Fertility Window: Meaning and What You Need to Know

The popular belief is that you can possibly get pregnant every day of your cycle. that’s is not true. there is actually a limited number of days within your cycle when you will be able to conceive. so, when are the days? would you like to know when you are most fertile?  knowing your fertile window will help you get pregnant easily if you are trying to conceive or help you prevent pregnancy if you are not willing to be a mother yet. Keep on reading to find out more!

Ever heard of the fertile window? What does that mean?

fertile window refers to those days within a menstrual cycle when it is very possible for a woman to get pregnant. it is the day your ovary releases an egg. Just as the length of the menstrual cycle varies from woman to woman. that is how fertile window varies. in other words, your fertile windows depend on the length of your menstrual cycle.

fertility window signs

For most people who do not have a regular cycle, it might be difficult to determine the fertile window. however, it could be predicted by analyzing the following.

Fertile cervical mucus

During ovulation, the cervical mucus which is a secretion near the cervix increase and looks more like a raw egg white. The function of this mucus enables easier sex and movement of sperm into the female reproductive system.

position of cervical

during ovulation, the cervix becomes soft and opens slightly. it also moves higher making it difficult to reach.

ovulation pain

this is a sharp pain that occurs randomly in your lower abdomen.

Breast tenderness

The hormones produced by your body during ovulation cause your breast to be tender to touch.

Basal Body Temperature

During fertile window, the hormone called progesterone causes your body temperature to rise throughout the two weeks wait after which temperature returns back to normal due to the drop in the level of progesterone.

You can use the above information to track your fertile window. this will require you to pay close attention to your body changes.

Is fertility window the same as ovulation?

The fertile window starts from five (5) days before ovulation and ends the day after the egg is released. while ovulation is the period within your menstrual cycle when one of your ovaries releases an egg into the fallopian tube where it waits for the sperm to fertilize it. The egg can stay up to 24 hours after being released to the fallopian tube. if the egg is not fertilized, it disintegrates and instigates your next menstruation.

The sperm can live up to five days inside the female body after intercourse. this means that if you have intercourse five days before ovulation or on ovulation day it can result in pregnancy. This why the period is referred to as a fertile window.

How to calculate fertility window

There are two things you need to know about your menstrual cycle that will help you determine the fertile window. one is, you need to know the length of your menstrual cycle and the day you ovulate.

How do you know the length of your menstrual cycle?

The number of days from the day you start bleeding in the last period to the first day of your next bleeding will give you the length of your cycle. Naturally, the length of the menstrual cycle varies from 23 to 35 days, and 28 days is the average. Now that you are able to calculate your cycle length there is a need to know your ovulation day as well. to calculate this, subtract 14days from the length of your current menstrual cycle.

For example. You started your last bleeding on the 1^st day of March and the next one started on the 30^th of March. The length of the circle is 30days. To determine your next ovulation, subtract 14 from 30 days (length of the cycle). your ovulation will be on the 16^th day.

for those that have irregular menstrual cycles, it might be difficult to calculate the ovulation date, however, an ovulation urine test may be useful.

Conclusion

Technically, the fertile window reflects two things, the lifespan of the sperm which is 5 days, and the lifespan of the ovum(egg) which is 24 hours. By this, pregnancy is possible five days before ovulation through ovulation day.

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