Fertility websites and smartphone apps vary in how they calculate a woman’s fertile window, and many get it wrong, according to a new study. For example, 78.8% of apps and 75.0% of websites included days after ovulation as part of the fertile window, even though conception is unlikely to occur during that part of a woman’s cycle.
Tag: ovulation
Do You Ovulate On Birth Control Pills? Here’s How They Affect Your Cycle
If you take birth control pills, or you’re trying to find the best method of contraception for you, you may have asked yourself, “Do you ovulate on birth control pills?” The short answer is “No.” Birth control pills are designed to prevent ovulation, and, on the off chance that you do ovulate while on the pill, it works with two other back up methods to prevent pregnancy. That’s why the pill is so good at preventing pregnancy — in fact, it’s more than 99 percent effective when used perfectly.
Fertility Tracking Doesn’t Have to Just Be for Getting Pregnant
Many women take advantage of the numerous fertility trackers and apps available when they are trying to get pregnant. But as Kirsten Karchmer, founder of Conceivable, has made clear, successfully planning a pregnancy goes way beyond just monitoring a woman’s cycle and ovulation timing.
Secondary Infertility: 3 Million U.S. Women Facing A Devastating, Confusing Reality
Buckingham-Ramirez fell in love with motherhood, and when her son turned 2, she and her husband started trying for another. Months passed. Buckingham-Ramirez, now 26 and a stay-at-home-mom, saw her doctor, who diagnosed her with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a condition that affects women’s menstrual cycles and ability to have children. She began taking Clomid — a drug that stimulates ovulation — and worked with her doctors to track her cycle. But two years later, the couple has still had no success.
Increase Your Pregnancy Odds …
In high school, sex ed teachers may have told you that you could easily get pregnant any time you had unprotected sex. Now that you’re actually trying to conceive a baby, you might be second-guessing their warning. In some situations, it takes more than just throwing out your birth control to get pregnant. The better you understand your menstrual cycle the more likely you’ll be to identify your fertile window and increase your chances of conception:
The Average Menstrual Cycle
The average woman will have a 28-day menstrual cycle, with ovulation occurring around cycle day 14. However, there are wide variances in the normal cycle. According to Womenshealth.gov, a normal cycle can last anywhere from 21 to 35 days long, and ovulation can occur anytime between cycle day 13 and cycle day 20. After an egg is released and ovulation occurs, women who have a normal cycle will have a period within 14 to 16 days. If you’re thinking about trying to conceive, consider keeping a calendar of when you get your period each month to understand what the normal cycle length is for you.
Signs of Ovulation
Ovulation is notoriously difficult to predict, largely because it does not always occur on the same day each month. Keep an eye out for signs of ovulation as you approach the middle of your cycle each month. Some women feel cramping around the time that they ovulate, while others will notice a change in cervical mucus. According to the Mayo Clinic, cervical mucus becomes clear and slippery just before ovulation occurs. It is sometimes said to resemble a raw egg white. Take note of your cervical mucus consistency throughout the month to help you have an idea of when you’re going to ovulate.
Chart Your Fertility
Charting is a great way to identify your own personal cycle patterns and discover when your fertile window is each month. If you chart for several months, you will often notice that a pattern emerges. According to Womenshealth.gov, there are three main methods for charting your fertility:
- Test your basal body temperature using a basal body thermometer
- Calculate ovulation using an online ovulation calculator
- Track your cycle by monitoring your cervical fluids
Consider combing all three methods to get an accurate idea of when you’re most likely to conceive each month.
Causes of Infertility
Many factors contribute to infertility, including age, general health disorders and environmental surroundings. According to Womenshealth.gov, the most common cause of infertility is a woman’s failure to ovulate each month. Web MD notes that there are a variety of treatments available to treat infertility. There are fertility drugs on the market designed to stimulate ovulation. In addition, women can undergo fertility treatments like in vitro fertilization. During in vitro fertilization, eggs are removed from the woman and a male partner donates sperm. The egg is fertilized and then subsequently implanted into the woman’s uterus resulting in pregnancy. If you feel you may have fertility issues, set up an appointment with your doctor.
Big Data Based Fertility Tracker Ovuline Now Integrates With Trackers
Ovuline,the big data-driven fertility tracker backed by $1.4 million in funding from Lightbank, Launch Capital and others, is today launching an upgraded version of its Smart Fertility product which now more accurately predicts ovulation, offering real-time feedback plus integration with “quantified self” devices like the FitBit and Withings.
Women at Peak Fertility Prefer Men with High Testosterone Levels
According to a new study, women at their peak fertility prefer the scent of men with high testosterone levels. A research has previously shown that ovulation has an impact on a woman’s mating preferences.
Women at Peak Fertility Prefer Men with High Testosterone Levels
According to a new study, women at their peak fertility prefer the scent of men with high testosterone levels. A research has previously shown that ovulation has an impact on a woman’s mating preferences.
Medical Myth: You Can Control the Sex of Your Baby
Timing sex around ovulation doesn’t change the odds of having a boy or girl.
Pregnant in Medical School
Soon after starting medical school, my periods had stopped. Further evaluation led to a diagnosis of hypothalamic amenorrhea, a form of infertility in which insufficient hormones for ovulation are produced. I had always thought of having children, but years down the road, in my 30s, with an established career. At that time I was 27, going to school more than 300 miles away from my husband. Starting a family was not at the top of my mind.