Ovulation period
Ovulation calculator
Know the best ovulation days to get pregnant
Developed in consultation with
Dr. Varshali Mali
Gynecologist & pregnancy doctor
MBBS, DNB (OBGY)
MBBS, DNB (OBGY)
Diploma in Gynecological Endoscopy - Germany
Diploma in Gynecological Endoscopy - Germany
Want to get pregnant? Want to know your best fertility days? Use this ovulation calculator to know your ovulation period, symptoms, and best ovulation days to get pregnant.
Ovulation calculator
Based on your menstrual period and cycle length, estimate the ovulation period, ovulation days and increase your chance of getting pregnant.
How to calculate your ovulation day?
Ovulation is when a mature egg is released from the ovary. There are two phases of the menstruation cycle. The first phase is called the follicular phase, and the second phase is called the luteal phase. The follicular phase starts on the first day of the menstruation cycle and ends with ovulation day. The luteal phase begins after ovulation day and ends before your next period starts.
The duration of the follicular phase depends on many factors and varies from woman to woman. But the luteal phase period is typically the same for most women. It's for about 14 days. So, to calculate the ovulation period and estimate your ovulation day, subtract 14 days from the start date of your next period. This ovulation calculator is based on this principle.
How to calculate your ovulation period?
Each menstruation cycle has specific days where the chances of getting pregnant are maximum. If the sperms are available to meet the mature egg released on the ovulation day, the chances of pregnancy are high. Before we go through the exact ovulation days calculations, the following are a few things to understand.
Sperms active duration: Sperms can stick in the fallopian tubes for up to several days, typically about three to six days.
Eggs active duration: The egg has only 12 to 24 hours of life.
Considering the above, technically, the fertility window is four days before ovulation, the day of ovulation, and one day after ovulation. So, technically, it's six days of the ovulation period. But the best fertile days are two days before ovulation day and the ovulation day. So, the best fertile days are the three days, two days before ovulation, and the day of ovulation. This ovulation calculator considers this principle while calculating the results.
Following are some quick examples of how to estimate the best fertility period:
For the average menstruation cycle of 28 days, the ovulation day is day 14. The best fertility period is days 12, 13, and 14.
For the average menstruation cycle of 35 days, the ovulation day is day 21. The best fertility period is days 19, 20, and 21.
For the average menstruation cycle of 21 days, the ovulation day is day 7. The best fertility period is days 5, 6, and 7.
Remember that most women have irregular periods. So, it is hard to estimate the ovulation day. To avoid the odds in these calculations and increase the chances of pregnancy, it is good to have sex every 2-3 days during your ovulation period.
How to calculate average cycle length?
A cycle length is the number of days between two periods. Typically, it is calculated using the first day of your last to last period and the first day of your last period. For example, if in October, your period started on the 10th and in November, they began on the 6th, the cycle length is 28 days.
Estimating the cycle length is essential to understand your ovulation days and ovulation period. This is one of the inputs asked by this ovulation calculator. As most women have irregular cycles, it is better to work out an "average" cycle length based on at least the span of three menstrual cycles. For example, your October to December cycle lengths is:
October: 30 days, November: 27 days, and December: 31 days.
Average cycle length =( 30 + 27 + 31 ) / 3 = 29 days.
So, the average cycle length equals the total days of each month divided by the total number of months.
In case of any difficulty calculating the cycle duration, you may take help of your gynecologist.
Understanding menstruation cycle
Day 1 to 7 : Uterus lining breaks down, menstruation occurs
Day 8 to 11 : The lining of the womb thickens in preparation for the egg
Day 12 to 17 : Ovulation occurs (usually on day 14)
Day 18 to 25 : If fertilization has not taken place, the corpus luteum fades away
Day 26 to 28 : The uterine lining detaches leading to menstruation
Usually, an average female has 28-days of the menstrual cycle. She may be having 4 days here and there, which is considered normal. The complete cycle can be divided into three phases.
First phase : This is the phase where bleeding happens. Usually, this period lasts for 5 to 7 days. During this period, there is shedding of your endometrial lining to later form a new lining.
Second phase : This is the time during which the uterus lining builds. Usually, it lasts for 7 days till the date when the ovum is released from your ovaries. That is typically the ovulation day.
Third phase : Your uterus waits for the sperm to enter and fertilize the egg during this phase. If the pregnancy does not occur, then the endometrial lining starts to degenerate. Finally, it starts shedding, which starts a new cycle of menstruation.
