How Else Can I Prepare For Pregnancy
In addition to tracking your ovulation to determine your fertile window, its important to schedule preconception counseling with your doctor. There are a variety of screenings and lifestyle modifications that can help increase your chances of a successful planned pregnancy.
If youre under 35 and have been trying to conceive for more than a year, or if youre over 35 and have been trying for six months, it may be time to talk to your doctor about why you cant get pregnant.
Calculating Your Monthly Fertility Window
Your fertility window is the time during your menstrual cycle when youre most likely to get pregnant. For most people, its the five days leading up to ovulation, the day of ovulation and the day after ovulation. Calculating your monthly fertility window can help you target the optimal time to have sex if youre trying to conceive. However, natural family planning is a less reliable form of contraception and does not protect against sexually transmitted infections.
Why Should I Track The Number Of Days Between Each Period
Whether you do it yourself or use an app, knowing how many days there are between each period can be a big help when it comes to feeling prepared and confident around yourâ¯period.
A few days before your period, you may want to start wearingâ¯ALWAYS Dailies pantylinersâ¯for extra protection and assurance that you wonât be caught off-guard by your period. ALWAYS Dailiesâ¯are super thin and flexible, so youâll barely even know you have one on.
When you know your period is due, be sure to stock up on period supplies likeâ¯TAMPAX. With a unique shape for better protection against leaks,â¯TAMPAX Pearl Compakâ¯tampons can boost your confidence during your period because you wonât be preoccupied with staining your knickers or having an embarrassing period accident. Combine this with your new knowledge of how many days there are between periods, and youâre golden!
Knowing when your period is coming can also help you to manage and prepare for any hormonal changes.
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Understanding Your Menstrual Cycle
If youre trying to get pregnant and want to track ovulation, you need to understand your menstrual cycle. Your menstrual cycle is your bodys way of preparing for pregnancy. It begins on the first day of your period and starts over when your next period begins. A typical menstrual cycle is 28 days, but cycles ranging from 21 to 35 days are considered normal.
Lots of changes happen in your body during the cycle, including hormone fluctuations. About halfway through, one of your ovaries releases a mature egg. The egg goes to one of your fallopian tubes, where it waits to be fertilized by sperm. The lining of your uterus gets thicker, too. This prepares the uterus for implantation of the fertilized egg.
If you dont get pregnant, it could mean that the egg didnt fertilize, or that the embryo didnt implant into the uterus. In those cases, the uterine lining sheds and you get your period.
How Do I Test My Cervical Mucus
Watching the changes in the amount and consistency of your cervical mucus can help you understand your cycle. Heres how it works: check your secretions before and after urinating by wiping with toilet paper. Alternatively you can insert a clean finger into your vagina to obtain a sample of mucus. Observe the consistency of the mucus, and use this chart to identify where you are in your cycle. Your mucus can be cloudy, white, yellowish, or clear. It can have either a sticky or stretchy consistency. Use your thumb and forefinger to see if the mucus stretches.
| Cycle timing | |
| No noticeable mucus | Not fertile |
You are most fertile on the days when you have abundant, stretchy mucus. This is not a foolproof method to prevent pregnancy.
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What Is The Ovulatory Phase
The ovulatory phase lasts usually only one to two days. During this phase, the ovum is released from the mature follicle in a process called ovulation because of the increased presence of the hormone LH. Ovulation generally occurs in the 16 to 32 hours following follicle exposure to increased LH levels. The follicle ruptures and releases the ovum into the funnel-shaped end of the fallopian tube. The ovum then makes its way down the tube and into the uterus, hoping to get fertilized along the way.
Does Your Age Affect Your Menstrual Cycle Length
The first factor that Grieger and Norman wanted to explore was how age might impact the length of your menstrual cycle. So, they compared all age groups of Flo users.
Their analysis showed that, on average, people 40 and over had a menstrual cycle of around 27 days. And for users aged 1824, 29-day cycles were typical. This would suggest that as we get older, our cycles get shorter.
Why? Well, your menstrual cycle is intrinsically linked to your hormone levels and your hormone levels fluctuate and change throughout your life. For example, when you hit puberty and have your first period, you might notice that its particularly light or heavy. You might then skip a month or two or experience spotting throughout your cycle. All of this is healthy, especially as some peoples periods dont regulate until a year or two after puberty begins.
Then, when you enter your 20s or 30s, your period may become more regular and your cycle more predictable. However, this isnt always the case. Grieger and Norman found that young people reported more variations in their cycles than in other age groups.
On average, people experience menopause between the ages of 45 and 55. However, when youre in your 30s and 40s, your ovaries begin to produce less estrogen. As your hormone levels change, your ovaries may not release an egg every cycle. This doesnt mean that youve transitioned into menopause, but it can mean that both your periods and cycles may vary in length.
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Watching For Signs That Your Period Is Coming
Why Your Menstrual Cycle Matters
At your regular yearly physical your healthcare provider will ask you about your periods.
The first question your healthcare provider will likely ask you is when was the first day of your last menstrual period or LMP. This will be an easy question to answer accurately if you have been keeping track of your menstrual cycles.
