How Can I Tell When I am Fertile?

The best time to start trying for a baby is when you are ovulating, but how do you know when that is? Using an ovulation calendar can help you pinpoint exactly when your body is at its most fertile. Working out your dates: Ovulation takes place around 14 days before a woman gets her period, but for many this can vary wildly. If you want to pinpoint exactly the right time to start trying, it can help to use in a free online ovulation calculator. Simply type in when your last menstrual period was and how long your cycle usually lasts and it will tell you when you are most fertile and more likely to conceive. Better still the ovulation calculator will often create an ovulation calendar so you can map out your fertile days on a printable version. Alternatively, some give you a timeframe of when you are most fertile. Other signs of fertility: There are several changes your body can go through that are a sign you are ovulating. For example, some women might notice an increase in cervical fluids towards the middle of their cycle when they feel a bit more moist. They can also feel more attractive and open to the idea of sex with their partner. Look out for an ache on one side coming from the ovary as this is a good clue that you are ovulating. You can also check the position of your cervix around the time you think you might be fertile to see if it has come forward. Do this by inserting one or two (clean) fingers inside your vagina. When you are not fertile the cervix is harder and not open - it will feel about the consistency of the end of your nose. When you ovulate the cervix is easier to reach, and is a bit softer and slightly open ready to receive sperm. At this point your cervix may feel more like your ear lobe. Another way to track your fertility is to pay close attention to your basal body temperature as rise can indicate ovulation. Women also have an LH (Luteinizing hormone) surge around this time. If you want to monitor this, invest in an ovulation prediction kit to measure the LH in your urine. Due date calculator: Once you have successfully conceived, just like the ovulation calculators, you can use the internet to find out when your due date is. Type in the date of your last period and the length of your cycle, and the online calculator can work out when your baby is due to arrive. Please note that these calculators, although useful, cannot be relied on too heavily as babies tend to arrive when they want to and not according to a set time and place. In fact, fewer than five per cent of babies actually make an appearance on their due date.