Any woman who wants to get pregnant, or, conversely, seeks to avoid it, should know the capabilities of her body. Many representatives of the fair sex have an idea of ​​the calendar method of planning pregnancy, but much fewer women are familiar with the term fertile days.

What is fertility, fertile period, fertile days

Fertility is the ability to become pregnant and give birth to a healthy child.

Fertile days (period) are several days in the menstrual cycle that occur before ovulation and directly on this day. The maximum chances of conception occur 5 days before ovulation, as well as on the day of its occurrence. This period of time is fertility.

Ovulation is the moment when a mature egg is released from the ovarian follicle into the fallopian tube and its further movement towards the uterus. According to doctors, the greatest chance of pregnancy is the day before ovulation. In this case, sperm can live in the vagina for several hours, and in the uterus for approximately 5 days. After ovulation occurs, the egg has a day to fertilize.

The menstrual cycle lasts on average 28 days, and ovulation occurs in the middle.

This calculation is an average; as a rule, a woman has individual deviations in her cycle.

Fertility age

Nature has designed it in such a way that a person is ready for offspring only during a certain period of life. In men, reproductive function continues until old age, but in women this period is not so long. A representative of the fair sex can become pregnant and carry a baby only until menopause.

Fertility in women lasts on average from 15 to 49 years of age. Therefore, you should not postpone pregnancy for a long time, since the prognosis for conception is more favorable at a young age.

How to calculate fertile days for a woman

The menstrual cycle varies in length for different women. Individual calculation of the fertile period allows you to more accurately determine the day of ovulation, which significantly increases the chances of conception. Fertility in women can be calculated in several ways.

The calendar method involves maintaining a calendar of the fertile period. In this case, it is necessary to note the date of the first and last days menstruation, as well as the middle of the cycle. It is at this time that ovulation usually occurs. A significant drawback of this calculation method is that it is only suitable for those who have a stable menstrual cycle. If the duration of the cycle is variable, then it is almost impossible to calculate the fertile period using this method.

The calendar method of determining fertile days is no more than 60% effective.

A representative of the fair sex, who listens carefully to her body, notices that some changes occur in it with a certain frequency. Thanks to such observation, you can recognize fertile days. During this period, the nature and volume of vaginal mucus changes. During the fertile period, it becomes more abundant and looks similar to egg white.

This is due to the fact that a woman’s body adapts to the most favorable time for conception. At the same time, fertility can also manifest itself with other symptoms: nagging pain in the lower abdomen and increased sensitivity of the mammary glands.

If such symptoms are not typical for a woman in each cycle, then this may indicate the presence of an infection.

The fertile period can also be calculated by measuring basal temperature. The method involves regularly measuring basal temperature in the rectum or vagina. This should be done in the morning immediately after sleep, without turning over. Also, to ensure the reliability of the results obtained, it is better to use the same thermometer all the time.

It is important when using this method to measure basal temperature at the same time. Its meaning may be influenced by sex, drinking alcohol, any illness or nervous shock. Daily measurement data must be entered into a table. The fertile period begins with a slight increase in basal temperature, which remains at this level for several days. At this time, ovulation occurs.

You can determine fertile days using a special test that is sold in pharmacies. They should be started approximately 5 days before the expected moment of ovulation. This test works similarly to a pregnancy test, and detects luteinizing hormone.

Before using the ovulation test, you should read the instructions that come with it. Testing is carried out daily at the same time once or twice a day. You need to collect urine in a clean container and place the test strip in it for a certain time. Just before ovulation, the amount of luteinizing hormone increases sharply, which is what the test monitors.

A positive test result indicates that fertility is now high, that is, the female body is ready for fertilization.

What can cause fertility problems?

Doctors include factors affecting fertility: a woman’s age over 30 years, excess weight, abnormal development of the egg, genital tract infections, inflammatory processes and other reasons. It is advisable that if a woman is infertile, she should be examined not only by a gynecologist, but also by an endocrinologist and a nutritionist.

Normal fertility is greatly influenced by the lifestyle a woman leads. She needs to eat well, get enough sleep, follow all the rules of personal hygiene, and not engage in casual intimate relationships. You need to be healthy not only for the sake of conception, but also in order to bear a healthy baby. To plan a pregnancy, you need to understand what fertile days are and learn how to calculate them.

