The timing of sexual intercourse is crucial for couples who are aiming to become parents. Women are fertile only for a short duration every month. If they have unprotected sexual intercourse with their partner on other days, the chances of pregnancy are low. The timing relies on the length of her menstrual cycle.
Once you ovulate, the egg can be fertilised only within 24 hours. The sperm can live for up to six days in your body. You should consider using the ovulation calculator to conceive at the right time. If you and your partner have unprotected sexual intercourse three days before you ovulate, you could get pregnant. However, if you do so four days after your ovulation starts, the chances of pregnancy are very slim.
Methods to check fertility window
You can use several methods for checking fertile periods. Each technique is described in detail below:
1. Using the ovulation tracker
Women with regular menstrual cycles can calculate their ovulation dates easily on the ovulation calendar. It usually occurs 14 days before the start of a period. If you have a 28-day cycle, you should ovulate on day 14. This count begins from the day you get your period. Even if the cycle is shorter or longer than 28 days, you will start ovulating 14 days before Day 1 of your period.
Women who have short cycles and longer periods usually have a short fertility window. For example, if she has a 24-day cycle and bleeds for eight days, she has only two days after the end of her period to get pregnant. Here, if the couple indulges in unprotected sexual intercourse during the woman’s menstrual cycle, she may conceive.
2. Changes in cervical mucus
The woman’s body maximises the production of cervical mucus just before ovulation because its presence makes it simpler for sperm to travel through the cervix and fertilise the egg. At this menstrual cycle phase, the mucus is cloudy, thick, and creamy but not sticky. You can simply check it by wiping your vagina with a toilet paper. Some of them produce enough cervical mucus, which stains their underwear.
3. Changes in the basal body temperature
It denotes the body’s temperature at rest. You should measure it just after waking up and before too much movement has occurred. This charting is an old method of fertility awareness. You require a special thermometer to measure basal temperature. The normal temperature is 96 to 98 degrees Fahrenheit. When you ovulate, your basal temperature increases to 97 to 99 degrees Fahrenheit.
To make use of this method to calculate your fertility window before visiting the best IVF centre in Bangalore, you should check your basal temperature daily in the morning and prepare a chart with the data. Soon, you will notice a pattern. If you want to have a baby, you need to time your sexual intercourse just before your basal temperature spikes.
Points to note
The outcome of any type of IVF treatment depends on the embryo, egg, and sperm quality. The woman’s age mainly determines egg quality. The chances of having abnormal eggs increase as it increases, particularly in her late 30s. There are several solutions to solve infertility in this gadget-dominated world.
For example, you can consider undergoing IUI treatment, also known as Intrauterine Insemination, if you have been trying for a year but in vain, if your partner has a low sperm count, and in cases of endometriosis and erectile dysfunction. This procedure entails the sperm to be washed, segregated, and implanted directly into the uterus using a catheter.
Generally, IUI success rates range from 7% to 10% if you are a healthy female with at least one open fallopian tube, a healthy uterus, and good-quality eggs in high numbers. Your partner’s sperm count and quality should also be healthy. Use of fertility drugs in this procedure can increase your success rates to about 15% to 25%.
The IUI treatment is brief and is preceded by sperm washing, preparation, and monitoring of the woman’s menstrual cycle. The entire artificial insemination process, including initial consultation and insemination, can take several weeks.
Conclusion
A non-invasive fertility treatment, such as IUI, can assist many people in becoming parents. Women with ovulation dysfunction or men with low sperm count can gain benefits and accomplish their dreams of parenthood. Always research the procedure, doctors’ qualifications, IVF centre facilities, success rates, and other important information before getting yourself treated.