Ovulation and ConceptionIf you're thinking about starting a family, it is highly likely that you will want to learn more about how ovulation and conception can increase your chances. By understanding your ovulation cycle, you can actually increase your chances of becoming pregnant dramatically; this is because it is the most fertile during the month for women. In simple terms, ovulation starts when an egg leaves the ovary and travels along the fallopian tube, this is when the egg is available to be fertilized during sexual intercourse. Should fertilization occur, the uterus is already prepared for the next stages, if no fertilization happens then it will be discarded as part of the normal menstruation period. An ovulation cycle depends on your normal menstruation period, if you have regular monthlies it will be easier to work out. Complicated people as we are, it is of course not the same for all of us. In most cases, you can assume that ovulation will happen between a timeframe of ten days, usually beginning twelve days after the last menstruation and ending on or around day twenty. During these ten days, the chances of conception are much higher. If you've been trying for a baby for some time and have not looked into your own ovulation cycle, it is definitely worth doing. There are specialist calculators available that can help you identify the optimum time of the month, or if you're still not sure your Doctor will help you to work it out. Once you know your own ovulation timeframe, you can make plans to ensure you're having more bedroom moments during this time. Of course, knowing your ovulation cycle does not guarantee that you will become pregnant the next time you have intercourse during this period. There are so many other variables that could impact conception that it would be impossible to list them here. However, one that we have become more aware of in recent times based upon the number of emails from our readers is the dreaded S word. And not the one you're thinking of either, we're referring to stress. Stress can have a huge impact on ovulation and conception, so much so that it can actually impact when ovulation happens. So if we imagine a normal scenario of a busy life, important job, other children and general stresses and strains experienced in all relationships, it is not hard to appreciate the damage caused by stress. Incidentally, this is before we include the stress and anxiety of those couples who have been trying for a baby for some time. So it is not hard to see why we're advocates of using stress reduction techniques. In fact, this view was born from some very interesting reader comments. Many of which described a situation where they had been trying to start a family for some time and unwittingly found themselves in a position where the process of conception had completely overtaken their lives. They eventually became pregnant when ovulation and conception was the furthest thoughts from their minds, instead they were relaxed and calm and enjoying the company of their loved ones, simply because they wanted to. Read more of our articles on conception Conception - Improving Your Chances |