Understanding the menstruation cycle is vital to estimate the ovulation period and ovulation days.
Ovulation symptoms and signs
Many times, it is hard to estimate the average cycle length and the exact ovulation period. Estimating ovulation days become even more complex in case if you are using any hormonal contraceptive methods. So, using such an ovulation calculator is of little help.
Keeping an eye on your body's behavior might be the only way out. Your body behaves a little differently when you are ovulating. You can pay attention to the following signs and know when you are ovulating:
Your basal body temperature increases slightly, about 1/2 to 1 degree.
Your cervical mucus or discharge may appear clearer, thinner, and slippery like raw egg whites.
Your breast may become tender.
Your cervix softens and opens.
You may feel slight cramps or twinges in your lower abdomen.
You may experience a mild spotting.
You may experience an elevated sense of smell.
You may experience little change in appetite or mood swings.
Your sex drive may increase.
These are some of the signs which indicates that you are ovulating. If you experience none of them, it doesn't mean you are not ovulating. Or if you experience any of them does not guarantee that you are ovulating. Please consult your pregnancy doctor and take the advice.
Tip to get pregnant
Getting pregnant depends on many factors. The ovulation calculator estimates the fertility period, but some of the tips may increase your chances of getting pregnant.
1. Timing
Understanding your menstruation cycle, ovulation period, and fertility window is essential. So, keep track of your menstrual cycle. Keep your ovulation days in mind and watch out for symptoms like basal body temperature, cramps, etc. These will help you better plan for pregnancy.
2. Diet
Your healthy diet may increase the chances of getting pregnant. Eat the right food and nutrients. Start taking folic acid before you start trying. Ensure that your diet includes plenty of healthy fats like omega-3s, calcium, protein, iron, and fibers. You may consult your gynecologist to take advice on diet.
3. Exercise
Women with moderate exercise daily have been shown to have better chances of getting pregnant. So do at least 30 minutes of daily exercise activities like jogging, walking, running, etc.
4. Stress and rest
Stress can cause many effects, including irregular periods, delay in ovulation, and so on. This comes in the way of your pregnancy. So, stay away from stress. Get involved in "stress-bursting" activities like yoga, meditation, writing, reading, etc. Another factor affecting your regular periods is your sleep pattern. Get at least eight hours of restful sleep.
5. Bad habits
Smoking impacts your chances of getting pregnant. So, if you smoke, this is the right time to quit. It is also advisable to limit your alcohol and caffeine consumption as they affect the chances of pregnancy. Ask your doctor about impact of these habit on pregnancy.
Pregnancy test
So, you have done all the calculations of ovulation period, timed it well during the ovulation days, and want to know the results. The complete pregnancy guide details all the tests, including home pregnancy tests, clinical urine pregnancy tests, pregnancy blood tests, and ultrasound/sonography scan tests.
Other articles
Getting pregnant and having a baby is a big decision in everyone's life. Pregnancy is a journey, and it starts with the thought of "I want to get pregnant." You need to be informed about what to do and what is happening to you. Below are a few articles written by gynecologist Dr. Varshali Mali. These articles will help you make this journey safe, healthy, and more enjoyable.
The ovulation calculator provides your approximate ovulation period. There are increased chances of getting pregnant during ovulation days. Remember that this is just an estimate, and accuracy depends a lot on the accuracy of the start date of your cycle and average cycle length. Having sex as close as possible to the ovulation day increases the chances of pregnancy. Chances of pregnancy increase from 0% (sex before six or more days of ovulation) to 30% (sex two days before or on ovulation day).
Remember that pregnancy is an important event in your life. It may happen on the first try or may take many attempts. Remember to consult your gynecologist in case if there are too many failed attempts. She will be able to do appropriate diagnostics and see if something is wrong or just the timing. In case of any query, do not hesitate to ask Gynecologist Dr. Varshali Mali.
Disclaimer
Dr. Varshali's Gynecology Clinic team developed this ovulation calculator in consultation with gynecologist Dr. Varshali Mali. The accuracy of the calculated ovulation period and ovulation days depends on the accuracy of the data provided. This calculator is provided only for approximate estimation. It is not intended as a substitute for professional health care. We strongly recommend consulting with your gynecologist and taking her advice if you are planning to get pregnant.
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