The better you understand your unique menstrual cycle, the better you can understand your overall health.

Although the average menstrual cycle is 28 days, a cycle can actually be a few days longer or shorter and still be considered normal. Cycle length can also vary a little from cycle to cycle and still be considered normal.

Hormonal changes in the body trigger each cycle phase: menstrual, proliferative, ovulatory, and luteal. And while your period is the most recognizable phase, the other three are equally important and impact your energy levels, immune system, moods, and sleep patterns differently. Let’s dive in.

What are the menstrual cycle phases?

The body performs different functions throughout the four phases of the menstrual cycle, each of which plays a unique role in the reproductive process:

Proliferative: During the proliferative phase, ovarian follicles (structures in the ovary that each contain a single egg) mature and prime themselves for ovulation. Your hormones perform different functions that are geared toward the goal of producing an egg for fertilization during ovulation, the next phase. Although many follicles start maturing during the proliferative phase, usually only one eventually proves dominant, and becomes the sole egg available during ovulation.

Ovulatory: The ovulatory phase begins as a hormone surge forces the dominant egg to break free from its follicle and nest in a fallopian tube, where it will disintegrate if not fertilized within about 24-36 hours. Ovulation is the only phase in which you can get pregnant. But because sperm can live for up to five days in the reproductive system, if sperm is present in the short time leading up to ovulation, this can also result in conception.

Luteal: Following ovulation, the follicle that released the egg transforms into a corpus luteum, a structure that produces the pregnancy hormone progesterone. Progesterone thickens the lining of the uterus in preparation for a fertilized egg to make its home there for the next nine months. If conception occurs, the corpus luteum continues to produce progesterone to maintain a healthy pregnancy. If the egg is not fertilized, the corpus luteum ceases its progesterone production after about two weeks. This drop in progesterone signals menstruation to begin.

Menstruation: The onset of menstruation is considered to be the start and end of a menstrual cycle, as it signifies the end of an opportunity for fertilization for one egg (and the beginning for millions more). Menstruation is triggered when the corpus luteum of the last cycle’s unfertilized egg ceases to produce progesterone, usually occurring about two weeks after ovulation, causing the uterine lining to shed, along with a bit of blood. The length and intensity of a period varies from person to person and cycle to cycle, but usually lasts between 4-6 days. Once the period stops, the proliferative phase begins again, starting the reproductive process anew.

Reviewed by the Ovia Health Clinical Team

Read more

• The menstrual cycle and your hormones
• Tracking fertility during the proliferative phase
• 5 signs you might be ovulating

Sources

• Mayo Clinic Staff. “Menstrual cycle: What’s normal, what’s not.” Mayo Clinic. Mayo Clinic, 4/16/2013. Web.
• “Patient Fact Sheet: Am I Ovulating?” ASRM. American Society for Reproductive Medicine, 2014. Web.

How to time your pregnancy test properly

Here’s what you should know about this timing – and the science behind our recommendations.

First, understand how home pregnancy tests work

In the earliest stages of pregnancy, a fertilized egg will begin to implant in the uterine lining. This happens around four to six days after conception. Once implantation starts, the placenta starts producing human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), the pregnancy hormone. Home pregnancy tests work by determining if there is hCG present in urine – and, as you might know, home pregnancy tests ask you to pee to a stick to measure this.

Because hCG doesn’t show up until after implantation begins, if you don’t wait a few days to make sure the embryo has had a chance to implant, there’s the chance of getting a false negative – meaning that the pregnancy test reads as a “negative” even though pregnancy has occured. Implantation usually happens six to twelve days after ovulation, so the absolute earliest that you can test for pregnancy is a week after ovulation. For even more accurate results, it’s preferable to wait a few extra days so that levels of hCG can rise to more detectable levels. Waiting a few days after the first day of a missed period usually guarantees the most accurate results from a home pregnancy test.

Utilize Ovia Health to help with pregnancy testing

When it comes to pregnancy test timing, you probably know it’s best to take it at least one or more days after your next period is due. But your menstrual and ovulation cycle can fluctuate every month, meaning certain days of your cycle might change on a monthly basis and make it harder for you to know exactly when it’s time for you to take a pregnancy test. The US Department of Health and Human Services reports that nearly 20% of individuals who are pregnant get a false negative, because they’ve miscalculated their period or it arrived later than expected that month.

