I am writing this article for those who do not know what ovulation is, how to determine its duration in order to become pregnant. After reading a lot of relevant literature, I realized that this information is very important and can be useful to someone. I will not write abstruse words and briefly outline everything in a simple and accessible language.

What is ovulation? This is a natural process that regularly occurs in the body of every healthy woman of childbearing age. During ovulation from the ovary (once from the right, the second from the left), one egg (or more) is secreted, which is then ready for fertilization within 24 hours. Each woman has a different time frame, but ovulation occurs approximately in the middle of the menstrual cycle.  

There are several ways to determine the exact period of ovulation. The options below are feasible at home without medical attention.

Calculation of the menstrual cycle.
If you have a regular menstrual cycle, you can try to calculate the approximate period of ovulation. To do this, you should regularly note the duration of menstrual bleeding, and if you accurately determine the date of the first day of the next menstruation and take 12-16 days, ovulation is most likely to occur during this period. If your cycle is irregular, this method is not very reliable. However, for example, prolonged use of a contraceptive can shift ovulation even with a regular cycle, since the effect of oral contraceptives is based on the prevention of ovulation, and you cannot determine the term. Also, women often experience cycle failures, and there are cases when ovulation does not occur at all, but menstruation proceeds normally. Therefore, I advise you not to use this method, especially if you want to become pregnant for a long time and do not want to wait.

Basal temperature measurement .
This method of determining ovulation is much more reliable. The temperature must be measured with the same thermometer always in the morning immediately after waking up in bed. It can be measured in the mouth, armpits, but most likely the temperature will be in the vagina. The thermometer should be kept 3-5 minutes and the data recorded in the menstrual calendar. During the menstrual cycle, the temperature can drop sharply before ovulation, after ovulation, the basal temperature rises by several tenths of a degree Celsius. The temperature will be elevated until the next menstruation. You need to measure at least 3 regular menstrual cycles.   

The density of uterine mucus changes during the menstrual cycle. On barren days, the mucus is thick, slightly cloudy, and if you take it between two fingers, rinse and stretch your fingers, it should burst. If the consistency changes, and the mucus becomes fluid, transparent and stretching, this is a sign of approaching ovulation. Various diseases (even such “innocent” ones as thrush, gardnerellosis, and others) can affect the accuracy of this method, in which the normal appearance of the discharge is disturbed. 

If a couple fails to become pregnant within one year and using the methods described above, you need to go to a doctor who can determine the period of ovulation much more accurately, for example using ultrasound or a blood test, and also determine the level of progesterone, which will show whether there are ovulation at all. It is also necessary to examine the partner, because a woman is not always to blame for failures. 

In the interests of preserving marriage, do not focus on sexual intercourse only on ovulation days, so that a process designed to give joy and pleasure is not limited to fulfilling the duties of reproducing offspring.

The ideal frequency of sexual intercourse is approximately 3 times a week. Let’s calculate: the ability of a sperm to fertilize an egg lasts 2 days after sexual intercourse, the egg is able to fertilize within 12 hours after ovulation. Therefore, the frequency of sexual relations in a day should be enough to successfully fertilize the egg. But no one said that this should not be done every day, and several times a day!   

Love each other, be fruitful and multiply, my dears!