In trying to conceive a child, the signals given by one’s own body have a special importance both in influencing the success rate and in the early identification of possible diseases. This is more relevant for women than for men, as the woman’s body is moreceptive to changes or disorders that occur inside. & Nbsp; Characteristics of the menstrual cycle (duration, menstrual bleeding ) and the process of Ovulation is one of the most important indicators of intimate health and fertility.
Ovulation, reproduction and the fertile period
Ovulation is the release of a mature egg from the ovary, which is captured by the fallopian tube. If a sperm in the fallopian tube meets the egg after intercourse, it can fertilize it. & Nbsp; The formed embryo is pushed by the contractions and secretion of the fallopian tube to the uterine cavity, where it will find a place of implantation and development.
The fertile period begins 3-4 days before ovulation & nbsp; and ends 24 hours after that, the maximum fertility threshold being reached 24 hours before ovulation. During this period, the woman is most likely to become pregnant. To determine the fertile period, it is important to understand the concept of the menstrual cycle. It varies between 23 and 35 days (the average being 28 days) and consists of two main phases, separated by the time of ovulation. The initial period (follicular phase, maturation of the egg) between menstruation and ovulation, can have a variable duration; the period between ovulation and the next menstruation (luteal phase, implantation) has a relatively fixed duration of 14 days. It is not mandatory for ovulation to occur during each menstrual cycle. Even if menstruation has a regular pattern, there is a possibility that the woman will not eliminate an egg every month.
How do you know you are ovulating?
The most common sign of ovulation is vaginal mucus. Near the ovulation period, it becomes thin, flowing and slippery, like the consistency of an egg white.
Another way women can tell when ovulation has occurred is when there is an increase in basal temperature, the vaginal temperature taken in the morning, on waking. Immediately after ovulation, the temperature rises by 0.5-1.6 degrees, due to increased progesterone production. The test confirms ovulation, but also the end of the fertile period of that month.
There are several methods for determining a woman’s & nbsp; fertile period & nbsp; the best known being the calendar. To use this method, it is necessary to write down the dates of the last menstruation. 14 days before the next cycle, the woman is ovulating. For a 35-day cycle, on approximately the 21st day the woman is ovulating and for a 23-day cycle – the 9th day, respectively.
In addition, there are pregnancy-like tests, which are also based on urine testing and identify the level of the hormone LH (luteinizing) present in the urine. A positive test announces that ovulation will take place in the next 24 hours.
More recently, a number of applications that can be downloaded from the Internet can calculate exactly the fertile period, if regular menstrual data are recorded.
How to increase the chances of conceiving a child?
The most productive period for conception is within the interval of 3 days: 2 days before and the day of ovulation inclusive. These are the days considered to be the “fertile window” of a woman’s menstrual cycle, favorable to sexual intercourse for a pregnancy.
In order to have maximum chances of success, sexual intercourse must take place daily or at most two days apart, during this period of 3 days.
Age and ovulation
Age and reproduction are strongly correlated, as fertility begins to decline with age in both women and men. The chance of women becoming pregnant is directly proportional to the quality of the eggs. Even if the eggs mature and ovulate normally, they are affected by aging, they age. The peak of fertility is reached at 20-27 years. Up to the age of 35, one can speak of a still acceptable fertility. But the chances decrease dramatically after the age of 35, when there is a significant decrease in egg quality. After 40 years, few women manage to get pregnant and many of them miscarry. The risk of malformations and genetic abnormalities of the fetus is also higher in older pregnant women.
Careful! These data refer to most women. For 10% of women, the aging of the ovaries occurs prematurely! Fertility can be reduced from 20-25 years, and menopause can occur before 40 years. This unexpected situation can be anticipated many years in advance, with the help of a simple blood test.
In fact, fertility decreases in men after the age of 40, and testosterone levels, essential for stimulating sperm maturity, begin to decline slowly. In general, the process of decreasing fertility in men occurs later, but can affect both the chance of conceiving a child and his health.
The article is written by Dr. Ionela Anghelescu, fertility and assisted reproduction specialist.
