Using an ovulation calculator to help you become pregnant.
Ovulation is the time in a woman’s cycle when anovary releases an egg. This egg begins to travel down the fallopian tube ready for fertilisation by a sperm.
The journey takes a couple of days, and it’s during these days each month that a woman is at her most fertile.
Knowing when you’re ovulating and at your most fertile is critical if you’re trying to become pregnant. You can work out when you’re likely to ovulate as it’s usually around the middle of a woman’s menstrual cycle.
How to use the Babystart ovulation calculator
All you need is the first day of your last menstrual period and the average length of your cycle.
Add them into our calculator below, click submit and we’ll give you an instant estimate of when you’ll be ovulating.
We can only give you an estimate, especially if your periods are irregular, but it will give you an idea of when you should be at your most fertile.
We’ve made our ovulation calculator simple and easy to use, but you’re still bound to have questions surrounding ovulation and becoming pregnant.
Ovulation Calucator
Work out when you’re most fertile by using our quick and simple ovulation calculator.
So here’s our answers to some of your common questions.
Around 8 in 10 couples having regular (at least every three days) unprotected sex will become pregnant within a year.
To increase your chances of falling pregnant, it’s good to have an idea of when you’re ovulating.
This will maximise your chances of becoming pregnant as you can aim to have unprotected sex during your most fertile time.
It’s also important to consider the health of your partner’s sperm, too.
Our male fertility test kit can be used at home to give you an immediate, quick and easy indicator of sperm concentration.
Whilst an egg will only live between 12 to 48 hours each month, healthy sperm can survive in your
body for up to five days, improving your chances of becoming pregnant.
Even if you have sex before you’ve ovulated, any sperm inside your body can still fertilise a live egg up to five days after last having sex.
Therefore, it’s a good idea to continue to have sex on your less fertile days too.
Ovulation occurs 14 days before your next period. The average menstrual cycle is 28 days, day one being the first day of your menstrual period. In women with a regular cycle, this means that ovulation usually takes place around day 14, but realistically, it will take place any time between days 10 and 16.
Your cycle may be shorter or longer, or it may differ from month to month.
If your periods are irregular, then you may find it more difficult to work out when you’re ovulating.
But there are other ways to check when you’re most fertile without using an ovulation calendar…
There are three main ways to find out when you’re likely to be ovulating and at your most fertile:
Check your cervical mucus – when you’re ovulating, the mucus that is discharged from your cervix through your vagina is likely to become more obvious and may be clearer and more stretchy. Getting used to your cervical mucus throughout the month and looking for any changes that may indicate that you’re ovulating will help you find your most fertile time.
Check your temperature – use an oral thermometer to take your temperature each morning before getting up to create a chart will help you notice the slight spike in body temperature that often occurs on the day of ovulation.
Check your hormone levels – ovulation test kits designed to be used at home can
accurately detect spikes in hormone levelsin your urine that occur during ovulation.
Most women are at their most fertile from their late teens until their mid 20s, more specifically from the ages of 19 to 26 years old. During this time, a woman having regular unprotected sex has around a 92% chance of becoming pregnant within one year.
Female fertility declines with age. The sharpest decrease in a woman’s fertility begins in her mid 30s, meaning that a woman aged between 35 and 39 has around an 82% chance of becoming pregnant after a year of regular, unprotected sex.
If you’re concerned about becoming pregnant, talk to your GP who can discuss any next steps you may need to take to help you become pregnant, especially if you’re aged 36 or over.
There are many ways to increase your chances of becoming pregnant, from lifestyle changes to assisted conception and your GP will be able to refer you to any specialist you may need to see for help or advice if needed.
