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.

Why might I have tested negative?

One of the most common reasons women test negatively inaccurately is by taking a pregnancy test too early. You may be able to test as early as 10 days after ovulation, but it usually takes an average of 13-15 days after ovulation and fertilization for a pregnancy test to turn positive. Many women test too early, use a test with low sensitivity, or use the test incorrectly, which can lead to false negatives.

Other causes of false negative pregnancy tests include diluted urine, expired tests, improper testing, and ectopic pregnancy. If you test negative but have not gotten your period, make sure to take multiple tests throughout the week, and consult your healthcare provider with further questions.

Getting proper results

Women who do not use fertility and ovulation trackers often miscalculate the date of their next periods, meaning that it is possible they have not missed their period but simply haven’t started it yet. Knowing exactly if and when you’ve ovulated, using Ovia’s tools, can help you avoid false negatives and make sure you take a pregnancy test at the right time.

How Ovia can help you check and track your cervical position

Ovia’s algorithms help you check and learn when you’re most (and least) fertile by interpreting the data you track – including moods, cervical mucus, temperature, and the position of your cervix – to give you  a daily fertility score. The more you track, the more accurately Ovia can predict when you’re ovulating.

How does cervical position indicate ovulation?

If you’re ovulating, your cervix will feel high up, making it harder to reach, and it’ll feel soft and open. This openness allows any sperm in the area to enter your uterus and potentially fertilize an egg waiting there. In contrast, your cervix will feel low, hard, and closed when you aren’t in the fertile part of your cycle.

Here’s a quick reference guide to how your cervix may feel during different fertility levels and cycle times, including during pregnancy:

Ovulation

• Position: High (hard to reach)
• Firmness/Texture: Soft (like your lips)
• Openness: Open (tip of your finger can rest in the little divot, more circular)

Fertile window (approaching ovulation)

• Position: Medium
• Firmness: Medium (like your chin)
• Openness: Medium

Not fertile (both follicular phase and luteal phase)

• Position: Low
• Firmness: Hard (like the tip of your nose)
• Openness: Closed (like pinching your fingers)

Pregnant

• Position: High
• Firmness: Soft
• Openness: Closed

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.

How does the fertile cervical position change throughout the menstrual cycle?

As you progress throughout your menstrual cycle, your cervix will undergo changes in position and texture, and the internal os – the opening to your uterus – will open or close depending on the cycle phase.

Menstrual

During the menstrual phase, your os will remain slightly open in order to allow for menstrual blood to flow from your uterine lining, and your cervix will remain relatively lower in your vagina, as well as being firm to the touch.

Proliferative

After you stop menstruating, the internal os will close, cutting off the passageway between your vagina and uterus. Your cervix will begin as firm and low in the proliferative phase, but will rise, and become softer and more moist (just like your cervical fluid) as you approach the fertile window and ovulation. Tracking your cervical position during the proliferative phase can really help you determine when the fertile window is approaching.

Fertile window

When you are fertile, your cervix will rise in your vagina, and become even more soft and moist than it was during the proliferative phase. Your internal os will also open in order to allow sperm cells to travel to your fallopian tubes and waiting egg. The cervix may become so soft and high that you can’t reach it with your finger, and if you do, may seem to blend in with the rest of your vagina. You are probably at your peak fertility when your cervix is at its highest position, and softest.

Luteal phase

In the days after you ovulate, your cervix will move down once again in your vagina, and the internal os will close. Your cervix will also become more firm and distinguishable. If you do not conceive in a cycle, your cervix will transition back to its low, firm menstrual state. However, if you do conceive, you will likely notice your cervix remaining high and soft, though with a closed internal os.

How do I check my cervical position?

There are a few different ways to check your cervical position, but regardless of the technique you use, you should always make sure to wash your hands, and keep your nails trimmed before inserting a finger in your vagina. Some women prefer squatting when checking their cervical position, but most will raise one leg up on to the bathtub ledge or toilet, before inserting a finger into the vagina to check for cervical position, texture, and moistness.

