The myths around the female menstrual cycle are many. Some have entered so much into common thinking that they become a real burden for those looking for a child who does not arrive. The truth is that every woman is unique and so is her fertile period. Today there are many tests on the market that can help women to identify it precisely.

What is the fertile period

The fertile period is that period of time that coincides with ovulation and the period immediately preceding it. In this phase the egg cell reaches maturation and is released from the ovary into the uterine tube. In those days, therefore, about 6, if the cell encounters the spermatozoa it can be fertilized.

According to common belief, a woman’s menstrual cycle lasts 28 days and ovulation occurs on the 14th day starting from the first of her last menstruation. The reality, on the other hand, is very different. Some women do not have a regular period, while others may have a shorter or longer one. There is nothing strange or pathological about this. Simply every woman has her own biological rhythm that can vary a lot depending on the seasons, age, stress levels or general health.

How the fertile period is calculated

The fertile period generally lasts 6 days but, in this period of time, we can identify the 2 days called the peak of fertility. They refer to the day before and the day of ovulation itself. When we decide to have a baby, being able to identify your fertile period is important. Sperm can survive in a woman’s body for up to 5 days but to have a better chance of getting pregnant, it is necessary to have intercourse during this precise period.

For those who have a very regular cycle, it may be sufficient to take note of menstruation, perhaps keeping track of it on the many smartphone apps available. Also the observation of the cervical mucus can be a valid method because in those days it becomes more fluid, viscous and elastic. For those who have an irregular cycle, things can be more complicated but fortunately today there are several tests on the market that can help.

Tests to identify the fertile period

During the fertile period a series of changes take place in the woman’s body that the tests available on the market are able to identify with precision. The parameters analyzed are the basal temperature and hormone levels.

The most common and inexpensive tests are the Canadian sticks which work exactly like the classic pregnancy tests. They come with an absorbent section and with a detection system. I am able to report the presence in the urine of the hormone LH which has its peak in 2 days of maximum fertility. From the moment of positivity there are 24 to 72 hours useful for consuming an unprotected relationship aimed at procreation.

Then there are the advanced tests (the best known are Persona or Clearblue ), capable of detecting both luteinizing hormone and estradiol. They detect a total of 4 fertile days, have a 99% accuracy level and a particularly easy-to-read digital detection screen. The most advanced version of these tests is presented as a monitor that analyzes the levels of hormones present in the urine day by day, analyzing the sticks soaked in urine.

Finally, there are systems for detecting the basal temperature , which varies according to the levels of progesterone. They are most commonly used as natural contraceptives but, by highlighting the days of the highest temperature, they can also be used to identify peak fertile days.

When is it necessary to see a doctor?

When you are looking for a child, you often tend to be in a hurry and get anxious very quickly. It happens that after 3 or 4 months of unsuccessful attempts the fear of poor fertility begins to hover in the mind.

In reality, from a medical point of view, we start talking about possible female infertility after 1 – 2 years of intentionally fertile intercourse that did not lead to pregnancy. And only after having ascertained that the problem is not the partner’s. 

When the desire to get pregnant becomes an obsession, frustrations, fears and tensions come into play in the couple that can significantly lower hormone levels and the predisposition to pregnancy. Therefore it takes patience and also a good dose of serenity.