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Ovulation usually occurs midway through a woman's menstrual cycle. At this point, the follicle which outgrows the others, ruptures and the egg is released. The site of this release is called the stigma, and the follicle goes on to form the corpus luteum. The corpus luteum produces progesterone which is a hormone responsible for nurturing the baby until the placenta takes over. Barely visible to the naked eye, your baby at this point is not bigger than a pencil dot.
Tiny hairlike projections called cilia move the released egg from the ovary along the fallopian tube to the uterus. If conception is successful, chances are this will take place toward the outer end of the fallopian tube, near the ovary. The egg usually has no more than 12 hours to be fertilized, otherwise it will die, the follicle will dry up and the uterine lining will be shed. If this happens, the menstrual period will begin, and conception and getting pregnant will be unlikely. However, if the egg becomes fertilized, then the progesterone levels will increase, the uterine lining will thicken, and conception will be considered a success!
Days 1-5 of Your Pregnancy Cycle for Conception
The menstrual period will start when you first start to menstruate. So day one is the day you begin to have discharge. It is very important to record this date, as we will need it to calculate your estimated ovulation date.
Days 6-11 of Your Pregnancy Cycle for Conception
These days are called 'dry days', as you are not menstruating nor are you fertile. Your body at this stage is simply preparing to release the egg.
Days 12-18 of Your Pregnancy Cycle for Conception
These are the days when you will be at your most fertile. Your body will release the egg during the course of these 6 days, so this is the best time to be having intercourse.
Days 19-32 of Your Pregnancy Cycle for Conception
If you are only begin to have sex now during this period, then you have missed your chance, and will have to wait for the cycle to begin again. It is highly unlikely that you will have any success in falling pregnant during this time.
Signs of Ovulation
Most women are unaware of when they ovulate. Roughly 25% experience lower abdominal pain, which is located primarily near the ovary that's ovulating. The pain is caused by irritation of the fluid or blood from the ruptured follicle. Although this is a symptom of ovulation, it's not always considered a reliable sign that ovulation is occurring. While trying to conceive, it's important to understand ovulation and getting pregnant depends on this.
To better ensure that you are ovulating to have a successful conception, a more concrete sign is the change of cervical mucus which is secreted by the cervix. Normal after menstruation, the consistency of the cervical mucus is somewhat scant - thick, and usually stick, this makes it impenetrable to sperm. As ovulation draws near, the cervical mucus becomes thinner and wetter, allowing the sperm to travel through it at higher speeds, and with greater ease. So, getting pregnant is imminent. Lastly, another sign of ovulation can be found by taking your body temperature. A small, yet distinct rise in body temperature is caused by the increase in the level of progesterone. Even though this increase might only be .5 degrees F, women can still detect this. While trying to conceive, this is a great indicator that conception is possible.
The most optimum time for conception to occur is when ovulation has just happened or is imminent. To better ensure your chances to become pregnant, making love during this time would result in the best chance for getting pregnant and having a baby! Hopefully conception will occur.
Chances of Conception and Conceiving
Fertility varies significantly between couples, as some can take the first month to conceive, while others can take years. On average, couples will conceive 25% of the time the first month, 60% of the time within 6 months and 80% of the time within one year. Keep trying to conceive, even if you are unsuccessful at your first attempt of conception. Although, there are several risk factors involved that might prevent or delay conception. These may include smoking, drinking alcohol, certain medications, obesity, exposure to heat and chemicals, drug use, and a few others. Poor sperm count and quality causes can create an unsuccessful journey towards the fallopian tube.
To improve your chances of conceiving, the following is a list of activities and habits that will make your pregnancy more imminent:
- Regular exercise - Not only will regular exercise improve your well-being, it will also help reduce stress. In addition, it can also result in good sleep, and promotes relaxation and allows for easier conception.
- A general health check - Visiting your doctor on a regular basis will help ensure that you are in tip-top shape while you are trying to conceive.
- Track your ovulation - Keeping a menstrual calendar is very effective while trying to conceive. Since ovulation usually occurs 14 days after menstruation, it is easy to know what timeframe is most likely to conceive. You can check your basal body temperature, as well as purchase ovulation detection kits found at most local grocery and drug stores. Making love at least every other day during your fertile period will result in the best chances to conceive.
- Avoid smoking - Not only does smoking damage your overall health, it can also affect your partner's sperm count and cause conception to not occur.
- Eat a well-balanced diet - The most important thing to take is folic acid, as it is a catalyst in the process of conception. In addition, be sure to receive ample amounts of vitamin B12, which is found in meat, fish, eggs and milk.
Courtesy of Pregnancyetc.com ( www.pregnancyetc.com)
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