Frequently Asked Fertility Questions

What is ovulation?

Ovulation is the release of a mature egg from the follicle from the ovary. The egg travels along the fallopian tube, where it is available to be fertilised by the sperm. Once the egg is released, there is a window of up to 24 hours in which fertilisation and therefore pregnancy, can occur.

When does ovulation happen?

Questions related to the timing of ovulation are very common, particularly in online searches.  The answer you will most commonly find is that ovulation occurs on day 14 of your cycle. This is a huge misconception, along with the fact that menstrual cycles are 28 days long. In reality, menstrual cycles vary from 21 to 35 days, with ovulation occurring anywhere from day 8 to day 25. If you are timing sex around day 14 to try and conceive, this will not be helping your chances of becoming pregnant. Ovulation can vary from woman to woman and month to month. Factors such as stress and illness can affect ovulation, meaning you may ovulate later than usual.

Will taking my temperature to detect ovulation increase my chances of pregnancy?

No. The temperature rise associated with ovulation happens after you have ovulated. If you are timing sex with this temperature rise, the chances of becoming pregnant are greatly reduced. Temperature taking can assist in seeing a pattern in your cycles but it is retrospective  – it is not telling you when you are fertile in this cycle.

When am I fertile?

You are fertile in the days leading up to and including ovulation. The number of days you are fertile is unique to you, so the key is to understand your cycle to ensure you are having baby-making sex at the right time. Sex in the 3 days before ovulation will give you the best chance of pregnancy.

What are the signs of fertile days?

When you are trying to get pregnant, timing is everything. Research has found that the most accurate way a woman can identify for herself the fertile and non-fertile phases of the menstrual cycle is by observing and sensing vaginal mucous at the vulva.  It is not just about waiting for the “egg white” consistency, although this is a sign of ovulation. Menstrual charting aids you in identifying the fertile days.

What is menstrual charting?

There are many mucous changes that occur in the menstrual cycle, some of which even prevent sperm from entering the reproductive tract. Menstrual charting (fertility awareness) allows you to observe, record and interpret the many mucous changes that happen in your cycle. You will find out your fertile and non-fertile days each month. It is simple to learn and can give you a real insight into what is going in your body each month. Not only will you learn the true signs of fertility, but you can also recognise if there are any problems that might be affecting your chances of becoming pregnant. Issues such as luteal phase defects (having a luteal phase that is too short to accommodate pregnancy), and ovulation disorders (such as not ovulating at all) can be detected and discussed. By menstrual charting, you will detect these changes, and know you will always be targeting your baby making sex at the right time.

How is it done?

It’s simple. You can start any day, at any stage of your cycle – you don’t need to wait until your next period. Each evening, you record on a chart (provided) what sensation you observe as you went about your business during the day. No inspecting necessary, and definitely no stretching between the fingers!! What you felt as you were walking around, and wiping on the loo. THAT’S IT! I will teach you what to look out for, and how to interpret your charting so that you really know when YOU are fertile, even in the days before ovulation. Besides, you can be fertile 2 to 5 days before ovulation, so knowing when to have sex to include this time will give you the best chance of pregnancy.