The Luteal Phase or the Post Ovulation Time is the stretch of
time between a woman's time of ovulation up to the first day of
bleeding of the menstrual period. This is a relatively fixed
time in nearly all women being around 14 days. The actual length
of the Luteal Phase may vary by a day or so but for each
individual woman it is usually exactly the same length each
month. The average length of time of the Luteal Phase is 14
days, some women may have a luteal phase of 15 days and some of
13 but for most it is 14 days long. The length of the Luteal
Phase is constant even in women who have irregular periods. For
those who experience irregular monthly cycles, the 'irregular'
part is actually the time from the beginning of the cycle (1st
day of bleeding) up until the time of ovulation. Once ovulated
then the period is guaranteed to start some 13 to 15 days after
as long as fertilisation hasn't occurred.
So when is the best time to get pregnant?
Well obviously at the time of ovulation. The egg will only last
some 12 hours or so before is becomes incapable of
fertilization. The Ideal conditions for getting pregnant are to
have live sperm inside and waiting at the time of ovulation
being as sperm can live on average 2 or 3 days inside the female
body.
The trick therefore to becoming pregnant is to get to know your
body and predict with as much exactitude as possible when you
will start to ovulate so that you may have intercourse some
hours before. Remember that repeated ejaculation on the male
part will decrease the virility of the sperm.
The 'basic' way to know when you are about to ovulate, which
will only really work with women who have regular cycles is the
counting method. The cycle begins on the first day of bleeding.
Counting from that day until the beginning of the next period
will give you the total length of your menstrual cycle (normally
about 28 days). Ovulation usually occurs between days 11 and 14.
If you are irregular with your periods then you should make a
note of the length of your cycles over a few months and try and
determine just how irregular you are and if possible work out an
average length.
A very effective way to observe your cycle and discover your
ovulation time is by using the basal body temperature method or
BBT method. This entails using a special BBT thermometer which
is calibrated in fractions of degrees. The vaginal temperature
must be taken every morning (if possible at the same time each
day and before daily activity begins.. ie before getting up). At
the time of ovulation a notable rise in temperature is recorded.
You will be able to observe from this the exact length of your
luteal phase and you will notice just how regular it is (even
for those with irregular periods) You will also get to realise
the little signs and sensations that so subtly accompany
ovulation. The disadvantage with this method is that it tells
you when ovulation has occurred and the ideal conditions for
getting pregnant as stated before are to have intercourse a few
hours 'before' ovulation is due to occur.
Another way to predict ovulation is to observe the changes in
texture of your cervical mucus. As the hormones within the
female body fluctuate, so too does the texture of the cervical
mucus changes. Normally it is thick and sticky, and when
observed under a microscope appears to have of a sort of meshed
fibre effect. Around ovulation time the mucus changes to be much
thinner and clearer, this when viewed microscopically has a
parallel fibre effect which actually aids the sperm to travel
through the vagina by means of a basic and natural capillary
action. The mucus will remain in this thin state for 2 or 3
days. This is the ideal time for conception.
A combination of all of the methods listed here should help you
to get to know your cycle rhythm and learn just what your body
is doing so that you may predict exactly when you are about to
ovulate.
About the author:
Heather Barnard: Read more about how to get pregnant at
http://pregnantaid.com
