Any couple interested in conceiving a baby should be aware of the relationship between ovulation and conception. Simply put, conception cannot occur without ovulation, which is why it is crucial for each woman to find out when she ovulates. Pinpointing ovulation makes it possible to time intercourse so that conception has a chance of occurring.
The only time the body releases an egg from the ovaries is during ovulation, which typically occurs only once in the menstrual cycle. In order to conceive, the egg must be fertilized by sperm in the fallopian tube within 24 hours, creating a zygote. It must then implant itself into the uterine lining.
In order to have a chance at conceiving each month, ovulation and conception must both be understood so that the monthly opportunity is not missed. The average menstrual cycle lasts 28 days, and ovulation typically occurs in the middle, on about cycle day 14. It is important to understand, though, that this is just an average, and that some healthy women actually have cycles that last anywhere from 24 to 35 days. Additionally, lifestyle changes, including stress, can cause a woman to ovulate late or early in her cycle, so that it is not always on cycle day 14.
Since the day of ovulation can vary so much, many women find it helpful to track it using a number of ways. One tactic is to become observant of changes in the cervical mucus, since it varies throughout the cycle. Just before and during ovulation, it is typically slippery and resembles raw egg whites, which means it is the best time for intercourse. This is because this kind of mucus can help sperm to enter the cervix and stay alive for as long as five days, awaiting the release of an egg. When it is sticky or creamy, the mucus is not typically considered conducive to conception.
Another way to ensure that ovulation and conception occur is by tracking the basal body temperature. The body becomes warmer just after ovulating due to an increase in the hormone progesterone during the process. This tactic requires women to take their temperature each morning before rising, and record it on a chart. This practice will provide a pattern for each woman to observe so that she can predict when she will ovulate based on the charts for past months. This is because by the time the temperature has risen, ovulation has already occurred, so this method does take a few months in order to make predicting ovulation possible.
Understanding the connection between ovulation and conception, and using these methods to pinpoint when ovulation occurs, can also assist couples in avoiding conception. It should be noted, though, that unless the menstrual cycle is quite regular, and these methods are well understood, another form of birth control should be used to prevent conception. Once a couple has successfully tracked ovulation for several cycles and has located the range of days in which ovulation and conception could occur, they might begin using this form of natural birth control more confidently, but, again, only if the woman's cycle proves to be reliably predictable.