Fertile on my Period?
Question
My husband and I have been married for almost a year, and have tried now for just a few months to get pregnant. My concern is that by counting the days and figuring out when I should ovulate, it is before my period has ended. My cycle is usually between 23-28 days, and if 23, then ovulation should occur 5 days after period starts, therefore, I still have it – is that correct?
Answer
Last Updated: June 14, 2013
In short cycles, fertility can indeed begin before the period has ended.
It sounds like you are taking the range in your cycle length over a period of time, and using this history, you are estimating when ovulation will occur in the current cycle. This is more accurate than just assuming it is on a certain day (day 14 for example) as it takes into account the nature of your cycles. This is a simplified form of the old Rhythm method.
There are limitations to this method of predicting fertility, however.
Your current cycle may not fall within that range, being longer or shorter than the 23-28 day cycles you have had in past, and therefore your fertility would be earlier or later than you predicted. Even if your current cycle is within the 23-28 day range you have experienced in the past, this range of length means in some cycles you ovulate as early as day 8 or 9, and in others as late as days 13 or 14, which does not allow you to accurately pinpoint the timing of fertility.
Modern scientific knowledge allows us to be much more precise. You can identify day by day if you are fertile or not simply by learning to read the signs your body exhibits, clearly identifying days of fertility.
When you are approaching ovulation, your body will secrete cervical mucus, easily observable to the women at the opening of the vagina. The presence of this mucus indicates you are fertile, and near ovulation. And yes, in short cycles as you sometimes have, you will observe the mucus even before your menstruation is over. To achieve a pregnancy, you would want to time your efforts to coincide with the presence of this mucus. As you become familiar with the characteristics of your mucus, through daily observations over the course of a couple cycles, you can refine your timing of relations to coincide with the best quality and quantity of mucus, providing optimum circumstances for sperm survival and indicating you are near ovulation.
I recommend you consult with an expert in modern natural family planning who can teach you how to observe, chart, and interpret these signs. On our website at www.canfp.org you will find an online directory of Natural Family Planning Professionals in California who would be happy to help you.
I hope congratulations will soon be in order, and that you will share your good news with us!!!
It sounds like you are taking the range in your cycle length over a period of time, and using this history, you are estimating when ovulation will occur in the current cycle. This is more accurate than just assuming it is on a certain day (day 14 for example) as it takes into account the nature of your cycles. This is a simplified form of the old Rhythm method.
There are limitations to this method of predicting fertility, however.
Your current cycle may not fall within that range, being longer or shorter than the 23-28 day cycles you have had in past, and therefore your fertility would be earlier or later than you predicted. Even if your current cycle is within the 23-28 day range you have experienced in the past, this range of length means in some cycles you ovulate as early as day 8 or 9, and in others as late as days 13 or 14, which does not allow you to accurately pinpoint the timing of fertility.
Modern scientific knowledge allows us to be much more precise. You can identify day by day if you are fertile or not simply by learning to read the signs your body exhibits, clearly identifying days of fertility.
When you are approaching ovulation, your body will secrete cervical mucus, easily observable to the women at the opening of the vagina. The presence of this mucus indicates you are fertile, and near ovulation. And yes, in short cycles as you sometimes have, you will observe the mucus even before your menstruation is over. To achieve a pregnancy, you would want to time your efforts to coincide with the presence of this mucus. As you become familiar with the characteristics of your mucus, through daily observations over the course of a couple cycles, you can refine your timing of relations to coincide with the best quality and quantity of mucus, providing optimum circumstances for sperm survival and indicating you are near ovulation.
I recommend you consult with an expert in modern natural family planning who can teach you how to observe, chart, and interpret these signs. On our website at www.canfp.org you will find an online directory of Natural Family Planning Professionals in California who would be happy to help you.
I hope congratulations will soon be in order, and that you will share your good news with us!!!
Answered By:
CANFP
CANFP unites under one umbrella all those who use, teach, and advocate for NFP, and our members are our strongest resource: the physicians who provide authentic women’s healthcare, the Practitioners and Certified Teachers of all the natural methods instructing couples in its use, the couples who use NFP and reflect its values in their families and communities, the clergy providing the spiritual formation and context, and the churches, dioceses, hospitals, and profile organizations who collaborate in providing access to these services throughout the state.
