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29 March 2025

What is Ovulation Tracking and How to Count It?


29 March 2025
Updates

Planning for Pregnancy is Not Far-Fetched Anymore

Especially for couples who are planning to have children, knowing how to calculate ovulation days is extremely important. Being able to calculate and track ovulation correctly will help ensure that no important windows are missed, ultimately increasing the chances of successful conception. With this in mind, understanding how to track ovulation is key. In this article, we answer the question of how to count ovulation days accurately.

How to Accurately Count Ovulation Days?

Tracking ovulation is a crucial step for those who want to conceive. By timing intercourse around ovulation, it increases the chances of getting pregnant.

Typically, during each menstrual cycle, one egg is released. To count ovulation days accurately, it is important to have a regular menstrual cycle, meaning your period should come at the same time every month without delay.

To calculate the ovulation day accurately, you should count back 14 days from the first day of your next expected period. For example, if your period usually comes on the 30th, you would count back 14 days, which would give you the ovulation day of the 16th

Calculate ovulation date online using an ovulation calculator program.

website that can help calculate ovulation days more accurately. By using an online ovulation calculator program, you can follow these steps:

  1. The first day of your last menstrual period: Enter the date when your last period started.

  2. Menstrual cycle length: Input the length of your menstrual cycle (the number of days between the first day of one period and the first day of the next period).

  3. Period length: Enter the length of your period (how long your menstrual bleeding lasts).

Once you've entered all the required information, the result will be displayed as a table, with the last column showing the estimated date of ovulation. This helps in planning conception by pinpointing the fertile window.

What is ovulation day and why should we calculate it?

Calculating Ovulation Day is the process where women track their menstrual cycle to estimate the exact day when ovulation occurs, and then plan intercourse around that time to increase the chances of conception.

Every month, only one egg is released, so this opportunity is crucial for those who want to have a baby. If this chance is missed, they will need to wait for the next cycle. A woman's body has around 200,000 to 500,000 eggs, but only 400 to 500 of these eggs are capable of being fertilized.

There are specific hormones that control ovulation, including estrogen, progesterone, LH (Luteinizing Hormone), and FSH (Follicle Stimulating Hormone). These hormones not only stimulate the production of eggs but also select the healthiest one. The selected egg only has a lifespan of 24 hours to be fertilized. If the egg is not fertilized, it is shed along with the uterine lining and is released as a menstrual period.

There are two main methods for calculating ovulation day:

Calculate ovulation day by yourself

The method of calculating ovulation days for women with regular periods is usually accurate because women typically have a menstrual cycle every 28 days. In this case, you would start counting from the first day of your period, and the 14th day would be the day of ovulation.

If you want to conceive, it is recommended to have intercourse 1-2 days before ovulation (this method is only suitable for women with regular menstrual cycles)


Counting ovulation days with an ovulation test kit.

The use of an ovulation test kit is quite accurate. The testing method is the same as a pregnancy test, which involves using urine. The ovulation test kit is most effective between 10 to 12 days after your period.

The test result will show a line. If only one line appears, it means it's not yet the ovulation day. If two lines appear, it indicates that ovulation is happening. The best time to test for ovulation is between 2 PM and 8 PM, as this is when LH concentration is highest. This method is suitable for women whose periods are irregular or not on schedule.

How to calculate ovulation days most accurately?

How to calculate ovulation days? The basic calculation is to count approximately 2 weeks before the next menstrual period. To calculate ovulation days accurately, the woman must have regular menstrual cycles.

For example, if the menstrual cycle is every 28 days, ovulation will occur around day 14 of the cycle (counting the first day of menstruation as day 1). Once the day is calculated, intercourse can be timed about 2 days before ovulation because sperm can survive for about 2 days before fertilizing the egg

How to Observe Ovulation Symptoms

Discharge or Cervical Mucus will be more than usual, and some people may refer to this as "egg white mucus" during ovulation.

Increased Libido as the body pumps more blood, leading to a higher sex drive.

The Body Temperature will rise due to increased hormones and blood flow.

Breast Tenderness can occur, though it doesn't always mean ovulation; it may also be due to other causes.

One-Sided Abdominal Pain might occur because the ovaries adjust for potential implantation. If fertilization doesn't happen, the pain will gradually subside.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the reasons if you track your ovulation and still don't get pregnant?