This is where tracking is helpful. Different ovulation symptoms can suggest that you’re in a certain part of your cycle. For example, in the luteal phase, which is when the egg implants and your body starts making the pregnancy hormone, your body releases progesterone, which can affect your moods, breast tenderness, and cervical mucus. Spotting might happen as a sign of implantation bleeding, too. These kinds of symptoms tell Ovia what phase of your cycle you’re in.

When you log your data consistently, Ovia takes all of the information you provide, like your period dates, cervical fluid consistency, basal body temperature, symptoms, and moods, and uses it to predict when you’re ovulating and when is the best time to take a pregnancy test. If Ovia tells you to test on a day that’s different from what you expected, this could be because of natural fluctuations in your cycle, as well as symptoms that suggest to Ovia that you’re at a different day in your cycle than you previously thought.

Other things to consider

Cycles fluctuate month by month, and it can be difficult to know for sure when one phase of your cycle ends and another begins. And if you’re patiently waiting for some positive news, we know you can’t get it soon enough – so we’re here to help. By consistently logging your symptoms and moods, you’re providing Ovia with important information that will help us predict the best – and most accurate – day for you to take a pregnancy test.

Sources

• “Home use tests: Pregnancy.” FDA. US Food and Drug Administration, Jun 5 2016. Web.
• Mayo Clinic Staff. “Home pregnancy tests: Can you trust the results?” MayoClinic. Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, Dec 2 2015. Web.
• Connie Matthiessen. “Week 01 to Week 04 of Pregnancy.” HealthDay. HealthDay, Jan 20 2017. Web.

Here are the TTC acronyms you should know about

AF:

Aunt Flow. Your period.

Thanks for the invite, but my Aunt Flow’s in town. I’m gonna go home and treat her to some wine and reruns.

BBT:

Basal Body Temperature. BBT may spike right before ovulation, so many women track it to help them pinpoint their ovulation.

The very first thing I did this morning was grab my thermometer and take my BBT.

BCP:

Birth Control Pills.

In almost no time after I stopped taking BCP, I was pregnant.

BD:

Baby Dance. Sexual intercourse, usually done on the most fertile days of your cycle. (Can also mean baby dust, which is a phrase you use to wish someone good luck.)

My ovulation test is positive, which makes me want to dance – the BD, that is!

BFN/BFP:

Big Fat Negative/Big Fat Positive (on your pregnancy test).

Every time I buy a pregnancy test, I think about how it could be the one to show the BFP.

BOB:

Baby on the Brain!

I’m having a hard time shopping with BOB. All I can think about is tiny socks and pacifiers, which makes it impossible to keep track of my grocery list.

CD:

Cycle Day. A specific day in your menstrual cycle (or fertility treatment cycle). To track it, start by counting from the first day of your last menstrual cycle.

It varies each cycle, but normally I ovulate on CD 13, or 13 days after the first day of my period.

CM or CF:

Cervical Mucus or Cervical Fluid. Changes in cervical fluid indicate that a woman is at different stages of her cycle.

At the most fertile point of each cycle, my CM is clear and super stretchy.

CP:

Chemical pregnancy. A very early miscarriage.

My doctor recommended that I put off trying again until one cycle after my last CP.

DD:

Darling daughter. A daughter you already have.

DH, DD, and I go on vacation next week.

DH:

Dear husband.

I’m 42 and DH is 43.

DPO:

Days Past Ovulation, or Cycle Date Post Ovulation.

By 7DPO of the TWW, I’m already wondering if every little cramp is a sign of pregnancy.

DS:

Darling son.

It’s a challenge to care for DD and DS while also TTC.

ENDO:

Endometriosis. A chronic disease in which tissue that is supposed to grow in the uterus grows outside of it. Millions of women experience this condition and it can affect fertility.

After getting diagnosed with ENDO, I was able to find a huge and supportive online community of other women who had the same condition.

EWCM:

Egg White Cervical Mucus. When your cervical mucus looks like egg whites, it may mean that you’re at your most fertile point.

Nothing is as exciting as seeing EWCM when TTC!

FMU:

First Morning Urine. Most pregnancy tests require that women take them the very first time they pee in the morning. In the morning, urine typically has the highest concentration of Human Chorionic Gonadotropin, or hCG, an early pregnancy hormone.

I tested with FMU and got a faint BFP.

FP:

Follicular Phase. The phase of the menstrual cycle when follicles mature in the ovary. This phase begins on day 1 of your period, and ends with ovulation.

