You might think you know all about your menstrual cycle – after all, you’ve been visiting regularly for quite some time. But as soon as you decide to start a family, your menstrual cycle suddenly becomes a lot more important. From knowing when you’re most fertile to how birth control affects ovulation, we’ve got answers to some of your most common questions.
How do I know if my menstrual cycle is normal?
According to Pamela Berens, MD, professor of obstetrics, gynecology and reproductive medicine at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, this is one of the most common questions asked in the ob-gyn clinic. According to Dr. Berens, the average cycle occurs every 28 to 32 days, but there is still some variation from month to month. “Many people worry that their cycle is irregular if it’s off by a few days, but most menstrual cycles are not perfect every month,” she says. In fact, it’s very unusual to have a menstrual cycle every 28 days without any deviations. “When your doctor asks if your period is regular, she’s really just checking to see if you’re not having your period every two weeks or if you’re missing your period for months.”
Can I get pregnant if my periods are irregular?
“Yes, it’s just more difficult,” says Michelle Hakaca, M.D., an obstetrician-gynecologist with a private practice in Beverly Hills, Calif. Women with 28-day cycles ovulate on day 14 of their cycle. Women with cycles between 35 and 42 days have irregular cycles and therefore ovulate less frequently.
If you have irregular periods and are trying to conceive, Dr Hakaka recommends booking a pre-conception appointment with your doctor to discuss your cycle and when you’re most likely to ovulate. You can also determine your ovulation date at home by using an ovulation predictor kit, recording your basal body temperature, or keeping a menstrual diary.
Is it possible to get pregnant during your period?
“It’s possible to get pregnant during your period, but it’s not very common,” says Dr. Hakaca. This can only happen if a person’s cycle is shorter than average. For example, someone with a 21-day cycle will ovulate around day 7. Dr. Hakaca says that if you have sex on the fifth day of your menstrual cycle, you could get pregnant because sperm can live for up to five days and are present in your fallopian tubes at the time of ovulation.
How do I know if I’m ovulating?
There are a few ways to do this. You may notice that your cervical mucus changes around the time of ovulation, becoming clearer, thinner, and more stretchy (the consistency is similar to raw egg white). Some people actually experience a tingling or pain on one side of their lower abdomen at the time of ovulation.
If you’re having trouble deciphering your body’s signs (or lack thereof), Dr. Hakaka advises considering purchasing an over-the-counter ovulation test kit. These kits detect the surge in luteinizing hormone (LH) production that occurs about 36 hours before ovulation. But that doesn’t mean you have to wait a day to have sex. Having sex when the test is positive gives sperm time to travel up to the fallopian tubes and meet the egg. Ovulation predictor kits cost anywhere from $15 to $50, depending on the brand and how many tests they include.
You can also determine your ovulation date at home by recording your basal body temperature, keeping a menstrual diary, or using an online ovulation calculator.
Do birth control pills affect fertility?
Long-term hormonal contraception does not affect fertility. In fact, most people find that they ovulate within three months of stopping the pill. “I usually advise my patients to stop taking birth control a few months before trying to conceive and to use condoms in the meantime,” says Dr. Berens. She says that patients usually know their menstrual cycle and can tell their doctor when their last period started. This helps them calculate their due date once pregnancy is confirmed. If you want to get pregnant soon, finish the pill you’re currently taking to avoid irregular bleeding.
Other contraceptive methods, such as the ring or patch, also do not affect ovulation or your ability to get pregnant. You can get pregnant immediately after removing your IUD or implant. Ovulation will resume within 1 to 3 months after you stop using the contraceptive patch or vaginal ring. The only hormonal contraceptive method with a longer waiting period is the contraceptive injection. It can take up to 10 months for ovulation to occur (but it can happen much sooner than that).
What is the earliest time I can take a pregnancy test?
When you’re trying to get pregnant, it can be hard not to take pregnancy tests early (and often), but there’s no point paying for an expensive pregnancy test until you’re sure you’ll get accurate results. Over-the-counter tests are very sensitive and can detect the pregnancy hormone (hCG) in your urine the day your period is late, and sometimes a day or two before your period is due, says Dr. Hakaka. If you take a pregnancy test earlier than that, you may get a negative result even if‘re pregnant .
If you get a negative result on the day your period is due, but your period hasn’t started yet, try testing again 48 hours later. Most urine tests are accurate one week after your period is due. For most accurate results, test your first urine in the morning, when hCG content is highest.
Can I get pregnant even if I’m on my period?
Not true. It’s impossible to be pregnant and still have a period, but it’s possible to confuse implantation bleeding with a period, says Dr. Berens. About seven days after fertilization, the embryo implants in the uterine wall, which can cause bleeding. About one-third of pregnant women experience implantation bleeding. This is usually lighter and shorter than a period, but it can still be hard to know what implantation bleeding you’re experiencing. If you’re unsure, take a pregnancy test after a week for accurate results. If you’re experiencing heavy bleeding at any point during your period, contact your doctor right away.
When should you have sex to give yourself the best chance of getting pregnant?
“Sperm live for three to five days, so having sex a few days before ovulation increases your chances of getting pregnant,” says Dr. Hakaca. This increases the chances of sperm meeting an egg in the reproductive tract. For most people, ovulation occurs in the middle of your cycle. So if you have a typical 28-day cycle, you’ll ovulate 14 days after your last period begins. If your cycle is longer, such as 34 days, you’ll ovulate around day 20. Since everyone is different, tracking the length of your cycle can help you better predict when you’ll ovulate. Some doctors recommend having sex every other day to predict when you’re most fertile without guessing. If this doesn’t seem realistic, “you can also buy an ovulation predictor kit and only have sex when the test tells you to,” says Dr. Hakaca.