Your healthcare provider will want to know more details about your menstrual cycle. It is very helpful if you have recorded the length of your menstrual cycles, the amount of blood flow you experience, any bleeding in between your periods, and any symptoms you may have.
If you develop a menstrual cycle disorder, or if another health issue arises, your menstrual cycle calendar can help you get a quicker, and perhaps more accurate, diagnosis.
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What Is Menstrual Period Tracker Know Your Due Period
The menstrual period Tracker or calculator takes inputs from user like first day of your last period and the average length of your menstrual cycle to estimate your next due period, Fertile Days ,Ovulation day and Safe Days. MomJunction Period calculator predicts the future periods and ovulation phase for a year so that you may plan for a special event that is period-free.
Q What To Expect From Momjunctions Period Calendar
MomJunctions period calendar requires you to input the date of your last menstrual period date to calculate your monthly period. The date here refers to the starting date of the last period cycle, not the ending one.
The second input requires you to give the average length of time between your periods. Since the term varies from person to person, its not wise to assume the figure. You must be as accurate as possible to determine your most fertile days if you are planning to conceive.
Once youve shared the inputs, the period calculator will show you the result. It wont just give you a heads up on your next period start date for the next 12 cycles, but will tell you about your most fertile days and if you are late for your period cycle. Even if your period is delayed, you will know the next expected date of your period. This way, you can keep a track of the length of your menstrual cycle and the number of days it lasted.
Disclaimer:The period calculator provides the approximate dates by considering your regular menstrual cycle. If your menstrual cycles are irregular, the tool may have trouble pinpointing your day of ovulation or period. While period calculators are not 100% accurate, the menstrual cycle is still a very useful tool. MomJunction is not responsible for any associated deviations, failures or liabilities.
Do you have any question about the period calculator, menstrual cycle or any other related topic? Ask us in the comment section below!
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Menstrual Cycle Length: Why Does It Change
Menstrual cycle length varies from person to person, but if yours has changed or become irregular, you might be wondering why. Heres everything you need to know, including new research on whether age, stress levels, and lifestyle choices play a part
When it comes to menstrual cycle length, lots of us get confused about when our cycle begins and ends. So how do you calculate menstrual cycle length like a gynecologist?
The truth is, your menstrual cycle starts on the first day of one period and ends on the first day of the next period. The average menstrual cycle length is around 28 days, but this varies from person to person. Lots of things can affect the length of your cycle. For example, as you get older, your period may come sooner or later or get longer or shorter.
Your cycle can be as short as 21 days or as long as 35 days, and thats totally healthy. But why do menstrual cycles vary, and what can cause a sudden change in your menstrual cycle length? Hormonal contraception, pregnancy, and menopause can all impact the length of your cycle, but what about your diet, the alcohol you drink, or your work/life balance?
Understand The Science Of Your Body
Get personalized insights when you log your symptoms and track your cycle in the Obie app.
If you are trying to get pregnant and you have regular spotting before your real period begins, we suggest that in addition to using the ovulation calendar, you also use the BBT and an ovulation detection tool in order to find out when you can get pregnant. If you have a lot of spotting, you might want to talk to your Ob-Gyn and assess your progesterone level shortly after presumed ovulation.
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So When Is Day 1 Of Your Menstrual Cycle
If youre having trouble figuring out whether the light bleeding or spotting youre experiencing means its your Day 1, theres a general rule of thumb for natural cycles that can help make it clear:
If you have spotting or light bleeding one day and this bleeding occurs again the next day, the previous day was your Day 1. Thats because it means that estrogen dropped low enough the day before to trigger the shedding of your uterine lining so you have continous bleeding. Its just taking awhile to get a heavier flow.
If you have spotting or light bleeding one day, then no bleeding at all the next day, it was likely breakthrough bleeding, which can occur in some women leading up to their period. This means it was not your Day 1. You would wait until heavier bleeding or continuous bleeding begins to count that as your Day 1.
The above rule of thumb applies to natural cycles only since hormone birth control can cause spotting and bleeding between periods.
If you have a natural cycle, you may also experience spotting or light bleeding at ovulation in the middle of your cycle. This is a result of the egg breaking away from the ovarian follicle and has nothing to do with your period.
If you have a health issue that impacts your hormones or menstrual cycle, you may experience different menstrual bleeding patterns. So, talk with your gynecologist about your specific flow.
Combined Hormonal Birth Control
Combined hormonal birth controlâlike the pill, the vaginal ring, or the patchârelease synthetic forms of estrogen and progesterone into your body . When taken as directed, the hormones in these types of birth control prevent your ovaries from preparing and releasing eggs . This stops your bodyâs usual hormonal cycling rhythm, allowing the birth control to regulate the growth and shedding of your uterine lining .
The bleeding you experience on combined hormonal birth control is not a real period. It is called withdrawal bleeding because it is caused by the withdrawal of hormones during the placebo pills or during the week you donât use your pills, patch, or ring.
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How Do I Calculate When My Next Period Will Be