How to Monitor Fertility

For many couples, getting pregnant seems to be a daunting task. You have decided that the time is right to have a baby, but achieving pregnancy can sometimes be difficult. Monitoring your fertility can greatly increase your chances of getting pregnant.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Basal body thermometer
• Ovulation kits

1. Understand your menstrual cycle. For most women, ovulation occurs on or around day 14. That is calculated as 14 days after the start of your period.
2. Know how long your egg is going to stay around waiting to be fertilized. The egg is viable for 24 hours after it is released. This is when your fertility is at its peak.
3. Pay attention to changes in your body to predict your ovulation. Some changes include slight twinges in your lower abdomen and a stretchy vaginal discharge. These signs may indicate that your egg has been released.
4. Use a basal body thermometer to check your temperature daily for fertility. There will be a slight increase in your temperature of .5 to 1.6 degrees Fahrenheit when you are ovulating. It is important to record your temperature at the same time daily to notice this difference.
5. Predict ovulation using ovulation kits. These kits test your urine for a rise in the lutenizing hormone which is released when ovulating.
6. Understand that sperm live on average 48 hours. Chances of becoming pregnant are greater if you have intercourse on days 10, 12, 14 and 16. For women with longer cycles, you need to adjust the days later into your cycle.