Fertility

Fertility is the ability to conceive a child after unprotected sex for a year, ( 6 months if you are above 35 years old)

What is Ovulation?

Essentially ovulation is when a mature egg is released from the ovaries into the fallopian tube and made available to be fertilized by the sperm.
Generally ovulation happens once a month and lasts for 24 hours
You have a fertile window when you are most likely to get pregnant, that is 5 days leading to ovulation, the ovulation day and the day after ovulation. Of those days, you are most fertile during the two to three days prior to ovulation and the day of ovulation itself

How can you know when you are ovulating?

If you are trying to conceive or just trying to get to know your body, these are signs that you are ovulating or about to:

1. Menstrual tracking
If you have normal menstrual cycles—between 25 and 35 days—you’re likely to be ovulating regularly, ovulation usually occurs around 10 to 16 days before your period starts, so you may be able to work out when you're likely to ovulate if you have a regular cycle. Record the length of your cycle for at least six months to be sure.
2. Cervical mucus
Cervical mucus is wetter, clearer and more slippery mucus around the time of ovulation
3. Ovulation test kits
Hormone levels increase around the time of ovulation and this can be detected using ovulation predictor kits that measure the level of hormones in your pee
4. Basal temperature monitoring
Your basal body temperature ( your temperature when you body is fully at rest, that is before you get out of bed). falls slightly, then rises again when ovulation has taken place. Take your temperature with a digital thermometer designed for basal body temperature every morning before you get out of bed and note it down.
5. Ovulation signs
Your cervix softens and opens up, lower abdominal pain, your sex drive may increase, light spotting, your vulva or vagina may appear swollen.

Wellness and fertility?

Health can greatly influence your fertility. How you eat, exercise, how you sleep, those and other factors can affect your fertility. So if you are trying to get a baby or now or you plan to in the future, you might as well take a look at your lifestyle choices.

Maintain a healthy weight: Being overweight or significantly underweight can inhibit normal ovulation.
Prevent sexually transmitted infections: Infections such as chlamydia and gonorrhea are a leading cause of infertility for women and men.
Rest: Getting enough rest greatly influences your fertility.
Don’t smoke: Smoking lowers your fertility, ages your ovaries and affects hormone production. Avoid second hand smoking as well, as it might affect your fertility.
Limit alcohol use: Heavy drinking increases risk of ovulation disorders. If you'd like to get pregnant, consider avoiding alcohol completely.
Curb caffeine: Too much caffeine can affect fertility. Consider limiting your caffeine intake to one or two 6- to 8-ounce cups of coffee a day.
Don’t over exercise: Too much working out can inhibit ovulation and reduce production of the hormone progesterone. Consider limiting strenuous exercise to less than five hours a week.
Avoid exposure to toxins: Environmental pollutants and toxins — such as pesticides, dry-cleaning solvents and lead — can adversely affect fertility.

Commonly asked questions