Fertile days and ovulation may be absent. This is influenced by the following factors: hormonal imbalance or deterioration of the thyroid gland. TO natural disturbances refers to the lactation period - breastfeeding the baby. Since the list of root causes is not small, you need to consult a doctor to find out.

How to increase fertility in women?

It would seem, what is needed for conception? If you have a sexual partner, then pregnancy will not take long to occur. But, unfortunately, not everything is as simple as we would like. The hormonal background of the female body constantly undergoes various changes. This is what causes frequent mood swings. Even slight increased nervous arousal can affect a woman's ability to become pregnant.

Here are some tips that we hope will be useful to you if you want to improve your fertility:

1. Watch your kilograms. Both excess and lack of fat negatively affect ovulation. With an increased number of fat cells, the body turns on the process of producing hormones that interfere with the normal functioning of the ovaries. A lack of fat, on the contrary, inhibits the production of necessary hormones that are directly related to this process. As a result of such changes, the periodicity of the menstrual cycle is disrupted, and with it the regularity of ovulation. Physical activity will help control excess weight. But you should be careful not to overdo it here either. Very often, professional athletes experience irregularities in their monthly cycle. This happens due to overstrain of the body, which causes hormonal imbalances.
2. Eat right. For a woman’s health, an important role belongs to a balanced and proper nutrition. The female body needs foods rich in protein, iron, zinc and vitamin C. Their deficiency delays the onset of menstruation, therefore, ovulation occurs less frequently. By the way, athletes often suffer from zinc deficiency. Sufficient amounts of animal protein are found in meat, eggs, fish and dairy products. Vegetarians can be advised to eat legumes with rice, as well as include soy products in their diet.
3. Give up cigarettes. It has long been proven how smoking ages a woman’s body. The chemicals contained in cigarettes harm some functions of the reproductive system. If we consider the ovaries of a 30-year-old woman who smokes, their functional capacity is comparable to the capabilities of the ovaries of a 40-year-old woman. This indicates early decline of the body. But if a woman stops smoking, she will have every chance of restoring some functions of the reproductive system.
4. Keep track of your cycle duration. The norm is considered to be an interval of 25-35 days. If the gap between menstruation is longer, for example, 42 days, then ovulation will occur according to the cycle. To calculate your fertile days and plan conception, you need to calculate the day of ovulation. It is considered the most fertile day of the cycle. The days preceding the start of the process are also favorable for conception. The fertile period is 4-5 days before the egg is released from the ovary. After the process is completed, the probability of conception is reduced to zero. Usually, to roughly calculate the day of ovulation, the length of the cycle is divided in half. Suppose if cycle is 28 calendar days, then the probable day of ovulation will occur on the 14th day from the start of bleeding. But since an accurate calculation is needed, it is worth using a special test that shows the days of approaching ovulation. This test is sold in all pharmacies. Another way is to measure your basal temperature daily.
5. Stay calm. Danish scientists conducted research and came to the conclusion that during psychological stress, the hormonal background becomes similar to that which the body experiences during increased physical activity. You need to teach yourself to get out of this state using methods of meditation, relaxation or yoga. Swimming helps many people relieve stress. It’s a good idea to remember your hobbies, which can replace going to a psychotherapist.
6. Avoid alcoholic drinks. Alcoholic drinks change the level of the hormone estrogen in the blood. It is he who is responsible for a woman’s fertility and the ability to maintain pregnancy. early stages. Insufficient level estrogen prevents the implantation of a fertilized egg into the uterine cavity. However, according to scientists, one glass of wine with dinner will not harm a woman’s health and reproductive ability. It is also worth paying attention to drinks that contain caffeine. American obstetricians and gynecologists believe that more than 2 cups of black coffee per day contributes to miscarriage. Therefore, in order to bear and give birth to a healthy child, you should give up alcohol and coffee.
7. Take initiative in your intimate life. It has long been proven that irregularities in the menstrual cycle most often occur in women who do not have regular sex life.
8. Avoid douching. There is a special microflora in the vagina that performs a protective function. During douching, this layer is washed off and there is a risk of developing bacterial vaginosis.

Often, many are faced with the problem of wanting a child, but it is impossible to conceive. Then many experts recommend checking your fertility level and starting from it when conceiving. What is fertility in women and men, what factors influence it and what needs to be done to give birth to a healthy child?

What does fertility mean?

