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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.


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Comments

I would like to know how soon after you last menstrual day can you fall pregnant

Anonymous - Nov 18, 2009
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I would like to know how soon after you last menstrual day can you fall pregnant.

Anonymous - Nov 18, 2009
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Hi, is it possible for me to get pregnant when i had sex two days after my period ended? Please help. Thanks.

Anonymous - Nov 18, 2009
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i saw my period on sept 18-21, i thought i will take in by october, but on oct 16-19 i had my period, not too long on november 4 i started noticing brownish spottings when i unirate, then on the 5th - 9th i had a heavy flow. i want to ask is there any chance of getting pregnant.

Anonymous - Nov 17, 2009
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Jeez, is there any sites for people who don't want to fall pregnant and just want to know the menstrual cycle?

Anonymous - Nov 17, 2009
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Hi,
I had my period on october 29th and it stopped on November 3rd. My husband an d i had sex from the 7 onwards and stopped on the 13th. Is it possible to get pregnant within that time frame?

Anonymous - Nov 16, 2009
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My period starting 10-27 and ending 10-31..I had sex on 11-14 is it likely I can become pregnant?

Anonymous - Nov 16, 2009
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Hi. I went on my periods on the 10 Nov until the 14th but I was spotting on the 14 and the 15th and had sex with my husband on the night of the 15th. I would like to know how soon after you last menstrual day can you fall pregnant.

Thank you

Anonymous - Nov 15, 2009
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Hi I need your help please someone answer last period I had was sept 12 that was the first day of my period I been having unprotected sex everyweekend sometimes once in the week I been having headaches and I missed two cycles and I'm not on birthcontrol.. Usually my cycle is exactly 28 days but I missed 2 what could that mean help pleaseeeee

Deya - Nov 15, 2009
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I got my period after not having it for 7 months on Oct. 23. I had unprotected intercouse during my period. Could I get pregnant. I'm due for my next period on Nov. 20. and want to start the pill. Should I wait take the pill the Sunday after the 20th even if I don't get my period (my periods are now irregular) and take a pregnancy test on the 20th to make sure I'm not pregnant or do you think it is okay if I start the pill on Sunday Nov 15th. Even though there is always that chance I could be pregnant.

Anonymous - Nov 15, 2009
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First Day of Last Period:
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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.
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