Timing ovulation and intercourse is an important part of conception. Once you ovulate, the egg will have up to 12-24hrs to be fertilised by the sperm. Healthy sperm can survive up to 4-5 days inside your reproductive tract (thanks to your healthy cervical mucus) and we want the sperm to be close by when you release an egg. The best chances for conception occur when you have intercourse on the 1-2 days prior to ovulation.
How to know if and when you’re ovulating:
Track your Basal Body Temperature (BBT) consistently for at least 3 cycles and determine your pattern of ovulation to find the fertile window. After ovulation your basal body temperature increases and stays elevated during your luteal phase. This is seen after ovulation so that’s why we like to see a few cycles to predict what days you usually ovulate before it happens.
Ovulation Predictor Kits (OPK). These detect the rise of LH which is the hormone that triggers ovulation. These kits can provide a good indication as to your fertile window. These can be unreliable if you have PCOS however.
Monitor the change in your cervical mucus. This is the best one! When your discharge changes to become more stretchy and clear (resembling stringy egg-white), this indicates more fertile mucus and your fertile window. Ovulation will soon follow this. Healthy cervical mucus provides a super highway for the sperm, protecting them from the acidic vaginal environment (the CM matches the semen pH level), it also helps to filter out the dodgy sperm and prepares the good sperm to be able to fertilise the egg. You’ll notice peak cervical mucus when estrogen is at its highest just prior to ovulation.
Cervix changes. At ovulation time, your cervix becomes more open, higher and softer. You can check this by feeling it throughout your cycle to note the changes.
Increase in libido and energy. Just before you ovulate your oestrogen levels peak, and you may notice an increased sex drive, more confidence, energy or more positive emotions.
Cramping. Some women can sense ovulation by a mild niggling or cramping in the lower abdomen. Some may notice tender breasts or bloating.
Blood tests: Testing progesterone approximately 7 days after ovulation can measure if you ovulated (progesterone is primarily produced by the corpus luteum after the release of an egg). If you are unsure when you ovulate, this can be done from cycle days 20-23 typically.
If you need help tracking this, there is support available. If you have been trying for at least 6-12 months to conceive, please reach out for support or further testing.
Calculating your Fertile Window.
As mentioned, once you ovulate, the egg will have up to 12-24hrs to be fertilised by the sperm. Healthy sperm can survive up to 4-5 days inside your reproductive tract (with the help of healthy cervical mucus) and we want them to be close by when you release an egg. Timing ovulation and intercourse is therefore an important part of conception. The best chances for conception occur when you have intercourse on the 1-2 days prior to ovulation.
For example… if you have estimated that you ovulate on day 14, you want to be timing intercourse every 1-2 days from day 9-14.
Also note: that sperm are produced along a ‘factory line’, and the longer they sit waiting, the more they are likely to die off. Regular ‘cleaning of the pipes’ is important, aim for approx. 1-2 times a week. And during ovulation window, every 1-2 days is usually sufficient for conception. You may want to check out my sperm health post.
How to support a healthy ovulation (and egg quality) 🌸
Eat enough nourishing foods. Plenty of healthy whole food protein (eggs, meat/poultry, seafood, dairy), good fats (nuts, seeds, avo, full fat dairy, fatty fish), vegetables and fruits (I’ll do another post on foods/nutrients for ovulation/egg quality, its a big topic!) Focus on a wide variety of whole foods, and regular consistent meals.
Address stress, anxiety, fears, resentments. In Chinese medicine these emotions are seen to ‘Stagnate Qi’ which can impede on the process of ovulation. (Ovulation is the process where Yin turns to Yang, this requires enough Qi and a smooth flow of Qi).
Get enough sleep, appropriate rest and exercise. Balance is key here.
Address underlying inflammation or health conditions such as low iron, thyroid imbalances, elevated prolactin levels, PCOS. These can all impact ovulation.
Reduce toxin exposure. Swap out plastics, perfumes, toxic make up and skincare etc
Acupuncture! Acupuncture can help improve blood flow to the reproductive organs to support the nourishment of the ovaries and endometrium, promote a smooth communication of hormones via the HPO axis, and addressing any underlying imbalances that may be contributing.
Chinese Herbal Medicine - we can customise herbal medicine to work with the different stages of the menstrual cycle (at ovulation, the focus is moving Liver Qi, supporting Yang and calming the Mind).
Appropriate supplementation depending on the individual. See a health professional for what suits your individual needs.
Healthy ovulation is an important step to producing sufficient progesterone which then helps to create an ideal home for a fertilised egg to burrow into and grow into a healthy baby. I will talk about the luteal phase and implantation in another post. However, the importance of ovulation is more than just conception. Healthy ovulation also supports hormone balance (healthy ovulation leads to progesterone production which balances the effects of oestrogen), this also supports bone health, cardio-metabolic health and general wellness.
Other conditions/factors that may be affecting ovulation:
Hypothalamic amenorrhea
Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome
Thyroid issues
Hyperprolactinaemia
Premature Ovarian Failure/Insufficiency
Perimenopause
Hormonal birth control use or hormone replacement
Poor nutrition
If you are after support with fertility or your menstrual cycle, please book an appointment or find a practitioner near you.
I hope this helps,
Dr Alexandra 🌱
Acupuncturist & Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioner
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