Everyone knows that in order to get pregnant, sex needs to happen. Not everyone knows that you have to have sex at just the right time to make it happen! If you think back to your middle school biology or health class, you’ll remember that in order for pregnancy to occur, a sperm fertilizes a woman’s egg, and the egg must be implanted in the lining of the uterus.

Everything You Wanted to Know About Ovulation

Ovulation is the process when an egg is released from the ovary. This egg moves into the fallopian tube where it awaits fertilization by a visiting sperm. If the egg leaves the fallopian tube – typically 12-24 hours after ovulation, a woman is no longer able to get pregnant on this menstrual cycle. A woman is fertile for a 3-6 day period before ovulation.

When Does Ovulation Occur?

Ovulation typically occurs mid-way through the cycle. So a woman with a typical cycle of 28 days, will ovulate on Day 14 of her cycle (Day 1 of the new cycle being the first day of her period). A woman with a 29 day cycle will typically ovulate on Day 15, a 30 day cycle Day 16, etc.

Why Are My “Fertile Days” Longer Than One Day?

Sperm can live inside a woman’s body for up to 5 days! Ovulation is not necessarily like clockwork either, so having sex on any of your fertile days increases the chance of pregnancy as there will be sperm waiting for the egg to release. You are most fertile the 3 days surrounding your ovulation date since ovulation can be a day or two early or late.

How Can I Tell If I’m Ovulating?

Temperature Rise

Not talking about a temperature taken at your forehead, but your basal body temperature (BBT) taken using a special thermometer “down there”. Progesterone produced by your ovaries after ovulation causes the body’s temp to increase by a few tenths of a degree. Studies show that BBT charting can be unreliable, with physicians in one study only able to accurate predict ovulation in 38.1% of patients (Basal body temperature: unreliable method of ovulation detection.)

Changes in Saliva

Higher estrogen can increase the production of saliva. Since there is a large increase in estrogen a couple of days before ovulation, this could be a sign that you’re about to ovulate.

Cervical Mucus

The consistency of discharge from the cervix, or cervical mucus, changes as you get closer to ovulating. It may look clear, slippery, stringy or stretchy – a lot of women compare it to an egg white consistency.

Feeling a Bit Randy

Studies show that libido peaks at ovulation! Increased blood flow and higher estrogen levels are nature’s way of telling you that your body is ready to get pregnant.

Ovulation Predictor Kits (OPKs)

These test kits and strips test for the presence of Luteinizing hormone (LH)Hormone produced by the pituitary gland that affects sex organs and plays a role in puberty, menstruation, and fertility. in your urine. A huge surge of the LH Hormone produced by the pituitary gland that affects sex organs and plays a role in puberty, menstruation, and fertility. hormone is what triggers ovulation in about 24-36 hours. Typically you will use a test every day of your cycle to get a baseline which will allow for the tester to correctly identify the LH surge.

Physical Changes

Some women report clearer skin, rosier cheeks, and even weight loss during ovulation! Studies show that a woman’s voice may be lower (and sexier) during ovulation, and swing her hips more, all of which men find more attractive.

Getting Pregnant Sounds So Easy, Why Is It So Hard?

You can do all the right things with timing, testing and sex, but still not get pregnant for months, or even years. Why?

A Hostile Environment

Each ejaculation from a man contains 30-300 million sperm, but each of these little swimmers has a tough journey to meet an egg. Mortality rate for sperm is quite high, and only a few dozen sperm even make it to the egg. A woman’s vagina is an acidic environment, which is good for fending off bacteria and viruses, but can be bad news for sperm. The first obstacle is cervical mucus which can stop all but the strongest sperm. Once they make it into the uterus, they have a 50% chance of choosing the right fallopian tube. Besides that, it’s a long journey for a sperm to travel through the uterus, to the fallopian tube. Sperm are approximately 0.05 millimeters in length (0.002 inches) and have to travel roughly 18 cm (7.09 inches). The fastest sperm travel at the rate of about 2.5cm (almost 1 inch) every 15 minutes meaning it can take anywhere from 45 minutes to 12 hours for sperm to reach the fallopian tubes.

Eggs May Be Older

Women are born with millions of eggs in each of her ovaries. Many eggs will die immediately, and the number of eggs decreases steadily as you age. It’s estimated that by the age of 30, only 72,000 viable eggs remain. Egg quality also declines with age.

Passing the “Entrance Exam”

Some embryos simply fail to implant in the uterine lining or womb. Researchers found that human embryos produce a chemical called trypsin which signals the womb to prepare its lining for implantation. In a process in which the researchers likened to an “entrance exam”, the womb seemingly has a minimum threshold for this chemical. Embryos with significant genetic abnormalities had altered trypsin signals, and produced a stress response in the womb that made implantation highly unlikely.

Miscarriage Before You Know You’re Pregnant

Fifty percent of all fertilized eggs are lost before a woman’s missed period.

How Long Does It Take to Conceive?

Of all of the couples trying to conceive:

30% get pregnant within the first cycle (about one month).
60% get pregnant within three cycles (about three months).
80% get pregnant within six cycles (about six months).
85% get pregnant within 12 cycles (about one year).
91% get pregnant within 36 cycles (about three years).
93 to 95 percent get pregnant within 48 cycles (about four years).

Experts recommend that you see a doctor or fertility specialist if you have been trying for a year with no success of getting pregnant. In one study, couples that timed intercourse with ovulation had higher success rates!

38% were pregnant after 1 cycle (8 percent increase)
68% were pregnant after 3 cycles (8 percent increase)
81% were pregnant after 6 cycles (1 percent increase)
92% were pregnant after 12 cycles (1 percent increase)

How Does Age Affect Getting Pregnant?

The older a woman gets, the longer it can take to get pregnant. After about one year of trying:

86% of healthy females in their 20s conceive naturally
63% of healthy females in their early 30s conceive naturally
36% of healthy females in their early 40s conceive naturally
About 0% of women age 45 are able to get pregnant naturally

Tips for Getting Pregnant

Start taking prenatal vitamins
Schedule a preconception appointment with your healthcare provider
Make sure you’re a healthy weight
Stop smoking and drinking alcohol
Eat a healthy and well-balanced diet

Neat Facts About Conceiving

80% to 90% of Couples Conceive Naturally

Sperm Can Live Inside a Woman’s Body for 5 Days

Sex is Determined the Moment of Conception

Older Women Are More Likely to Release Two Eggs, Increasing the Chance for Twins After Age 35

Once an Egg is Fertilized, it Forms a “Force Shield” to Exclude Other Sperm

Sex Position Doesn’t Matter

Sources

https://www.verywellfamily.com/in-the-mood-you-may-be-ovulating-1960259
https://www.yourfertility.org.au/everyone/timing
https://www.healthline.com/health/lh-blood-test#lh
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7308516
https://www.shape.com/lifestyle/mind-and-body/weird-ways-your-body-hints-fertility
https://www.livescience.com/43157-embryo-implant-signals-pregnancy.html
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/nine-things-you-never-knew-about-sperm-photos_n_4268031
http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJM199512073332301#t=article
http://www.bmj.com/content/bmj/321/7271/1259.full.pdf