Understanding your fertility and knowing when you’re most likely to conceive can provide valuable insight into your reproductive health. When you’re informed, you can make more confident decisions about your future.
At Alabama Pregnancy Test Center, we offer a safe, confidential space to answer your questions. Contact us to learn more about our free services.
About Ovulation
Pregnancy is only possible when you are ovulating. Ovulation happens when a mature egg is released from your ovary, making its way into a fallopian tube, where it remains for 12-24 hours. During this brief window, the egg can be fertilized.
If your menstrual cycle is typically 28 days long, ovulation usually happens around 14 days before your next period. However, pregnancy can still occur outside of that 12-24 hour period since sperm can live inside the female body for up to 5 days after intercourse.
How Can I Track Ovulation?
Since every woman’s cycle is different, tracking your ovulation can help you better understand when you’re most likely to get pregnant. Keeping a menstrual calendar is a simple way to predict ovulation and over-the-counter ovulation tests can detect the hormonal changes that signal ovulation is approaching.
You can also monitor your body for natural signs of ovulation, including:
- Basal body temperature changes: Your resting body temperature slightly increases before ovulation. By tracking your temperature each morning before getting out of bed, you can learn the pattern over time, helping you identify when you’re most fertile, typically 2-3 days before the temperature rises.
- Cervical mucus changes: Just before ovulation, your cervical mucus may become clearer, wetter, and more stretchy. After ovulation, it usually thickens again.
While ovulation tracking can help you understand your cycle, it’s important to remember that unprotected sex can still lead to an unexpected pregnancy.
We’re Here to Help
If you’re experiencing pregnancy symptoms such as a missed period, nausea, or fatigue, Alabama Pregnancy Test Center offers no-cost pregnancy testing and ultrasounds to confirm pregnancy. We’re here to provide trustworthy information and support.
Schedule a free, confidential appointment today. Your health and well-being are our priority.