If you are trying to fall pregnant it is important to be aware that conception can only happen at certain times and will depend on an egg connecting with a healthy sperm in the first few hours after ovulation.

To significantly increase the chance of pregnancy you should pinpoint when ovulation occurs and have sex during that time.

Ovulation & your cycle
We are often told that ovulation happens between day 12 and day 16 of the cycle (day 1 being the first day of the period). This is only true for a 28 day cycle. Women with longer cycles ovulate later and those with shorter cycles ovulate earlier. Someone who normally has a period every 35 days for example, will most likely ovulate between day 20 and 24 and with 21 day cycles the fertile time is as early as day 6-10.

When is your fertile time?
The way to estimate your fertile time when you have regular cycles (whether long or short), is to subtract 16 days from the number of days in the cycle which gives the earliest day ovulation could happen. Within the four days after that day, ovulation is most likely to occur.

For example, if you have a 31 day cycle, then subtract 16 from 31 which gives 15. Start having sex on day 15 of your cycle (ie count to 15 from the first day of your period). If you’d like a hand to find the best days to start having sex or even get a reminder (very discrete reminder, that is!)

Physical changes around ovulation
There are some physical signs around ovulation time and being aware of those can help you identify when you are about to ovulate or have ovulated:

• Just before ovulation, the vaginal discharge becomes clear and stretchy like egg-white
• Body temperature rises approximately 0.5 degrees after ovulation
• After ovulation the vaginal discharge becomes thick and white
• Some women experience abdominal pain around the time of ovulation

Ovulation testing
There are commercially available home urine tests which can help you to detect ovulation. These tests measure the LH hormone in the urine and when the level of this hormone rises 1-2 days before ovulation, the test shows positive. These tests are available from a chemist and can be helpful in predicting your fertile time of the month.

Sperm can survive up to five days in a woman’s reproductive system but to optimise the chance of pregnancy it is best to have sex during or very close to the time of ovulation.

If you suspect you are not ovulating
Some women don’t have periods or have very infrequent or irregular periods. This most commonly indicates that they are not ovulating. If you suspect that you are not ovulating, you should see a fertility specialist who will be able to determine the cause.