I’m so excited to try and get pregnant, I just want my FP to be over!

hCG:

Human Chorionic Gonadotropin. A hormone produced during early pregnancy that helps the baby grow.

I had a positive test, which means there was enough hCG in my urine to detect a pregnancy.

HPT:

Home Pregnancy Test. A pregnancy test that you can take at home. This morning my HPT showed a BFP – but I’m going to my doctor’s to take a blood test to confirm.

IUI:

Intrauterine Insemination. A specific kind of fertility treatment where sperm is placed directly into a woman’s uterus during ovulation.

After 2 years of TTC, we’ve decided to try IUI.

IVF:

In Vitro Fertilization. A procedure in which an egg is fertilized in a lab and then implanted.

We went through several rounds of IVF before getting a BFP.

LMP:

Last Menstrual Period. The first day of your last period.

I started my LMP on June 6th.

LPD:

Luteal Phase Defect. If the corpus luteum didn’t form properly, a luteal phase defect may occur, causing a short luteal phase. This can make it hard for a woman to get pregnant.

I’ve been really accurate with my charting, because I suspect I might have LPD and I want to have a lot of information to show my provider.

LSC:

Low Sperm Count. Commonly the cause of male infertility.

A semen analysis showed that my partner has an LSC.

M/C:

Miscarriage.

I got my first BFP a year ago, which ended in a really upsetting MC.

MF:

Male Factor Infertility.

To help with the MF issues, we found an infertility counselor who was covered by our insurance.

NTNP:

Not trying for pregnancy, not preventing pregnancy.

I just stopped taking BCP, so I guess that we’re NTNP.

O or OV:

Ovulation.

I O’ed on CD15 and BD on days 13 and 15.

OPK or OPT:

Ovulation Predictor Kit or Ovulation Predictor Test. These tests tell you when your body has a surge of luteinizing hormone (LH), which indicates the onset of ovulation.

I just got a positive OPK, which means BD as soon as possible!

PCO, PCOS, or PCOD:

Polycystic Ovaries, Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, or Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Disease. A condition in which a woman’s levels of estrogen and progesterone are unbalanced. Women with PCOS develop cysts on their ovaries, and the condition can cause infertility.

My doctor thinks I have PCOS, so I’m waiting to hear back about my blood work.

POAS:

Pee On Stick. Taking a pregnancy test (peeing on a stick), usually at home.

I’m 7DPO and it’s so hard to wait to POAS!

RE:

Reproductive Endocrinologist. A type of fertility specialist.

I’m meeting with an RE tomorrow to go over my fertility test results.

SA:

Semen Analysis. This is a test that providers can use to determine the quality and quantity of a man’s sperm.

The results of his SA show he has low sperm count, low motility, and poor morphology.

SO:

 Significant other.

My SO and I have decided that next month we’ll start TTC.

TWW or 2WW: Two Week Wait. The time period between when you ovulate and can take a pregnancy test.

 just started my TWW and I need to find some ways to distract myself!

TTC:

Trying to Conceive.

I haven’t decided who I want to tell that we’re TTC.

U/S:

Ultrasound.

Our first U/S is scheduled for the end of the month.

Should I take an ovulation test?

However, most ovulation predictor kits are not infallible, and there are positives and negatives to their usage. Ovulation kits are best used alongside other fertility trackers, like Ovia, to make sure you have the best shot at conception.

How they work

Ovulation is triggered by a surge of luteinizing hormone (LH) about 24-36 hours prior to ovulation. OPKs search for the presence of LH in the urine, allowing you to fairly accurately identify the day of ovulation. They range in price from $5-$50, and come in both digital and simple pee-on-a stick forms.

Benefits

There are many benefits to using an ovulation kit, including convenience, availability, and precision. The kits can be purchased in drug stores and online, and are simple to use. They may be less burdensome than other tracking methods that require daily monitoring throughout the month. In comparison to other methods of monitoring ovulation, ovulation kits are generally considered to be more precise, because they are over 97 percent effective in detecting an LH surge.

Drawbacks

On the other hand, OPKs cannot confirm whether or not you’ve actually ovulated and can be far more expensive than other methods, like cervical fluid, basal body temperature, or Ovia(!). The kits often don’t work when fertility drugs are in your system, or on women over 40 who have increased LH levels due to proximity to menopause. Most importantly, ovulation predictor kits only test LH, leaving other important symptoms such as cervical fluid untested, which means that ovulation tests can only tell you about two of the six total fertile window days.

