo Period Tracker. It not only tracks and predicts when my next period will be but also predicts ovulation period.
Ovulation Kits
You can purchase ovulation kits from pharmacies or online. I purchased these kits and tracked when I am most fertile. Along with cross-checking it with ovulation symptoms and the Flo Period Tracker app prediction, I found that the Ovulation LH Test Strips I bought on Shopee is somehow accurate.
READ: How to use those Ovulation Test Strips
Knowing and taking care of your body
I would also want you guys to know that it all starts with a good egg and sperm. Prior to every time we tried to conceive and gotten pregnant, my husband and I were fully aware what we were putting in our bodies and taking care of it. We became health and fitness junkies in the months leading up to eat. We avoided sugar and alcohol, lessen caffeine intake, drank a lot of water and had regular exercises. We loss some pretty good amount of weight and was consistent in the healthy lifestyle. We took multivitamins and supplements and went to bed early. We basically had to reset our body by getting rid of the junk as best as we could.
This worked for us and it may or may not work for you. It is different for every person and couple. By there is no harm in getting healthy and fit if you’re in the season of trying to get pregnant. Regardless if it works for you or not, it will give you a healthier body at the end.
Getting the timing right
Ovulation is when a mature egg is released from the ovary. The egg then moves down the fallopian tube where it can be fertilised. If sperm are in the fallopian tube when the egg is released, there is a good chance that the egg will be fertilised, creating an embryo, which can grow into a baby.
Pregnancy is technically only possible if you have sex during the five days before ovulation or on the day of ovulation. But the most fertile days are the three days leading up to and including ovulation. Having sex during this time gives you the best chance of getting pregnant. By 12-24 hours after ovulation, a woman is no longer able to get pregnant during that menstrual cycle because the egg is no longer in the fallopian tube.
And since my Husband & I just relied on predictions from the Flo app and also from the Ovulation Test Strips, we made sure to have contact from the start to the end of my ovulation period. For some couples, they have contact every day to have higher chance of success. For my husband & I, we did it every other day – that way it will not become like a routine for us. And this proved successful for us in all the 3 preganncies we’ve had.
There’s almost no chance of not getting pregnant if you have sex during the fertile window unless something is wrong with either or both partners. If you are still having difficulty getting pregnant after several months or years, it is best you check with a specialist to find out any underlying issues so it can be managed right away.