A woman's body works like a perfect, well-oiled mechanism. On certain days, the likelihood of pregnancy increases, and there are also periods when conception is impossible.
How does pregnancy occur?
Every month, one egg matures in a woman's body. It develops in one of the ovaries for about 10-13 days, and then, within 24-48 hours, moves into the fallopian tube leading to the uterus. This process is called ovulation. During ovulation, the body prepares for a possible pregnancy, a new mucous membrane forms in the uterus, and special hormones are produced. The ovum remains in the fallopian tube for about one day. If during this period it connects with the sperm, pregnancy will occur. Otherwise, the egg dies and after a while is removed from the body along with the blood and uterine mucosa - menstruation begins. Thus, it is possible to become pregnant only at a certain time associated with ovulation.
What days can you get pregnant
The number of days between the start of your period is called your menstrual cycle. Ovulation occurs approximately in the middle. The duration of the menstrual cycle is individual for each woman, so the time of ovulation must be calculated independently. In a healthy body, pregnancy can occur during ovulation itself and a maximum of 5 days before it. After the release of the egg from the fallopian tube, the possibility of getting pregnant is minimal, but a negligible percentage of the likelihood remains. The remaining time before the onset of menstruation is considered natural protection days.
A woman's cycle depends on many factors, it can get lost and change its duration. Therefore, you should not give up protection on natural contraception days if you do not plan to have a baby.
How to determine the onset of ovulation
The most common way is to measure basal temperature. It is necessary to carry out the procedure every day closer to the middle of the cycle. On the day of ovulation, the temperature drops slightly, and immediately after it rises sharply.
Basal temperature is measured immediately after sleep, without getting out of bed. For accurate results, sleep at least 5 hours and do not drink alcohol.
You can also focus on subjective feelings. During ovulation, the stomach may hurt a little, and sexual desire also increases. The amount of natural secretions increases and their viscosity rises. Recently, ovulation tests have become common - they are sold in the pharmacy and have a high level of reliability. But the most accurate way is ultrasound monitoring: for several days, the doctor monitors the maturation of the egg and can clearly determine the moment of ovulation.