Read more

• Tracking your ovulation and ovulation tests
• What is anovulation?

Sources

• Miller PB, Soules MR. “The usefulness of a urinary LH kit for ovulation prediction during menstrual cycles of normal women.” Obstetrics & Gynecology. 87(1):13-7. Web. Jan-96.
• Roger W. Harms, M.D. “Should I look for any particular ovulation signs if I’m hoping to conceive?” Mayo Clinic. Mayo Clinic, 2/13/2014. Web.

Track fertility indicators through Ovia with self-tracking devices

Using wearables and self-tracking devices makes your data easier to enter, and as accurate as possible! Wireless devices, like those made by Google Fitbit and Apple Health, allow you to track crucial metrics like your activity, sleep, and blood pressure seamlessly. The best part? It works both ways: you can also pull your Ovia data into your health app to view your health trends!

Note activity

Devices like the Google Fitbit and Apple Watch can accurately count your steps throughout the day, so you don’t have to worry about keeping a running tally! Tracking your activity is a great way to help you make sure you’re getting enough exercise.

Monitor sleep

Ever thought you’d be able to log data to your Ovia account while you’re getting your much-needed nightly Zzz’s? Google Health Connect and Apple Health both track your sleep duration and sleep cycles, letting you know how often (and when) you’re restless each night, letting you make adjustments based off of your data to get more (and more valuable) sleep.

Record blood pressure

Ovia users can sync their data with wearables to gain insights about their health and symptoms. Through Fitbit and Apple Watch, you can measure and log your blood pressure at your own convenience using an additional monitor. Tracking your blood pressure is incredibly important while you are trying to conceive (TTC), as high blood pressure during pregnancy can be dangerous.

What is on the fertility chart?

You can find your fertility chart by navigating to the left menu in Ovia Fertility and tapping “Fertility chart.” There, you’ll see all your fertility data mapped in one comprehensive graph. Your fertility chart contains all your essential fertility data: your fertility score, basal body temperature, intercourse, and cervical fluid. It will show this data with the dates for your period and fertile window, so you can see how it relates to your entire cycle and fertility health. And if you’re TTC, this info makes it easy to understand when you’re most fertile – and when you may want to pencil in some baby-making.

Fertility score

Your fertility score is a number from 1-10, with a 10 indicating that you are at peak fertility and have the highest chance of conceiving for this cycle. Viewing your fertility score as a layer on your fertility chart is a clear and simple way to understand how your fertility changes throughout the cycle and how closely your basal body temperature and cervical fluid consistency might be able to signal when you are approaching ovulation and the fertile window. This number helps makes it easy to understand when you’re most likely to get pregnant.

Basal body temperature

Your basal body temperature (BBT) can change throughout the menstrual cycle. Many people notice a slight dip in BBT right before ovulation, and then a spike in BBT immediately following ovulation. These are due to fluctuations in your hormone levels, specifically progesterone. Your fertility chart is the best place to view all of your basal body entries and visualize these changes.

Intercourse

This one’s not too complicated. When you log intercourse, it will show up on your fertility chart as a heart-shaped data point! This will allow you to keep track of whether you took full advantage of your fertile window, plus any other romantic evenings. If you log consistently, this could help you know your exact date of conception later on.

Cervical fluid

Like BBT, your cervical fluid (also called cervical mucus) can change greatly throughout the cycle. Cervical fluid helps sperm travel through the cervix and into the fallopian tube and becomes more “fertile” as you get closer to ovulation. Ovia Fertility has identified four levels of cervical fluid: “nothing felt, nothing seen,” “school glue,” “watery,” and “egg whites.” Cervical fluid tends to be at its driest and least fertile (“nothing felt, nothing seen”) during and shortly after menstruation. It tends to become more liquidy, clear, thin, and stretchy (“egg whites”) as you progress through your cycle towards ovulation.

Viewing your cervical fluid data on your fertility chart can help you understand how it changes throughout your personal cycle, and will let you know if there seem to be inconsistencies between your cervical fluid quality and your fertility score.

Check your fertility chart often to learn more about your own unique cycle and see how your fertility changes throughout that cycle.