You should keep track of the way your cervix changes throughout the cycle in order to best predict when you might be fertile.

Get pregnant fast by trying these tips

While there is no guarantee, these tips have helped couples TTC before. Give them a try and see what happens.

1) Get a checkup first

Being in good overall health is an important part of conceiving. Get a checkup with your primary care physician to make sure you don’t have any underlying medical issues that could get in the way.

2) Take a prenatal vitamin

Taking a prenatal vitamin every day is one of the easiest things you can do to support conception. It can be a regular multivitamin, too, as long as it contains key ingredients like folic acid. Try to find one that contains the following vitamins and minerals:

• Folic acid also called B9 (helps prevent brain and spinal cord problems in developing babies): at least 400 micrograms
• Iron (fights anemia): at least 30 milligrams
• Calcium (helps with bone growth and strength): at least 300 milligrams
• Vitamin D (also supports bone growth): 400 international units
• Omega-3s also known as DHA (helps baby brain development): at least 300 milligrams
• Vitamin C (supports your immune system): at least 50 milligrams
• Zinc (helps ward against birth defects and low birth weight): at least 15 mg
• Other nutrients thought to be helpful in a vitamin as you’re trying to conceive include selenium, magnesium, biotin, riboflavin, thiamin, niacin, and Vitamin E.

Note that you shouldn’t take a vitamin with more than 770 milligrams of Vitamin A, as research has shown that too much can lead to birth defects. Also, you shouldn’t take a vitamin without eating beforehand because it can be harsh on your stomach and cause nausea or vomiting.

3) Get to a healthy weight beforehand

Being either significantly overweight and underweight can hurt your fertility, so try to reach a healthy weight before you begin trying to conceive. Body Mass Index (BMI) can be a helpful tool to show you what a healthy weight might be for your height, but it gets less accurate when taking into account things like muscle mass or especially tall or short people, so it’s not perfect. Whether you’re gaining or losing weight to reach your goal, aim for an achievable 1-2 pounds per week. More than that can negatively impact your metabolism.

4) Track your cycle

It’ll help you better understand your body, notice trends, predict the day you ovulate, and correctly time intercourse with ovulation. Using an app like Ovia Fertility makes it even easier, but you’ve already got that part down!

5) Have sex at the right time

This might seem like an obvious point, but plenty of people think that they can get pregnant at any time during the month. You can only conceive during the 5-6 days surrounding ovulation, called the fertile window, so make sure you’re having sex during that time (even multiple times per day if you’re up for it). You have the best chance of conceiving if you have sex in the few days before ovulation, because you’re ensuring that sperm will be in your body right when your egg is released.

6) Quit smoking

Cigarettes and conception don’t mix. Smoking can affect ovulation and hormone levels, even making your eggs less receptive to sperm. Quitting is hard, but now’s the time to do it: it can reduce your chances of getting pregnant and increase your baby’s risk of miscarriage and birth defects.

7) Stop using your hormonal birth control at least a month before you start trying

It takes a few weeks–or even months, for some women–for your body to fall back into a natural menstrual cycle after you stop taking hormonal birth control, like the pill or a NuvaRing. Give yourself enough time to adjust.

8) Exercise at least 30 minutes a day, five days a week

Working out can boost your mood, improve your skin and muscle tone, strengthen your heart health, and increase your chances of getting pregnant. Try for moderate exercise for 30 minutes a day, five times a week (that’s two and a half hours each week). If you don’t have time for the gym, simply going out of your way to walk instead of driving or taking public transportation can make a difference. Note that extreme exercise can have a negative effect on fertility, so if your body fat is very low or you’re training hard for more than seven hours a week, you should talk to your healthcare provider about backing off.

9) Limit alcohol to one drink a day (or none)

Most experts agree that a glass of wine or a beer here and there are fine when you’re trying to conceive, but more than that can hurt your fertility. Some studies have found that just two drinks a day can reduce your fertility by about 60%. If you do drink, one serving is only 5 fluid ounces of wine or 12 fluid ounces of beer a day, which is probably less than you’re used to. Your safest bet is to avoid drinking alcohol altogether.

