Understanding Your Menstrual Cycle
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.
Comments
my boyfriend and i had a moment and he didnt go in all the way and he did pee after he last came which was about 12hours before we went unprotected. Is it possible that i can be pregnant with pre cum if he did not come?
Please reply asap!!
I'm in the same boat with the person who said their period started on Jan. 13, mine did too. I had a 32 day cycle this time so I should have ovulated on the 30th but I started feeling o pain on my right side on the 26th. Anyway we had sex on Jan. 21, 22, 25, 26, 29, & 30th. I think I should have gotten one more day in, who knows! Just waiting now, I have 5 days until my period or a bfp!! Good luck to everyone.
i and my husband are planning for a baby from last 4 months but at the last i am getting menses i am worried my cycle length is of 36days is this the problem plz reply i want to get pregnant what will be my fertile day the most chance of getting pregnant please suggest
THANK YOU
so i am on birth control and i know a lot of people who got pregnant on the pill. My period started on Jan 2,2010 and that gave me a 32 day cycle cause I started Feb 2, 2010 with light bleeding and barely any cramping. I should have started bleeding on the 29 even with the pills cause that what I been doing. I got tested Feb 5 at a doctors appointment and she said that it was negative. She also said that my period could be from stress due to me having knee problems and might needing surgery. I think that i still might be pregnant and it's taking it's time to show up. I have two little's one and I want a total of 4 but I needed to wait a while till things were a little better for me( meaning my own place). I hope I'm not hurting my self by starting my new set of pills to night, but it's hard to know what's what's with your body when you also use contraceptives.
Am married ,and we are trying to get baby,am confuse here.i saw my period January-6,2009 to Jan 10,2009,i and my husband started having sex from the 11th on was,feel like i was pregnant out of sudden i saw my period Feb 5 2010.am confuse and worried.
I had my period on the 13th of jan and finished after 7 days ... Had sex on the 29th ... Could i be pregnant ? bearing in mind that my period is irregular where i get it sometimes every 27 days , 28 days . 33 days and the last period was every 35 days ... But i usually feel my ovulation , i get the pain in my lower abdominal ... I felt my ovulation on the day 15 and had intercourse day 16 ... Could be pregnant ? I did home pregnancy test 5th of Feb but gave me negative cuz i think too early ...
Pls let me know if any probability is there according to those dates i mentioned .
Thanks
i got my period on the 2-2-2010 and it stopped on the 2-4-2010. now that me and my husband we're trying for a baby, can i get pregnant on th 2-6-2010?
i have a period of 7 days... after the 7 day i dont get my period till the date the first date that i got it again so i am thiking im 30 days exact when is the day of my ovulation????
My period came Dec. 26th- 30. Im on a 28-30 day cycle. My boyfriend and I had unprotected sex on jan 13th my ovualtion day I took planb one step on the 14th. I was suppose to get my period Jan 27th. I took a pregnancy test on that date after it didn'tr show and said negative. I took another one on sunday the 31, also said negative, took another one this morning and said negative feb. 5th, 2010. I have been having slight cramping feb 2, 3, and today but nothing. I worried. I have a 8month old and am not ready for another. whats wrong!!!
I had a miscarriage in August 2009 at 5 wks and me and my husband having trying for a baby since.
My last menstrual cyle started on the 10th Jan 2010 and my full cycles normally last 29 days.
My 6 ovulation days were between the 22nd-27th Jan 2010 and we had sex on the 25th & 26th Jan 2010.
My breasts have been hurting some for about 3 days now and 2 days ago started feeling like I wanted to be sick but wasn't, then yesterday I had a very dull-like period pain which lasted for about 10 mins and went away but no bleeding. I feel ok today but just wondering if I could be pregnant. I'm not due to start my next period till about the 7th Feb 2010 (Sunday) but could I be?
Any help or advice would be highly appreciated.
Thank you.
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