Read more

• Tracking your basal body temperature
• Tracking your cervical fluid

Sources

• Stephen R. Pallone, MD and George R. Bergus, MD. “Fertility Awareness-Based Methods: Another Option for Family Planning.” Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine. vol. 22 no. 2 147-157. Web. March-April 2009.
• Bruno Scarpa, David B Dunson, Bernardo Colombo. “Cervical mucus secretions on the day of intercourse: An accurate marker of highly fertile days.” European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology. Volume 125, Issue 1, Pages 72-78. Web. 3/1/2006.
• Sabita Sujan, John Danezis, Aquiles J. Sobrero. “Sperm migration and cervical mucus studies in individual cycles.” Journal of Reproduction & Infertility. 6(1):87-97. Web. Sep-63.

Tips to help you conceive faster

Did you know that there are only a few days each cycle during which a female can conceive? Ovia Fertility uses your own fertility data to accurately predict your fertile window and ovulation, even if you have an irregular cycle.

1) Track everything

Ovia Fertility tracks all aspects of your health and wellness to understand you better. The app allows you to keep a daily record of your cervical fluid, basal body temperature, period information, ovulation test results, symptoms, and moods. You can also log other general health information like your weight, sleep, activity, blood pressure, and nutrition. All of these factors can affect your fertility, so we encourage you to track as much as you like.

Ovia Fertility uses the data you enter, as well as data synced from your connected self-tracking devices and apps (like Fitbit, Jawbone, and MyFitnessPal), to make your fertility predictions the most accurate available.

2) Anticipate your ovulation and fertile window

Ovia can accurately predict your ovulation and fertile window. Once you’ve entered data into your Ovia Fertility account, the app runs your information through our advanced algorithm capable of understanding your particular cycle. The algorithm then compares your data to that of other women like you, as well as clinical guidelines prescribed by the American Society for Reproductive Medicine.

Ovia gets to you know you and your cycle more and more over time. Your fertile window predictions will become more accurate with every bit of information that you enter. Our algorithm is capable of predicting your fertile window, estimated date of ovulation, your upcoming period, as well as your Fertility Score (a number from 1-10 that indicates how fertile you are on any given day in your cycle).

3) Get feedback

Your fertility predictions are always available at the top of your Ovia Fertility Timeline and on your Calendar. These predictions change based on data you’ve entered, so make sure to keep your information up to date and check the app often. We also provide highly targeted feedback on the data that you give us. This feedback is entirely based on what you have logged and where you are in your cycle to provide you with tips and encouragement on your journey to pregnancy. Ovia also sends curated articles, fertility-boosting recipes, and other content to your Timeline, just for you.

The TTC journey isn’t always easy. Our goal is to help you learn more about, and improve, your fertility and chances of conceiving.

Read more

• Tracking your period
• What should you track when trying to conceive?

Sources

• Murcia-Lora, José María; Esparza-Encina, María Luisa. “The Fertile Window and Biomarkers: A Review and Analysis of Normal Ovulation Cycles.” Persona y Bioética. Vol. 15 Issue 2, p133-148. 16p. Web. July-December 2011.
• Stanford JB, Dunson DB. “Effects of sexual intercourse patterns in time to pregnancy studies.” American Journal of Epidemiology. 165(9):1088-95. Web. 5/1/2007.

Conception tracker? What to record when TTC

The majority of women don’t have exact 28-day cycles, so ovulation and the fertile window can be difficult to predict. Luckily, your body has certain ways of communicating when it’s fertile, and Ovia Fertility has developed an algorithm that can accurately predict your fertile window and ovulation date, based on a few different metrics.

Cervical fluid

Cervical fluid is the fluid that your body produces to help (or block) sperm moving through your cervix and up to your fallopian tube where it can fertilize your egg. Cervical fluid changes in consistency throughout the cycle, becoming most “fertile” (helpful for a sperm’s travel) during the fertile window and ovulation.

Cervical fluid tends to be dry right after menstruation, then thick and clumpy, then more watery, and finally thin, clear, and stretchy as you approach ovulation. Tracking your cervical fluid throughout the cycle is an excellent way to tell when ovulation might be near.

Basal body temperature

Basal body temperature is the lowest temperature attained by the body in the normal course of the day. It’s best taken right when you wake up in the morning, before you are active and start heating up. Basal body temperature can be a key indicator of your ovulation date, as it will quite often spike in the 24-48 hours after ovulation, due to a rise in the hormone progesterone.

