Home > Fertility Basics > Menstrual Cycle: Pre & Post Ovulation

Menstrual Cycle: Pre & Post Ovulation

Understanding Your Menstrual Cycle

Understanding your menstrual cycle is critical to charting fertility and predicting ovulation. Read about your menstrual cycle - what happens pre and post ovulation - as well as what happens during ovulation.

The menstrual cycle refers to the cyclical development and then shedding of the endometrium, the lining of the uterus. Understanding your menstrual cycle is important if you want to chart your fertility patterns, predict ovulation, and increase your chances of becoming pregnant.

Note: The most reliable way to pinpoint when you ovulate - your most fertile time of month - is by using urine-based ovulation tests. These can be purchased for as little as $0.55 per test (with free same-day shipping) from Early-Pregnancy-Tests.com.

A woman's fertile period during her menstrual cycle, on average, lasts about seven days: seven days before ovulation (the release of the egg), the day of ovulation, and the day after ovulation. After this, chances of conception decrease quickly, as the egg has a short life-span of about 24 hours.

Given this somewhat narrow window of opportunity for conception, understanding the menstrual cycle can help increase a woman's chances of becoming pregnant. The key is to predict ovulation with as much precision as possible. Of course, both the length and regularity of menstrual cycles vary greatly among women - so successful ovulation prediction depends both on understanding the general dynamics of the menstrual cycle, as well as a woman's own unique cycles and patterns.

*Editor's Note: Do you have questions about your cycle, ovulation, fertility charting - anything relating to getting pregnant? We have a wonderful online community here at Ovulation-Calculator.com where you can ask questions, get information, or just let off a bit of steam! Come join in - we want to hear from you! 

The Menstrual Cycle and Ovulation Prediction

The menstrual cycle is divided into two parts: pre-ovulation and post-ovulation. The ovarian cycle refers to the cyclical development and expelling of the egg from the ovary. Though the length and regularity of a menstrual cycle may differ, the average duration of a complete menstrual cycle is 28 days (though healthy cycles can run from 21-36 days). Below you will find an overview of a typical menstrual cycle with an image map based on a 28 day cycle length.

Pre-Ovulation

"Day 1" of the menstrual cycle is the day bleeding begins. Bleeding - or "menstrual flow" - last about three to five days. By the seventh day of the cycle, eggs in the ovaries begin to ripen due to various hormonal changes. Between the seventh and the eleventh days, the lining of the uterus begins to thicken and it is possible to observe changes in the presence and consistency of cervical fluids. After the eleventh day, luteinizing hormone cause the egg that is most ripe to be released from the ovary and begin its travel down the fallopian tubes to the uterus. For women with a 28-day cycle, ovulation (the release of the egg) should take place on about the 14th Day - or the very middle - of the menstrual cycle.

Post-Ovulation

The period after ovulation is called the luteal phase, and it is marked by a slight, but clearly measurable, increase in body temperature. (Note that if the luteal phase is too short, pregnancy cannot occur. This is known as a "luteal phase defect". Natural fertility supplements, such as FertilAid for Women, may be helpful in addressing issues relating to luteal phase defect.) Following ovulation, the egg travels the fallopian tube toward the uterus. If the egg is fertilized by a sperm (conception), then " implantation" should take place in the uterus (if implantation takes place outside the womb, this is an ectopic pregnancy. Ectopic pregnancy can occur in several places - but the most common is in the fallopian tube). Pregnancy begins if "implantation" occurs. If the egg is not fertilized, it will "expire" in about 24 hours. Without fertilization, levels of certain hormones will decrease , causing the lining of the uterus to break down and shed - otherwise known as menstruation, or a woman's "period". The first day of bleeding is "Day 1" of the next menstrual cycle.

The first part of the cycle, from menstruation to ovulation, may vary from 14 to 20 days in length. The length of the pre-ovulation phase is often different from one woman to another - but it can also differ from month to month for an individual. It is during first part of the cycle that fertilization can occur. Of course, regular menstrual patterns can be altered by illness, insomnia, stress, physical exertion, and physical and emotional changes.

