Fertility FAQs

How do I know when I am ovulating?

The best way to know when you are ovulating is to use FAM by monitoring your cervical mucus, charting your basal body temperature every day, and checking the position of your cervix.

Can I feel ovulation happen?

The most obvious signs of ovulation are those you should monitor, such as your basal body temperature, your cervical mucus and your cervical position. But there are a few others, called secondary fertility signs because not all women experience them, that you may notice on a regular basis. These signs include mid-cycle spotting, abdominal bloating, breast tenderness and water retention. Also, about 20 percent of women feel discomfort or pain in their lower abdomen as the egg leaves the ovary. This is known as 'mittelschmerz' and it can last from a few minutes to several hours.

Is it normal to feel more sexual around ovulation?

Yes. Women typically experience a wet, slippery sensation due to the increased level of estrogen their bodies produce around the time of ovulation. Because this cervical fluid feels similar to sexual lubrication, it can be experienced as a sexual feeling. Women may experience a 25 percent increase in their sexual desire and activity during a three-day period around the time of ovulation, according to one study.

How many days past ovulation can I accurately use a home pregnancy test?

The earliest you can get an accurate result on the most sensitive pregnancy tests is seven days after ovulation. The hCG hormone is produced only after implantation, which generally occurs 6 to 12 days post ovulation, so you should wait at least 10 days after ovulating to take a home pregnancy test to decrease the chance of getting a false negative.

Is it possible to get pregnant while I'm on my period?

Yes, if you have intercourse during your period, there is a chance you could get pregnant. There are two reasons why this can happen. One, not all vaginal bleeding is the result of a menstrual period; some women also experience bleeding during ovulation and mistake it for a period. Secondly, there is a possibility that ovulation could occur before your period has ended or just a few days after. You and your partner could have sex near the end of your period and his sperm could live long enough to fertilize one of your eggs up to several days later.

Can I be pregnant and still get my period every month?

It is unusual to be pregnant and still have a normal period, considering women menstruate because of the drop in progesterone that occurs only when fertilization does not happen. If you were pregnant, your progesterone levels would remain high and prevent you from having a period. Usually when pregnant women bleed, it is due to implantation spotting or hormone shifts occurring during pregnancy. The bleeding that occurs in these instances is different in quantity and quality from that which occurs during a menstrual period.

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