Conversely, basal body temperature may dip a bit right before you ovulate, so tracking your temperature from cycle to cycle can help you anticipate the dip and/or spike, and pinpoint your ovulation and fertile window.

Symptoms

Symptoms are your body’s way of communicating what’s going on inside of you, including an upcoming fertile window and ovulation. Tracking and paying attention to your symptoms can be extremely helpful in narrowing down your fertile window.

Certain symptoms, like backaches, cramps, and pelvic pain, are common indicators of ovulation. There may be some discomfort when an egg is released from the ovary, generally on just one side. This is known as “mittelschmerz” pain, which is German for “middle pain.”

Moods

Your moods can tell you a great deal about what is happening in your body, similarly to how symptoms can. The data that we have collected has found that certain moods, like feeling confident or frisky, may be positively correlated with an upcoming ovulation. Though moods alone may not be able to indicate that you are fertile (especially if you’re already a confident or frisky person to begin with!), but they can definitely contribute to and improve your fertility predictions

Period

Ovia Fertility uses many metrics beyond period data to predict ovulation and the fertile window, but entering your period data is a good way to set up a baseline for your predictions. Tracking your period will let you know how your cycle length and luteal phase length change from cycle to cycle, which could be crucial for helping you get pregnant faster.

Ovulation tests

Ovulation tests can confirm whether you are currently ovulating, but they can’t tell you that you’re about to ovulate, or already ovulated, only that you’re currently ovulating. It’s nice to have confirmation of ovulation, but it’s important to track other metrics in combination with with ovulation tests to best predict your fertile window and ovulation so you can plan ahead.

Predicting your ovulation and fertile window can be difficult, but Ovia Fertility makes it easy. Simply enter these data points above as often as you can, and let our algorithm do the rest!

Read more

• Tracking your physical symptoms
• Self-tracking devices and fertility

Sources

• Creinin MD, Keverline S, Meyn LA. “How regular is regular? An analysis of menstrual cycle regularity.” Contraception. 70(4):289-92. Web. 10/4/2015.
• D.F. Katz, D.A. Slade, S.T. Nakajima. “Analysis of pre-ovulatory changes in cervical mucus hydration and sperm penetrability.” Advances in Contraception. Volume 13, Issue 2-3, pp 143-151. Web. Jun-97.
• Stephen R. Pallone, MD and George R. Bergus, MD. “Fertility Awareness-Based Methods: Another Option for Family Planning.” Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine. vol. 22 no. 2 147-157. Web. March-April 2009.
• Pearlstone AC, Surrey ES. “The temporal relation between the urine LH surge and sonographic evidence of ovulation: determinants and clinical significance.” Obstetrics & Gynecology. 83(2):184-8. Web. Feb-94.

This is the age that’s held up as being the all-important age, after which time it’s just harder to get pregnant.

Getting pregnant after the age of 35

The truth is, every person is different, and so is the age at which the chance of getting pregnant decreases. 35 isn’t a magic be-all, end-all age, but it is used as a baseline. In reality, fertility varies greatly from person to person: some women’s fertility may bottom out in their 20s, while others can be as fertile as an Iowa cornfield well into their 40s. If you’re actively TTC now, or do plan to try to have a baby in the future, we want you to be armed with the facts. So here’s what you should know about getting pregnant after 35.

Why it’s more difficult to get pregnant after 35

Although everyone is different, statistics say that females over 35 will have a more difficult time getting pregnant than they would at a younger age. This is mostly due to a lowered egg quality, after years of those eggs lying in wait in your ovaries. Because some of your eggs are resistant to fertilization as you get older, if you’re TTC it’s important to make sure you don’t miss those ovulations in which you do release a healthy egg.

How Ovia can help

Once you’re over 35, it’s very important to track your data to zero in on your fertile windows, as they may simply be less frequent. Ovia can help you track your ovulations for as many cycles as you need until you find the window that works! Some studies suggest that as many as 90% of females over 35 are able to conceive. It just might take some time.

Once you’ve conceived

Individuals over 35 have a statistically higher chance of having complicated pregnancies or having babies with developmental disorders. That’s why it’s very important for anyone over 35 to get genetic testing to rule out chromosomal and neural tube disorders. Taking it easy and focusing on your health is especially critical during the first eight weeks of pregnancy too. But don’t worry: many people over 35 are able to have healthy pregnancies and healthy babies, so long as they take good care of their bodies and minds.

