If you’re like most women, your monthly cycle is not “average.” Only 5 to 10 percent of us have what many consider an “average” and “regular” 28-day cycle.
Whatever the length of a given cycle (which always begins on the first day of your period), it is composed of several distinct phases. These phases are regulated by hormones, and triggered by your brain. The most important phase of each cycle for family planning purposes is ovulation.
When you ovulate, an egg is released by your ovaries. It’s only when an egg is present that you can get pregnant. If the egg is not fertilized by sperm, it will only live 12-24 hours. Since sperm can live up to 5 days, intercourse within the 5 days leading up to ovulation may result in a pregnancy. That’s why it’s important to know when ovulation is approaching and when it actually occurs.
These fertile days are clearly signaled in a few different ways by your body. Once you learn to recognize these signs, you can know with certainty on any given day whether you could get pregnant or not.
Keep reading to learn more about why ovulation matters, below, and how you can know exactly when you’re fertile by reading the clear signs of your body.
Why ovulation matters
Most birth control methods work mainly by blocking ovulation through the use of synthetic hormones. These methods include:
- The Pill
- Vaginal rings (Nuvaring®)
- The skin patch
- Implants
- Shots (Depo-Provera®)
- Hormonal IUD (Mirena®)
Your ovulation is a healthy and normal process, not an illness to be cured or suppressed with drugs. Blocking ovulation produces effects that go far beyond just preventing pregnancy. Studies show how it impacts you, your health, and your relationships.
For more on understanding your menstrual cycle, see the articles below.
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What you need to know before your Pap smear
By Caitlin Estes • August 27, 2024And who needs to get one -
Zzzs, please! Poor sleep and your teen’s PMS
By Renee Walton • August 13, 2024Babies aren’t the only ones who need their sleep -
A quick-start guide to your eco-friendly period
By Rebekah Valderrama • August 3, 2024Read this before you make the switch -
What we can learn from 600,000 menstrual cycles’ worth of health data
By Kristen Curran • May 23, 2024And how age affects cycle length -
My experience with 28, the #1 cycle syncing app
By Madison Ayers • February 29, 2024A new app aims to help women organize their lives around their cycles -
The 28 app is a fresh approach to menstrual health – but it shouldn’t replace your fertility awareness method
By Renee Walton • February 29, 2024Use 28 for workouts and meal planning, not for family planning -
Menstrual cycle tracking can help teen girls with Type 1 diabetes better manage their insulin. Here’s how.
By Christina Valenzuela • February 22, 2024Cycle charting isn’t just for family planning. -
Women often aren’t told how the medications they take every day could affect their menstrual cycles or fertility
By Anne Marie Williams, RN, BSN • January 17, 2024Could your prescription meds make it harder to conceive? -
Do female athletes perform worse during their periods?: How the menstrual cycle impacts athletic performance
By Madison Ayers • January 4, 2024What the research says -
Estrogen is a key driver of the menstrual cycle. But it impacts your brain health, too
By Taryn DeLong • November 3, 2023How estrogen impacts mental health and protects against certain health problems