Our fertility specialists can help you pinpoint the time of ovulation through a number of different methods. However, before discussing various tracking methods, it may be helpful to understand the phases of your menstrual cycle.
Different phases of the menstrual cycle
A woman’s menstrual cycle refers to the hormonal and reproductive system changes that make falling pregnant possible. A typical menstrual cycle, which begins on the first day of your period, lasts anywhere between 28 to 35 days. However, it is not uncommon for cycle length to vary between women.
The two phases that make up your menstrual cycle include:
- Follicular phase (from the first day of your period up until ovulation): During the follicular phase, estrogen levels in the body increase leading to ovulation. Once your period has stopped, the lining of your uterus also begins to thicken to support a possible pregnancy.
- Luteal phase (occurs after ovulation up until the first day of your period): The luteal phase lasts for 14 days and predominantly involves an increase in progesterone. Increasing progesterone levels helps maintain the thickened lining of your uterus – so that if sperm fertilises an egg, the resultant embryo can implant, i.e. attach to the wall of the uterus. If fertilisation does not occur, progesterone levels decrease and the lining of the uterus sheds resulting in a period (menstruation).
Ovulation tracking techniques
By taking advantage of the changes that occur in a woman’s body during her menstrual cycle, our fertility specialists can use a variety of techniques to track ovulation.
Menstrual cycle
For women who have a regular period, we can use the length of your menstrual cycle and the date of your last period to determine when you’ll next ovulate. If you’re trying to fall pregnant, monitoring the dates you have your period will be helpful. Specifically, your ovulation date occurs 14 days prior to the first day of your period.
Feel free to try our ovulation calculator – an online tracker that helps determine when you are likely to be most fertile. For the ovulation calculator to be as precise as possible, it’s important to accurately enter the starting date of your last period and the number of days in your usual menstrual cycle.
Changes in vaginal mucus
While not used as a stand-alone method, monitoring the changes in vaginal mucus throughout your menstrual cycle can help determine when you’re ovulating. Typically, vaginal mucus becomes thinner, clearer and stretchier in the days prior to ovulation. It also increases in volume.
Measurement of hormones
Hormones called LH (luteinising hormone), FSH (follicle-stimulating hormone), oestrogen and progesterone are responsible for a woman’s ovulation and menstrual cycle. By taking serial measurements of the levels of these hormones in your body, we can determine if and when you’re ovulating.
Ultrasound
By performing serial ultrasounds, it is possible to observe changes in the ovaries that indicate the timing of egg release. Furthermore, we may also use this information to administer a trigger injection, which guarantees ovulation 38 hours afterwards.
Serial hormonal measurements and ultrasound imaging are typically performed at one of Newlife IVF’s fertility clinics in Box Hill, Clayton or East Melbourne.
Timing intercourse
Once the date of ovulation is established (using an ovulation calculator/tracker, monitoring changes in vaginal mucus, measuring certain hormone levels or changes in the ovaries via ultrasound), defining a woman’s most fertile period is straightforward. In the female reproductive tract, sperm can survive for up to 5 days – and once ovulation has occurred, an egg will be present for a maximum of 24 hours. This means there is a broad window, prior to and including the day of ovulation, during which a couple can get pregnant.
The most fertile period during this time is in the 2–4 days preceding ovulation and the day of ovulation itself.
If you would like to learn more about ovulation tracking and timing intercourse, feel free to contact one of our friendly fertility specialists located in Melbourne.
