Tracking Your Menstrual Cycle for Pregnancy

If you are trying to get pregnant, it is important to know your fertile windows in relation to your menstrual cycle. A menstrual cycle is measured from the first day of bleeding (the start of a cycle) to the next first day of bleeding (the start of the next cycle). The average cycle length is about 28 days, but this can vary from woman to woman and even from one cycle to the next. Don’t worry if your cycles are a few days longer or shorter than 28 days. However, if your cycles are significantly shorter or longer than a month, schedule an appointment with one of our Diana Health certified nurse midwives, a physician, or a CNM in your area if you do not have access to Diana Health.

In order to get pregnant, you must be ovulating (releasing an egg). An easy way to determine if you are likely ovulating is if you have a regular menstrual cycle with bleeding starting about every 28 days (+/- a few days). Start by keeping track of the days you experience bleeding. Count from the first day of any bleeding, even if it is just spotting. You can use various phone apps or website programs to track this or simply note it on your private calendar. This should help you identify a cycle. If you struggle to get pregnant after a few months or notice that your cycles are irregular, this information will be useful for your healthcare practitioner. Visit self.com to learn about some of the most popular apps for tracking your menstrual flow. You can also use the ovulation calculator from WebMD or the government’s Office on Women’s Health.

Most women can conceive (get pregnant) for about six days during each month or menstrual cycle. These fertile days include the five days before ovulation (when an egg is released) and the day of ovulation (possibly extending into the next day). During this period, having sex is crucial if you want to get pregnant.

Fertile Day Tracking

To figure out when your fertile days occur during your monthly cycles, you first need to know how long your typical cycles are—from the start of one period to the start of the next. Track this for a few months to get a good idea of your cycle length. 

• Once you have this, subtract 18 from the number of days in your shortest cycle, then subtract 11 from the number of days in your longest cycle. The days between these two calculations are your prime time for conceiving!
• On a calendar, mark day 1 as the first day you have any bleeding. Then, use the calculations to find your most fertile days (from the previous step) and count out those many days on your calendar. This will show you the best window for having sex.

Try to have sex during this fertile window. It’s not necessary to have sex daily, but aim for a couple or a few times during this period to increase your chances of success. Do what feels right for you and your partner.

Basal Body Temperature

Some women find tracking their basal body temperature (BBT) helpful when trying to conceive or determining their optimal fertility times. Your BBT is your temperature as soon as you wake up. To get the most accurate readings, you can purchase a special BBT thermometer from many pharmacies or online. For more information on choosing the best thermometer, visit verywellfamily.com, a website with some top picks. 

Take your temperature as soon as you wake up, and record it in an app or on your calendar. Since your BBT is your lowest resting temperature, which usually occurs while sleeping, it’s best to take it immediately upon waking. Your temperature will likely rise due to physical activity once you get out of bed and start moving around. Therefore, take your temperature before eating, drinking, or moving around. Ideally, you should take it at the same time each morning, keeping the thermometer by your bed for convenience.

According to the Univ. of Michigan Health website. you might notice a slight dip in your BBT just before ovulation. After ovulation, your temperature will be slightly higher than your typical pre-ovulation temperature and will likely stay elevated until your next menstrual cycle starts. Tracking these changes can give you more insight into when you are likely ovulating. Research indicates that your most fertile times are 2-3 days before ovulation and the day after ovulation.

Tracking your BBT can help you understand if and when you likely ovulate. If you are confused about interpreting your BBT charts or the information from a fertility/period tracker, contact us at Diana Health. We can connect you with one of our women’s health experts for guidance.

Cervical Mucus

Another way to learn about your fertility is by checking your cervical mucus. Just before ovulation, hormonal changes make cervical mucus (produced by the cervix, the uppermost part of your vagina) clearer and slipperier, often described as resembling egg whites. You may notice it stretches between your fingers if you touch your cervical mucus during this time. This egg-white-like mucus indicates you are in your most fertile window, typically about 3-4 days. At other times, cervical mucus is usually stickier, whiter, or non-clear and doesn’t stretch. For more information on tracking cervical mucus, visit this Healthline website. 

Observe how it looks on a tissue or toilet paper to check your cervical mucus. With clean hands, you can also touch the opening of your vagina and note the mucus’s appearance and texture. You can track these observations on an app, paper, or phone. You will likely notice regular changes in your cervical mucus that help you understand when you are most fertile. While medications or other conditions can affect your cervical mucus, tracking it can be a useful tool for learning more about your fertility.

Ovulation Predictor Kit

You can also use an over-the-counter ovulation predictor kit to determine if you are ovulating. These kits typically involve urinating on a special stick or device and then reading the results according to the instructions provided. Your healthcare practitioner can also order a blood test to check for ovulation. For more information about ovulation predictor kits and how to use them, visit the American Pregnancy website.

If you have been trying to conceive for six months without success or have any questions or concerns, reach out to your CNM or physician. It’s also a good idea to have a preconception check-up with your CNM or physician and to start taking a prenatal vitamin with folic acid for at least a few months before you conceive. As you and your partner prepare to start or expand your family, encourage your partner to visit their healthcare provider, too. A healthy family is the best support for welcoming a new baby!

Remember, we’re here to support you every step of the way. Don’t hesitate to contact us at Diana Health if you need any guidance or have questions.