 

The luteal phase, or post-ovulation (from ovulation to menstruation), is generally the same length for most women - averaging about 14 days. As a rule, the egg is released 10 to 16 days before menstruation, or the start of the next menstrual cycle. If you have heard the term DPO on preconception chats, this refers to "days past ovulation". High sensitivity pregnancy tests can allow you to begin testing for pregnancy at around 7-10 days past ovulation.


Read More:

Comments

I'm 21 now.. I got my first menstruation at my age of 16.. even then i got no any proper menstruation.. den in few months, it totally stopped. I'm a virgin still. I consulted with many doctors in my local..But useless... Can anyone tell me what the actual reason for this.. Is there anything serious with this...? Pl help me...

Anonymous - Mar 20, 2010
Was this comment helpful?

I been married to my wife for 15 yrs, and I would like to know if she can get pregnant at the age of 45.

Anonymous - Mar 20, 2010
Was this comment helpful?

hello, i had my period begin from 9th March and ended 12th March 2010. i had unprotected sex on 18th and 19th March 2010.is ther a chance that i could get pregnant?

Anonymous - Mar 20, 2010
Was this comment helpful?

i got my periods in jan on 30 ,in feb on 22nd and nw in march on 19th.so can u pls tell me tht which r the days of ovalution and so tht chances of getting pregnant.is it k to do sex daily.

Anonymous - Mar 19, 2010
Was this comment helpful?

I had a cycle feb 27/2010 after a miscarriage Jan 26/2010, I thought I was ovulating from the 12-15th this month and had unprotected sex. It's 5 dpo and im having severe cramps. Is this implantation, a cyst, or just early menstral cramps?

Anonymous - Mar 19, 2010
Was this comment helpful?

i want to know my ovulation period, the last menses was on the 9th of march, 2010.

Anonymous - Mar 16, 2010
Was this comment helpful?

i want to know my ovulation period. my last menses was on the 9th of march, 2010.

Anonymous - Mar 16, 2010
Was this comment helpful?

i got my period at feb 26 and last at march 6.. so long.. when is my ovulation period??? it is normal that ong menstration??

Anonymous - Mar 16, 2010
Was this comment helpful?

is it normal to mensturate after 32days, cos i thought i was pregnant when i realised i did not mensturate after 30days

ama - Mar 15, 2010
Was this comment helpful?

I got my period on 16th of feb 2010, i have 24 days cycle. i had my intercourse from 10th to 18th days. i have still not got my periods what does this means and can i do my home test or should wait for some more days.

Anonymous - Mar 15, 2010
Was this comment helpful?

Post new comment

The content of this field is kept private and will not be shown publicly.
CAPTCHA
This question is for testing whether you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.
top
First Day of Last Period:
Cycle Length:
top
Luteal Phase Length:
top
Ovulation:
Due Date:
Fetal Age:

Note that you are most likely to get pregnant if you time your lovemaking to occur on the days right before - and on - your ovulation date. Keep in mind that the projected ovulation date above is simply a “best guess” estimate based on your cycle date information. The most accurate way to pinpoint your most fertile time is through the use of urine-based ovulation tests or with a fertility monitor. We have partnered with Early-Pregnancy-Tests.com, the Internet’s leading supplier of preconception products since 2001, to offer low-cost, FDA-approved pregnancy and ovulation tests – with free same-day shipping.

 

Now that you’ve calculated your ovulation date using our ovulation calculator, we have a number of other helpful tools you can use to help increase your chances of conceiving.

 

  • Create your own personalized ovulation calendar! You can even provide an email address so that you receive email alerts of your most fertile days, when you can begin testing for pregnancy, and more.
     

  • Create your own personalized fertility chart! This is a highly accurate way to pinpoint your ovulation date that relies primarily on basal temperature charting. (Visit Early-Pregnancy-Tests.com for an accurate, inexpensive basal thermometer.)
     

  • Connect with others at our online community! If you have questions about trying-to-conceive – or if you just want to vent a bit – we have a wonderful, vibrant community of people who’d just love to hear from you.

Find your most fertile time.
top