Pregnancy is a complex set of processes that starts with fertilization. However, most people do not find pregnancy as easy as they’d like it, hence many questions surrounding the topic.
If you’re trying for a baby, chances are high that you have some questions about ovulation and pregnancy. Knowing the answers to these questions can help you time your conception better and perhaps increase your chances of becoming pregnant.
Think you might be pregnant? Get a pregnancy test done in Portland Pregnancy Resource Center.
Six Common Questions About Ovulation And Pregnancy Answered
Do You Always Ovulate On The Same Day Of Your Cycle?
Ovulation is a phase of the woman’s menstrual cycle where estrogen is released, causing a rise in the Luteinizing Hormone (LH).
The hormone, released from the brain to the body, guides the ovaries on when to release an egg. The five days leading up to ovulation and the ovulation day itself are considered the most fertile period of a woman’s cycle.
With respect to timing, ovulation timing isn’t set in stone. This means that women mostly do not ovulate at approximately 14 days into their cycle.
A study on this revealed that some women had cycles lasting between 20 and 40.4 days, which contradicts the textbook 28-day cycle as taught by most scientific publications.
With this information in mind, it is important to understand that ovulation timing may vary from one month to another, especially in people who have longer cycles.
An excellent way to detect ovulation could be the use of ovulation prediction kits. These kits give a clearer overview of when the user may be on ovulation, thus helping them to better time their sexual activity to make the best of it.
Does Vagina Bleeding Signal Ovulation?
Vagina bleeding doesn’t necessarily translate to egg release during ovulation. There are several reasons why cycles may become anovulatory, that is, lack of ovulation. Some of the common reasons include the following;
- Withdrawal bleeding caused by the use of oral contraceptives.
- A thicker uterine lining is usually a symptom of PCOS and causes light or heavy bleeding
- Possibility of polyps, fibroids, or cervical lesions
- Spotting, common at the early stages of pregnancy
Does pregnancy happen only on the day or two around ovulation?
The fertile window is usually about five days long, depending on the individual and other factors. This means that individuals may experience fertilization and pregnancy anytime within the fertile window itself.
In most cases, fertilization can also occur on the ovulation day itself, which further widens the fertility window by a day.
It is important to note that fertilization and pregnancy can happen on any day within the fertility window, especially if an egg has been released and there is a sperm cell to fertilize it.
The chances of fertilization are also increased, especially within 12 to 24 hours after copulation. This is because sperm cells are usually active and alive for this long and can perform fertilization effectively within this window.
Does Ovulation Test Confirm Ovulation?
Ovulation tests cannot technically confirm ovulation.
However, they can detect the Luteinizing Hormone (LH), which is responsible for the ovulation action.
Ovulation tests are, however, excellent for keeping track of when this hormone surges, allowing couples or interested individuals to carefully plan intercourse or insemination for better outcomes.
When Is The Best Time To Use Ovulation Tests?
Ovulation tests, as earlier stated, are great for planning and tracking ovulation. They work simply by detecting hormonal surges, which often indicate the nearness to ovulation or ovulation itself.
As a standalone tool, ovulation kits are not a determinant for pregnancy or conception. However, they can help users carefully plan insemination or copulation for better results.
It is important to know the type of ovulation test kit being used. Some test kits track LH at low volumes, while others track it at high and peak volumes. These test kits can be used to detect the two days the user is most likely to get pregnant.
For testing, it is advisable to test in the afternoon.
Does An Ovulation Surge Translate To A High Chance Of Pregnancy?
Fertility is influenced by several factors. Ovulation surge alone cannot determine the chances of fertilization or conception. However, it may be a pointer as to when the chances of conception are highest.
People looking to increase their chances of conception are advised to speak to an expert to consider additional factors, including their age and genetics, quality and quantity of eggs released during ovulation, and others to understand their conception chances better.