How to Track Your Ovulation Cycle

Being able to predict your ovulation cycles can make the process of getting pregnant a lot easier.

You first need to track your monthly menstrual cycle. Your monthly cycle is measured from the first day of your menstrual period until the first day of your next period. Record on a calendar those days on which you start and stop your menstrual cycle. A "normal" cycle is one that lasts between 28 and 32 days, but some women may have much shorter cycles or much longer ones. 

With an irregular cycle, it may be more difficult to track ovulation because it may still be occurring even if you do not menstruate (and vice versa), and it may be occurring at varying intervals between menstruation cycles. You might consult your physician for advice specific to your needs.

Next, you can predict on the calendar when ovulation will occur for the following month. Ovulation occurs anywhere between Day 11 - Day 21 of your cycle, typically 12 to 16 days before you expect your next period. (Ovulation can occur at various times during a cycle, and may occur on a different day each month; there are unfortunately no guarantees). Using the previous month's recorded menstrual cycle, predict the upcoming month's cycle and then you can count 12 to 16 days back from when you expect the new cycle to start and that is likely when you are ovulating. Some clues that you are ovulating include an "egg white" type cervical mucus, an increased basal body temperature, a positive reading from an ovulation predictor kit (available at drugstores) and for some women, a slight pain or ache near their ovaries.

Once you have ovulated, the egg will only live for 12 to 24 hours, so the window for getting pregnant is somewhat small. Attempt to have intercourse once a day for 2 or more of those days. (It's not necessary to have intercourse more than once a day, and it may actually inhibit your chances of getting pregnant).

Although an egg can be fertilized while a woman is ovulating, the fertilized egg still needs to implant into the side of the uterus in order for the woman to be considered pregnant. This takes place 6 to 12 days after ovulation, which is why most home pregnancy tests require that you wait until the first day of your missed period (or only a few days prior) before testing.