What is fertility calculator?

The advance of modern technologies presents a number of opportunities for women to take charge of their fertility. Tons of information is available on the Internet, every year more and more period-tracking apps enter the market, more accurate pregnancy and ovulation tests are developed and offered in pharmacies. All those things (and even more) tend to conquer the hearts of young women because they are user friendly and convenient.

Being aware of your menstrual is of outstanding importance, because the modern pace of life is so fast that hardly do we have any time to keep track of usual things, like menstruation.  In recent year fertility calculator to calculate the ovulation periods became extremely popular. It is convenient, user-friendly and cost-saving, so no wonder that more and more women opt for this cheap service. No wonder young women are enraptured by this option. Since it is a topical trend on the Internet, it is worth looking on it more closely and in more detail.

What is ovulation calculator?

All the girls learn about ovulation in schools, they are told that it occurs on 14th -18th day of the menstrual cycle, but in reality, it varies from woman to woman. Since we are all different, the day when ovulation occurs should be calculated individually for every woman.

It is extremely important to know about the time when you are fertile, no matter whether you are trying to get pregnant or avoid pregnancy (this tracking method of contraception is highly unreliable and is not recommended). That is when the calculation of ovulation becomes really handy.

For this purpose were ovulation calculators invented. Those are the tools that help you to find out when your ovulation cycle is, basing on the information about your period.

What is ovulation period and how is it calculated?

Ovulation is the process when the egg is released by an ovary and it is ready to be fertilized. An egg may live for about 12-24 hours after it is released (i.e. after ovulation). This is the crucial process in female body that plays the key role in conception. For this reason it is so important to understand it well and keep a good track of it.

When we are talking about the calculation of ovulation we also have to specify what is the fertile window. Despite the fact the ovulation lasts around one day, a woman may get pregnant even if she had sexual intercourse in five days before she ovulates and on the day of ovulation. This period (around six days) is known as “fertile window” of a menstrual cycle, it encompasses the lifespan of sperm (it may survive in woman’s body for 3-5 days) and egg (up to 24 hours).

The chances of conceiving increase dramatically if sex occurs in the three days leading up to and including ovulation. With sex occurring during three days before ovulation, the likelihood of conception increases by 27-33%. If a woman has intercourse six or more days before she ovulates, the chance she will get pregnant is virtually zero.

All women have individual menstrual cycles – for some, they are shorter, for some longer. It is important to track your cycle because ovulation depends on its length. The period from the first day of menstruation to the start of the next one is the length of your cycle. For example, if your average period is 28 days, you are likely to ovulate on the 14th day, so you need to try to conceive from day 11 to day 14. But if your cycle is shorter, for instance, 24 days, your ovulation may take place on the 10th day, and your fertile window will be from days 7 to 10. 

It may be quite challenging to calculate the ovulation on your own, that is why you may use some online fertile days calculators. Most of them are user-friendly and do not require much information – only the start date of your last period (or future) and the average cycle length. Some of such services may also send your results to your email or add it to your calendar.

Fertility calculator may not always provide accurate information about your fertility. That is why consulting a professional fertility expert may be a good idea if you are serious about getting pregnant. In some cases, you may not even ovulate:

• When you are pregnant;
• When you are breastfeeding;
• When you are transiting to menopause (perimenopause);
• After menopause.

In Parens Fertility, we offer our patients the best quality services in reproductive medicine, including infertility treatment and pregnancy planning. We have more than 15 years of clinical experience in helping couples to get pregnant and enjoy the parenthood. Not only will our doctors help you to calculate when you are the most fertile, but will also provide you with expert advice on lifestyle, conception and treatment options, if any abnormalities are detected. 

Our staff does all their best to provide our patients with the support and understanding they need, so feel free to contact our manager to schedule a consultation with our fertility expert!