Characteristics of the fertile period can be recognized from several signs and symptoms that often appear or through special tests. For those of you who are planning a pregnancy or even delaying pregnancy, it is important to know the characteristics of the fertile period in order to determine the right time to have sex.
A woman's fertile period is the time when the ovaries (ovaries) release eggs that are ready to be fertilized by sperm. In addition to planning or preparing for pregnancy, recognizing the characteristics of the fertile period can also be used to understand the menstrual cycle and pay attention to the presence or absence of fertility disorders.
Know the Various Characteristics of the Fertile Period
The characteristics of the fertile period in every woman are different. Some women do not even feel these characteristics.
The fertile period also varies for each woman. There are those who experience their fertile period right on a certain date, there are also those who experience a change in the date of their fertile period every month.
Women of reproductive age generally have a menstrual cycle of about 28–32 days with a fertile period of about 12–16 days before the next menstrual period. The following are the characteristics of the fertile period that you can pay attention to:
1. Changes in basal body temperature
Basal body temperature is the temperature at rest or the lowest temperature in a day. Basal body temperature is usually measured when you just wake up.
Generally, the basal body temperature will be consistent at the start of the menstrual cycle. However, as you approach your fertile window or ovulation, your body temperature may drop slightly, then increase during ovulation. These changes occur because the hormone estrogen increases during ovulation.
Basal body temperature before ovulation ranges from 36.1–36.4ºC. The increase in basal body temperature at ovulation is usually around 0.4–1 degree or between 36.4–37ºC.
2. Changes in cervical fluid
The texture or thickness of cervical fluid in every woman can be different, but cervical fluid during the fertile period will generally be more sticky and have a clear whitish color resembling egg white.
During ovulation, the amount of cervical fluid will also be more than usual. This change in cervical fluid makes it easier for sperm to reach the uterus.
3. Changes in the cervix
The cervix usually undergoes many changes during the fertile period, such as being softer, wetter, and open. You can feel these changes by inserting a clean index finger into your vagina to examine the cervix.
4. Breast pain
There are also some physical symptoms that women can feel when they are fertile, one of which is breast pain. This feature of the fertile period is the impact of hormonal changes that occur in the body before and after ovulation.
5. Increased libido
Increased libido or sexual desire is often experienced by women who are in the period of ovulation. However, this is indeed difficult if it is only used as the only measure, considering that an increase in sexual desire can also be caused by other things, such as a cheerful mood.
Other Ways to Predict Fertile Period
In addition to the several ways above, there are other ways that can be done to predict your fertile period, such as:
Record menstrual schedule
You can record when your period starts and ends for several months. If you have a normal, regular menstrual cycle, you will ovulate about 14 days before your next period. You can also confirm it from the characteristics of the fertile period that was felt at that time.
Fertility prediction tool
Fertility predictor tools can measure the level of luteinizing hormone (LH) in your urine. Generally, women will ovulate about 10-12 hours after the luteinizing hormone increases.
The LH surge usually occurs 14–15 days after your period, if your menstrual cycle is 28 days. Fertility prediction tools are also able to detect the most fertile days during the fertile period.
The characteristics of the fertile period that appear and you experience can be a clue to identify the fertile period, both for those of you who are planning a pregnancy or vice versa.
However, if you have difficulty determining the characteristics of your fertile period, for example because your periods are often irregular or you have certain medical conditions, you can consult a doctor.