Fertile days: how to determine them and increase the chances of conception

The Importance of Fertile Days in Pregnancy Planning

Planning for pregnancy is an important step that requires patience, knowledge, and special attention to one's health and that of the couple. Even with the desire and will to become parents, difficulties can arise from the very beginning. To increase the chances of conception, it is important to know what fertile days are and how to determine them correctly.

What are Fertile Days and the Fertility Period?

Fertility is the ability to conceive a child. If a man can fertilize a woman and a woman can become pregnant, carry a pregnancy to term, and give birth to a child, both are considered fertile. In men, fertility is preserved throughout adult life, only gradually decreasing with age. In women, it is a bit more complicated: they can only conceive a child during a specific period of the menstrual cycle and before menopause.

Fertile days are the period during which a woman has the highest chances of being fertilized and implanting an embryo. With normal hormonal balance, this period covers the 5 days preceding ovulation, the day of ovulation itself, and the 1 to 2 days that follow. This is called the "fertility window," when the chances of conception are at their maximum.

Fertile Days During IVF, IVF with Egg Donation, and Double Donation

The fertile days in the case of in vitro fertilization (IVF) and its variants have different specificities. In classic IVF, ovulation is controlled and stimulated by hormonal treatment, allowing for precise determination of the timing of egg retrieval or embryo transfer. In the case of IVF with egg donation, it is not the woman's ovulation that is important, but the preparation of her endometrium for implantation, which is achieved through hormonal treatment. In the case of double donation (egg and sperm donation), conception occurs outside the woman's body, and the main task is to prepare the endometrium for transfer. Thus, the fertile days in the context of IVF are not calculated according to the classic scheme, but coordinated by medical specialists.

Difference Between Ovulation and Fertile Days

Ovulation and fertile days are closely related, but they are not the same thing. Ovulation is the release of a mature egg from the ovary. Fertile days are the few days before, during, and after ovulation, when the chances of conception are particularly high. Sperm can survive up to 5 days in a woman's body, and the egg retains its fertilization capability for 12 to 24 hours. Thus, conception is possible even during intercourse a few days before ovulation.

Signs of Fertile Days

A woman can recognize her fertile days through a series of signs:

• discomfort in the lower abdomen (unilateral);
• bloating;
• increased sensitivity and swelling of the breasts;
• changes in vaginal secretions (clear, stretchy, like egg white);
• increased libido.

The menstrual cycle is counted from the first day of menstruation until the start of the next period. Only 5 to 7 days of this period are considered fertile.

The calendar method cannot take these changes into account. Moreover, it should not be used by women who have an irregular menstrual cycle. (https://natuvitro.com/fr/blog/cycle-menstruel-irr%C3%A9gulier-et-fertilit%C3%A9)

Why Know Your Fertile Days

Tracking the fertility period is not only useful for conceiving a child. It allows for the detection of cycle abnormalities that indicate hormonal imbalances or reproductive issues. This information can also be used as a natural contraception method.

Pregnancy Planning and Reproductive Technologies

Regular fertility tracking increases the chances of conception. This is particularly important for women suffering from hormonal disorders. After age 35, the quality of eggs decreases, but modern treatment methods, including IVF, allow for pregnancy even at an advanced age. In the case of IVF, it is not ovulation that plays a key role, but the hormonal preparation of the endometrium and medical precision during embryo transfer.

Methods for Determining Fertile Days

Calendar Method

To calculate fertile days, you can use the calendar method. With a 28-day cycle, ovulation occurs between the 12th and 16th day of the cycle. To calculate: 28-12 = 16; 16-4 = 12. This method is not suitable in the case of an irregular cycle and does not take into account the influence of external factors.

Ovulation Tests

The tests available at pharmacies determine the level of LH in the urine. An increase in LH levels signals imminent ovulation within 1 to 2 days. The tests start between the 11th and 12th day of the cycle for a regular 28-day cycle.

Basal Temperature

This is measured in the morning, before getting up, over several months. An increase in temperature by 0.3 to 0.5 °C 24 hours after ovulation helps to determine when it occurred. The most favorable period is considered to be the 2 to 3 days preceding this increase.

Medical Diagnosis of Ovulation

The most accurate methods are follicle ultrasound and blood analysis of progesterone levels (https://natuvitro.com/fr/blog/progesterone-during-pregnancy-role-levels-and-effects-on-the-body). They allow the doctor to confirm ovulation and assess the state of the reproductive system.

Factors Influencing Fertility

Fertility decreases in the following cases:

• age over 35;
• hormonal disorders;
• harmful habits;
• chronic stress;
• genital organ diseases, etc.

Early diagnosis and correction of these factors increase the chances of conception.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a fertile day?

It is the day when the chances of conception are particularly high, within the fertile period.

How often do they occur?

In each cycle: 5 days before ovulation, the day of ovulation, and 1 to 2 days after.

Can fertility be increased?

Yes. A doctor can prescribe treatment, vitamins, and recommend lifestyle changes.

Understanding the specifics of fertility is an important step towards successful conception, whether naturally or with the help of modern reproductive technologies.