When you should call your healthcare provider

With all of this in mind, you might still want to know what it means for your fertility – and if you still have plenty of time to get pregnant and really don’t need to stress or if you should possibly see a healthcare provider to learn more.

If you’re under 35 have been trying to conceive with contraceptive-free intercourse that’s well-timed meaning intercourse during your fertile window) for 12 months – or if you’re over 35 and have been trying to do the same for 6 months – then it’s recommended that you be in touch with your healthcare provider. They can help you learn more about your fertility and whether or not you might need any reproductive assistance to conceive. They also may recommend that you have a fertility consultation with a reproductive endocrinologist, a type of doctor who specializes in diagnosing and treating different issues of infertility.

It’s totally possible to successfully conceive and have a baby after age 35. It may just take a bit more time and effort.

Read more

• Boost your fertility

Sources

• The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists Committee on Gynecologic Practice, The Practice Committee of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine. “Female Age-Related Fertility Decline: Committee Opinion Number 589.” ACOG. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, 3/14/2015. Web.

Common fertility myths busted

If you want to get pregnant with less stress, it’s time to dispel these myths so you can focus on what really matters and move forward on your TTC journey with confidence – and facts.

1. “Infertility is the woman’s fault.”

This is incorrect. In a male and female partnership, the male’s sperm needs to reach the female’s egg in order for conception to occur, and if the male partner has a low sperm count or low sperm motility, the chances of conception are lower. For 1/3 of infertile couples, infertility comes from the male side, and for another 1/3 of couples, it’s either unidentifiable or both male and female infertility. For the last 1/3 of couples, infertility comes from the female side.

2. “More sex is better.”

Having intercourse every other day during the fertile window has shown to be almost equally as effective as having intercourse every day in the same time period. Although frequent sex is great and has positive health benefits, the most important factor in getting pregnant is properly timing intercourse during the fertile window. Enjoy trying to get pregnant, but there’s no need to stress about missing a day!

3. “I eat well, exercise, and keep a healthy lifestyle…I should have no problems getting pregnant.”

Although staying healthy is important while you’re trying to conceive, there may be inapparent fertility issues that go unnoticed until a couple is trying to achieve a pregnancy.

4. “Fertility problems don’t start until your thirties.”

It’s true that fertility starts to decline when people enter their mid-thirties and that women are at their fertile peak in their twenties, but there are many causes for early infertility that are not a consequence of age. If you are trying to conceive at an older age, it is very wise to closely track your physical data and ovulation cycles to maximize your chances of conceiving.

5. “I am so alone.”

Infertility is not uncommon. 6.1 million, or 10% of women (age 15-44) have difficulty getting or staying pregnant in the U.S. alone.

6. “Ovulation occurs on day 14 of your cycle.”

Most women do not have a 28-day cycle with ovulation occurring at day 14. It’s important to find out your body’s rhythm to time sex accurately and effectively.

7. “I can only get pregnant one day per cycle.”

The “fertile window” is a 6-day time period that ends on the day of ovulation. The best chance of conceiving is likely through intercourse on few days before ovulation and the actual day of ovulation.

If you hear these fertility myths – or any others – while you’re trying to conceive, it’s best to ignore the dubious info and instead follow the advice of a trusted medical professional. Besides, if you learn more about the facts of fertility and what’s actually going on with your own body, you’ll have a much better chance of getting pregnant. The human body is capable of amazing things – no myth needed.

Read more

• How often should I have sex during my fertile window?

Sources

• Mayo Clinic Staff. “Infertility – Definition.” Mayo Clinic. Mayo Clinic, 7/2/2014. Web.
• Stanford JB, Dunson DB. “Effects of sexual intercourse patterns in time to pregnancy studies.” American Journal of Epidemiology. 165(9):1088-95. Web. 5/1/2007.
• Dunson DB, Baird DD, Colombo B. “Increased infertility with age in men and women.” Obstetrics & Gynecology. 103(1):51-6. Web. 1/4/2015.
• “FastStats – Infertility.” CDC.gov. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, n.d. Web.
• Murcia-Lora, José María; Esparza-Encina, María Luisa. “The Fertile Window and Biomarkers: A Review and Analysis of Normal Ovulation Cycles.” Persona y Bioética. Vol. 15 Issue 2, p133-148. 16p. Web. July-December 2011.