chances of pregnancy during ovulation

chances of pregnancy during ovulation 

Can you get pregnant outside of ovulation?

To get pregnant, it is often recommended to have sexual intercourse at the time of ovulation. However, the D-day is not always easy to calculate. Besides, is it the only time to get pregnant? 

When is the best time to get pregnant? The menstrual cycle determines a woman's fertility, so knowing it well improves your chances of conceiving (or not conceiving) a baby.

What are the stages of the menstrual cycle? Reminder on the duration of a cycle and the possibilities of fertilization according to the periods

Although it varies from woman to woman, if it is regular, a menstrual cycle lasts on average 28 days. On the other hand, it always has 4 phases:

The menstrual phase : “This is the beginning of the menstrual cycle. It begins on the first day of the period and lasts between 3 and 7 days. At this time, the level of hormones produced by the ovaries drops and triggers desquamation of the endometrium. More clearly, the mucous membrane located inside the uterus falls and flows. This is the period”. 
The follicular phase : "The ovary secretes estrogen and begins to re-thicken the lining of the uterus (the endometrium) to prepare it for potential future fertilization. At the same time, FSH (follicle-stimulating hormone), a hormone synthesized by the pituitary gland (a small gland located at the base of the brain ), stimulates  the ovarian follicle that contains the egg so that it grows". 
The ovulation phase : "Occurring in the middle of the cycle, ovulation corresponds to a peak of estrogen (secreted by the ovary) and a peak of LH (secreted by the pituitary gland). These two peaks trigger the rupture of the ovarian follicle. The egg, thus released, passes through the fallopian tubes where it waits to be fertilized". 
The luteal phase : "The now empty ovarian follicle ( corpus luteum ) secretes estrogen and progesterone to prepare the uterus for a new implantation. These hormones ensure that the endometrium is ready in the event of fertilization. If the egg is fertilized, the embryo moves to implant in the uterus and continue its development. Otherwise, the endometrium degrades and the egg is expelled during menstruation". 

What is ovulation period? Can it be calculated? Can you be sure of your ovulation date?

Ovulation  or ovulation period refers to the moment when the ovary expels an egg (or oocyte) which descends via the fallopian tubes, ready to be fertilized. An essential step for reproduction because without ovulation, no pregnancy is possible. It is a very short period, approximately 24 hours, but it can vary between 12 and 72 hours depending on the woman.

Typically, a woman's ovulation date falls on day 14 of her menstrual cycle, which is the 14th day from day 1 of her period (day 1 of her period + 13). However, this exact day depends on the length and regularity of your cycle . In fact, while there is an average of 28 days, women's menstrual cycles can vary between 21 and 35 days.Only 10 to 15% of women have a regular 28-day cycle.

In reality, "it's difficult to know your ovulation date because it varies greatly from one woman to another . If a woman has a very regular and very classic cycle, we say that she is on the 14th day, but there are so many variables...".

However, there are signs that can help you identify the date of  your ovulation  and allow you, over the course of your cycles, to know when it starts. "There are several methods, some ancestral like self-examination of cervical mucus. There is also the temperature method, which consists of regularly  checking your temperature  because it increases slightly at the time of ovulation. But all are quite approximate". To understand the evolution of your cycle, certain applications available on our smartphone can also help us.

What is the fertile period (or fertility)? What is the difference with the ovulation period? How to know your fertile days?

The fertile window, as its name suggests, is the time when you are most likely to get pregnant . Be careful not to confuse it with the ovulation window. The fertile window is longer than the duration of ovulation. It lasts between 3 and 7 days and precedes ovulation.

This period is calculated based on the lifespan of the sperm. Because these few extra days of fertility before ovulation actually correspond to the lifespan of the sperm. They can survive for an average of 3 to 4 days after sexual intercourse in the uterine environment. But some are stronger than others and can resist for almost a week. "  The most fertile period is the one before ovulation , when the sperm and the egg are waiting for each other, as well as the day of ovulation itself". Moreover, even if in theory, after ovulation, no more fertilization is possible,  "the egg can survive between 24 and 48 hours". It is therefore perfectly possible to get pregnant at least one day after ovulation. 

To calculate your fertile window, you need to count your day of ovulation, the average number of days during which sperm can survive (between 3 and 7 days maximum) and the number of days during which the egg can survive (between 24 and 48 hours). If you have a regular 28-day cycle and you ovulate on the 14th day of your cycle, your fertile window is between the 8th and 15th day on average. 

Some signs, similar to those of ovulation, can help you identify this moment, such as a slight rise in temperature, some pain in the breasts or lower abdomen, or even abundant cervical mucus. "  Mucus is an excellent indicator: resembling raw egg white, transparent, stringy and abundant, it corresponds to the most fertile period and stops at the time of ovulation". 

These signs can help us calculate our fertile period. However, this also assumes that we know our cycles very well, and that they are fairly regular. "Some women can also get pregnant as soon as their period ends". "If they have a short cycle, they can ovulate as early as the 9th or 10th day of their cycle. At  the end of their period , they are therefore already fertile". Especially since there are many factors that can disrupt the normal course of your cycle: stress, smoking, fatigue, taking medication, illness, etc. which, if applicable, can delay or bring forward the date of ovulation or cause a late period, completely disrupting our usual rhythm.

Is it possible to get pregnant outside of this period (fertility/ovulation)? Can you get pregnant at the end of your cycle or after ovulation?

As you can see, even if ovulation is the ideal time, it is entirely possible to get pregnant outside of the ovulation period . The entire fertile period is conducive to making a baby, especially if you have frequent sexual intercourse.

Outside of this fertile period, the chances of getting pregnant are almost zero. However, "  calculating your fertile period remains difficult and very approximate. All it takes is one shock, one setback, to turn everything upside down". Especially since everything also changes with age. Because outside of the fertile period,  fertility  itself can be questionable. "When women are young, their cycles are fairly regular. Ovulation is therefore more predictable. As you get older, predicting your ovulation becomes more and more difficult because either there is no ovulation, or it occurs very early or very late".

So if you want to have a baby, the best thing is to have regular sex. Otherwise, use a method of contraception (IUD, condom, pill) throughout your menstrual cycle. 


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