If you track your ovulation and still don't get pregnant, it could be due to several reasons. First, ovulation tracking is just an estimate and may not always be 100% accurate. It’s possible that the timing of ovulation was off, especially if the menstrual cycle is irregular, which can cause discrepancies in predicting ovulation. Additionally, the timing of intercourse may not have aligned with the ovulation window, leading to no fertilization of the egg by the sperm.

If pregnancy doesn't occur after trying for a while, it's advisable to consult with a specialist who can help address any issues and create a tailored plan to improve your chances of conception.

How to track ovulation for women with irregular periods?

For women who experience irregular periods or whose menstrual cycle is unpredictable, tracking ovulation by counting the days may be challenging. In this case, it's recommended to use an ovulation test kit to more accurately detect ovulation. This method is more reliable and precise compared to simply counting days.

Can you use ovulation tracking to conceive twins?

Tracking ovulation will not help you conceive twins. The natural occurrence of twins happens when two eggs are released at the same time or when a fertilized egg splits abnormally, which is not something that can be controlled through tracking ovulation. Therefore, ovulation tracking is not linked to conceiving twins.

Can ovulation tracking help you choose the sex of your baby?

Ovulation tracking cannot determine the sex of your baby. The sex of a baby is determined by the chromosomes (XX for girls and XY for boys), which cannot be controlled or predicted through ovulation tracking. However, choosing the sex of a baby can only be done through chromosomal screening, which is available through IVF (In Vitro Fertilization) procedures.

Can ovulation tracking be used to prevent pregnancy?

Yes, ovulation tracking can be used to avoid pregnancy. If you don't want to get pregnant, you can avoid having intercourse during your fertile window, which is when ovulation occurs. This is the time when the chances of conception are highest. Additionally, the "7 days before and 7 days after" method can be used as a contraceptive, where you avoid intercourse during those periods to reduce the chances of pregnancy.

Summary:

Tracking ovulation is simply a way to increase the chances of pregnancy, but it does not guarantee that pregnancy will happen in that particular month. Pregnancy depends on various factors, including the woman’s health, potential stress, daily activities, and more.

If any woman has questions or doubts, they can consult with us at Beyond IVF or add us on Line for more information at @beyondivf

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The Biological Clock

This tool indicates:

  • Natural conception per month if you have no fertility issues
  • IVF success rate at the same age
  • When to seek help after months of unsuccessful attempts

If you are concerned at any stage – we recommend booking a doctor appointment or a free nurse consultation. The sooner you make a plan the better your chances in the long term.

When to seek advice early

  • If you have polycystic ovaries, endometriosis, or have been through a cancer diagnosis; we recommend you get in touch quickly so we can talk you through all your options and give you the greatest possible chance of success.
  • If you’re a single woman considering motherhood in the future; it’s best to approach us early and consider egg freezing as this can be an option for you while you have a higher ovarian reserve and healthier eggs.
Set your age and the months you’ve been trying to conceive
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Your chance of having a baby per month for fertile couples
Your chance of having a baby per IVF cycle (if experiencing infertility)

Body Mass Index calculator

Being overweight or underweight can reduce fertility, so it is important to keep your body weight within the normal healthy range.

Body Mass Index (BMI) is an indication of your body weight and can be calculated by dividing weight by height. You should aim for a BMI of between 20 and 25, as this will optimise your chances of conception.

Woman’s BMI below 19

Even in these modern times, nature knows best. If a woman's BMI falls below 19, the body senses famine and ovulation is switched off to prevent the risk of having a baby with malnutrition. Excessive exercise can reduce body fat and increase muscle mass to a point where periods cease for the same reason. Risk of miscarriage is also increased in women with a low BMI.

Being underweight

If a woman's BMI falls below 19, the body senses famine and ovulation is switched off to prevent the risk of having a baby with malnutrition. Excessive exercise can reduce body fat and increase muscle mass to a point where periods cease for the same reason. Risk of miscarriage is also increased in women with a low BMI.

BMI’s greater than 30

This can reduce fertility by 50%. Pregnancy for women with a 30+ BMI is often associated with problems such as maternal diabetes, high blood pressure, big babies and increased risk of caesarean section.

Add your height and weight to calculate your BMI