Fertility
Ways to control ovulation
Every woman is different and her cycle can also vary from month to month. The time from the beginning of the period to ovulation may be very short and start from 8 days and may well be over 24 days. In contrast, the time from ovulation to the next period is stable and lasts 12 to 16 days.
Calculate your fertile days here
To estimate when you have ovulation remove 14 days of the number of days in your cycle. So if your cycle is usually 28 days, you can expect to have ovulation on Day 14. You may also notice other symptoms of ovulation during that period, such as increased cervical mucus, chest sensitivity or increased libido.
Ovulation can be controlled either by the woman herself at home or with absolute precision by her gynecologist.
Ovulation test in the urine (by the woman itself)
It is done with a woman’s urine test (such as a pregnancy test) and detects the luteinizing hormone (LH), which rises approximately 36 hours before ovulation. There are many urine tests on the market where the woman can have her first morning urine examined daily from the 10th – 11th day of her cycle to detect LH. This is an extremely reliable and easy test that proves that the woman has ovulation. If the test is positive and the woman wishes to be pregnant, it should be contacted within the next 24-36 hours.
Measuring body temperature (by the woman itself)
It is a time-consuming and not so reliable method of controlling ovulation in which the woman measures the temperature each morning through the mouth throughout the cycle. The thermometer is placed under the tongue for about 3 minutes. It is based on the fact that the woman’s temperature after ovulation is increased by about 2-3 tenths of degree Cο due to the circulation in the blood of a hormone called progesterone. In women who do not ovulate, the temperature is stable.
Despite its disadvantages, it is a fairly simple and no cost method that every woman could use to better understand her cycle.
Ultrasound monitoring of ovulation (by the gynecologist)
This is the best and safest method compared to all others because ovulation is detected and established by the gynecologist using intravaginal ultrasound.
It starts with an ultrasound on the 8-9 day of the cycle where it is found that there is a follicle of about 12-13 mm; the examination is repeated every 2-3 days. This follicle grows at a rate of 1-1.5 mm per day and when it exceeds 18-21 mm, it breaks and releases the ovum (ovulation). Then the couple must have sexual intercourse. The ultrasound is repeated 2-5 days after ovulation to establish that ovulation has actually taken place. If ovulation does not occur, an intact follicular cyst that shrinks without breaking will be detected.
Blood test – progesterone levels
If ovulation is achieved, progesterone reaches its maximum value7 days after ovulation. Therefore, progesterone is measured 7 days after ovulation (i.e. on day 21 of a 28-day cycle) to establish the occurrence of ovulation. The progesterone value that is compatible with ovulation is higher than 15ng / ml. Care should be taken with women having a cycle lasting over or under 28 days. Thus, in a woman with a 25-day cycle the progesterone measurement should take place on the 18th day of the cycle, while in a woman with a 40-day cycle the progesterone measurement should take place on the 33rd day of the cycle.
Calculate your fertile days here
Cervical mucus test after sexual intercourse (Huhner Test or postcoital test)
Cervical mucus production lasts from 10-24 hours prior to ovulation, and immediately after ovulation the mucus becomes less clear and less extensible.
The Huhner Test is scheduled one to two days before ovulation and is performed 6 to 10 hours after the couple has had sexual intercourse. Mucus is collected by the gynecologist and cervical mucus is examined to detect any moving sperm. The collection process is similar to a Pap smear test and is totally painless. The test is considered successful and the good quality of sperm and cervical mucus is confirmed when moving sperm is detected within the cervical mucus.