Fertility is a concept that refers to the ability to have a healthy child or children. Applies to both women and men. Its level shows how quickly a man or woman can conceive and bear a child.

When does the fertile window occur?

What is it? A woman's fertile window is the time when a baby is likely to be born. This occurs only a few days a month. So, it lasts during the moment of ovulation and during it. For example, the cycle lasts 27 days, and the ovulation window will then be in the middle of the cycle. A woman should understand about the onset of ovulation using simple test— from the first day of the cycle to the last, measure your basal temperature. A sharp rise in temperature indicates the day of ovulation. This is when the fertile days begin.

You can increase fertility in women by:

• freezing your own egg and introducing it into the body at the moment when you want to get pregnant;
• bringing your weight in order;
• refusal of serious physical activity, overwork and stress;
• proper nutrition, giving up bad habits;
• selecting a contraceptive and performing ovulation tests;
• refusal of abortion.

You can increase a man’s reproductive performance by:

• avoiding prolonged exposure to the cold of the testicles;
• taking vitamin complexes and minerals, for example, zinc, selenium and vitamins A and E;
• refusal to wear tight underwear;
• maintaining a healthy lifestyle, preferably an active one;
• execution simple exercises and being in nature;
• refusal to wear a phone in the testicular area.

It is often difficult to conceive a child. If you want to increase your fertility and get the baby you want, you need to follow some rules. We list the main factors on which the ability to be a mother depends:

Male fertility depends on many factors. In particular, the main ones include:

1. Having a bad habit, addiction to alcoholic beverages, drugs or smoking. All this causes disturbances in the reproductive system, poor structure and quality of sperm. So, gradually they become lifeless and even pathogenic.
2. Long-term use of certain medications, antibiotics and antispasmodics. It is also possible to observe testicular and penile dysfunction while taking antidepressants.
3. Long-term stay in enterprises where large amounts of harmful substances, radioactive elements and heavy ores;
4. Constant exposure to saunas, hot tubs, steam baths and other hot places. All this affects the quality and quantity of fluid released from the penis.
5. Sexually transmitted diseases, the presence of injuries in the ovaries and penis.
6. Diseases associated with the presence of pathogenic microbes and viruses inside the body that disrupt the functioning of the ovaries.

Female and male reproduction depends to a large extent on one hormone - testosterone. At the same time, it is good that in women it is normal or even slightly reduced, and in men it is normal or increased. Determining the level of male testosterone is checked by checking external signs, a blood test with saliva. In women, testosterone levels are also checked by external signs and by donating blood on a certain day of the cycle.

The ability to be a parent can also be determined independently by reviewing the factors presented above that influence it. So, if you often smoke, drink, take alcoholic drinks, you work in hazardous factories, and more - the fertility level will be lower than that of other people who lead an active and healthy lifestyle, do not have a disease and work in non-hazardous enterprises.

Is it possible to get pregnant after 40 years of age?

Today, the most fashionable trend for women is to have children at forty or after. Moreover, the first child is born, despite possible consequences such a decision. Of course, many doctors claim that it is possible to get pregnant and bear a healthy child at this age, but it is extremely difficult and dangerous, because there is a risk of giving birth to your first child with physical and mental pathologies.

If you decide to get pregnant at forty or later, it is important to undergo fertility tests for the woman, check her level of physical health and be regularly monitored by a gynecologist.

About the reasons for decreased male fertility in the video:

Learn basic things about human fertility. Fertility or human reproductive ability is actually a very complex topic. Many factors can affect it, and a woman's fertile cycles are very complex without it. By having some knowledge about fertility and tracking your fertile cycles, a couple can greatly increase their chances of conceiving.

• A woman is considered reproductive when her ovaries produce eggs that can be fertilized. Until the egg meets the sperm and attaches to the wall of the uterus, a woman cannot become pregnant.
• The egg is ready for fertilization only within a few days. After the “window” has passed, menstruation will begin and the lining of the uterus will be released along with menstrual blood.

Increase your chances of conceiving with food and sex positions. It's important to understand what else you can do besides tracking your fertile cycle with a fertility chart. Learning these ways to stimulate fertility can improve the effectiveness of your schedule.

• The variety of positions that a couple practices during sexual intercourse increases the chance of a sperm connecting with an egg.
• Certain foods and drinks can increase sperm fertility and improve the environment of a woman's uterus.