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Fertility and pregnancy are nothing short of a roller coaster ride – some find it a smooth process while others struggle with it. Simply put, fertilization is possible when ovulation occurs, which is the process by which an adult egg is released from the ovary. The egg then moves down to the fallopian tube and stays there for 12-24 hours, where it can be fertilized.
Dr Anu Joseph, Senior Consultant, Obstetrics and Gynecology and Specialist in Fetal Medicine and High Risk Pregnancy, Kauvery Hospitals, Bengaluru, says: “Most couples get pregnant through regular intercourse, without any problems, and therefore do not have the ideal time not detect. to try to get pregnant. However, if a couple has unprotected regular intercourse for about 6-12 months and still cannot conceive, they should track the ovulation pattern for better success with pregnancy. She further explains that ovulation typically occurs in the middle of the cycle, and the chances of conception are best when the couple is having intercourse around this time.
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As such, it is necessary to detect ovulation when planning for pregnancy. So how do we do that? Dr Joseph replies: “Women with a regular 28-30 day menstrual cycle can use the Calendar method. This means that you record the beginning of the cycle as Day-1 on the calendar, continue until Day-10, and intercourse on alternate days of Day-10 to Day-17 have to try to conceive. ” There are quite a few mobile applications available that can help you keep up with your ovulation, however, such applications often offer a very narrow range of dates to try, which often do not achieve results.
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To proceed, none of the above methods is suitable for women with an irregular menstrual cycle. For such women, come the test methods. “One of the easiest ways to detect your ovulation is to use LH / ovulation test kits. It is a urine hormone monitoring test kit (similar to the pregnancy test kit) that can be used to detect the presence of the ovulatory hormone Luteinizing Hormone in a human system, ”says Dr Joseph. These test kits are commercially available; just note that test dates differ according to your cycle duration and frequency. In women with a cycle of 28-30 days, it is recommended that the test be done continuously between Day-10 and Day-17.
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Dr. Joseph adds, “Use three drops of urine in the afternoon, until the test shows two lines. From the day the test turns positive, the couple is expected to have intercourse for the next three consecutive days. The benefit of this test is above the Calendar method is that it provides a narrower but more accurate window to try, and also serves as a screening for ovulation.If the test remains negative during the 7-8 days of testing over a few months, it can cause problems with ovulation, and this is the clue for the couple to reach out to an OBGyn or fertility specialist.
If a couple is unsuccessful after trying for about 6-12 months, for couples older than 35 years, women with irregular cycles, or LH test that shows repeated non-ovulation, ovulation is tracked using ultrasound, which most accurate way is to test it. “This method of ovulation tracking is called follicular imaging and timely intercourse. This can be done with or without medication for ovulation induction, ”explains Dr Joseph.
Read more: Know your fertility score: when to go for IVF treatment
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