10) Try ovulation prediction kits (OPKs)

OPKs work by detecting a surge in luteinizing hormone in your urine that occurs 24-36 hours before ovulation. Experts are split on the value of OPKs: some say they’re expensive and inaccurate, and others swear by them to test when they’re ovulating. You can detect when you’re ovulating using other factors, like changes in your cervical mucus and basal body temperature (BBT). If you have an irregular cycle, however, you’re more likely to benefit from OPKs because ovulation may be more difficult to predict.

11) Cut down on caffeine

The research is split on whether caffeine can harm your fertility, but most experts agree that a moderate amount of caffeine is safe. Some studies have found that more than 500 milligrams of caffeine a day–that’s about five cups of coffee–has a negative effect on fertility, but that’s a very coffee-heavy day for most people. There’s far less caffeine in most teas than in a single cup of coffee, so switch to tea or limit yourself to a 12-ounce cup of coffee a day to be on the safe side. Also note that caffeine can be present in things you might not expect, including chocolate and supplements, so read your labels carefully.

12) Tell your partner to keep masturbating

Regular masturbation, even every day, helps procreation by keeping a man’s reproductive system flowing and functioning. It also cleans out older sperm and replaces it with newer cells, which research suggests are less damaged and have better motility. Not ejaculating for five days or longer can negatively affect sperm count and sperm health, so don’t hold it in!

13) Stay hydrated

To produce the optimal cervical fluid to support conception–the clear, stretchy kind that helps sperm swim through–you’ll have to stay hydrated. Try to drink at least eight eight-ounce glasses of water a day. If you’re finding it tough to drink enough water, try keeping a big water bottle with you, recording the water you drink in an app like Ovia, infusing water with fruit for flavor, adding ice, or mixing things up with carbonated water. If you’re taking allergy medications with decongestants, be aware that they can dry out mucus membranes throughout your body, leading to an adverse effect on your cervical mucus as well.

You can tell how hydrated you are by checking your urine. If you’re urinating every two to four hours and your urine is clear or very light yellow, you’re good. If it’s yellow, you should drink a bit more. If it’s orange or dark orange, you’re dehydrated and need to drink more right away.

14) Lie flat on your back for 15 minutes after sex

You’ve probably heard this tip before, and there’s actually some truth to it. Researchers conducting a 2009 study on intrauterine insemination (IUI) found that women who laid on their backs for 15 minutes after the procedure were 50 percent more likely to conceive. Intercourse isn’t the same thing as IUI, so it’s unclear how applicable this study’s findings are outside of the laboratory, but it certainly can’t hurt.

15) Eat healthy food

There isn’t one miracle food that you need to be eating to conceive. It’s more important that you eat a variety of vegetables, fruits, complex carbohydrates, and lean proteins. Aim for at least 3 cups of vegetables a day, and try to include protein with every meal. Eating a variety of colorful fruits and veggies will infuse your diet with antioxidents and nutrients. And don’t skip your green leafy vegetables: they’re loaded with the folate and iron you need now more than ever.

Here’s what you want to avoid:

• Refined carbs like white bread and sugary treats
• Processed meats like hot dogs
• Too many carbohydrates generally (we all tend to eat more than we really need)
• Fish high in mercury including canned tuna, frozen swordfish, tilefish, and shark

16) Don’t get sick

It’s harder to conceive when your body is under the stress of an illness. Avoid raw and undercooked foods, especially meats; wash your hands frequently with soap and hot water; exercise regularly; take your vitamins; and try to get at least seven hours of sleep a night.

17) Make sure your male partner is doing his part

Even if you’re doing everything right, your male partner needs to do his part, too. Read more about whether your male partner could be hurting your fertility and what he can do to fix it.

18) See a fertility specialist

If you’ve been trying to conceive without success for one year and you’re under 35 or for six months if you’re over 35, you should consider seeing a fertility specialist. There may be an underlying issue in your way that treatment can address.

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!

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• 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.