Understanding your menstrual cycle is one of the most important steps in knowing when you’re most likely to get pregnant. If you’re hoping to avoid pregnancy, learning how your cycle works can help you feel more in control of your reproductive health.
Read on to learn more about how your menstrual cycle works and when you’re most likely to get pregnant-or contact Avenue Women’s Center today to find a safe space to talk.
How Your Menstrual Cycle Works
Your menstrual cycle begins on the first day of your period and typically lasts between 21 and 35 days, although some women have shorter or longer cycles. Hormones in your body work together to prepare for the possibility of pregnancy each month.
The cycle is divided into several phases (Cleveland Clinic):
- Menses phase: When your period begins.
- Follicular phase: Starts when your period arrives and ends when you ovulate. Your body produces more estrogen, and eggs begin maturing in your ovaries.
- Ovulation: One of your ovaries releases an egg. This happens about halfway through the menstrual cycle and is the most important phase when it comes to getting pregnant.
- Luteal phase: Makes up the second half of the menstrual cycle. After ovulation, your body prepares for a possible pregnancy. As the egg passes through the fallopian tube toward the uterus, the hormone progesterone increases. This creates the right environment inside the uterus for a new pregnancy.
What is Ovulation?
Ovulation is when a mature egg is released from the ovary, typically around the middle of your cycle (days 12-16 for a 28-day cycle). This is your most fertile window. The egg survives for about 12 to 24 hours, and sperm can live inside the female body for up to five days. That means your chances of becoming pregnant are highest during the five days leading up to and including the day of ovulation.
Signs of ovulation can include:
- Mild cramping or twinges of pain (Cleveland Clinic)
- A change in cervical mucus (it becomes clear and stretchy like egg whites) (Mayo Clinic).
- A slight increase in basal body temperature (Mayo Clinic)
- Increased libido (Cleveland Clinic)
Understanding your body’s natural signals can help you identify your most fertile days.
Think You Might Be Pregnant?
If you’ve recently had unprotected sex and think you might be pregnant, Avenue Women’s Center is here to help. We offer free, confidential pregnancy tests and follow-up ultrasounds if you qualify to confirm a pregnancy and provide accurate information about how far along you may be.
Our caring team is here to support you every step of the way, answering your questions and helping you explore your options in a compassionate and non-judgmental environment.
Contact us today to schedule your free, confidential appointment. You’re not alone- —we’re here for you.
The information provided here is general in nature. It is not a substitute for a consultation with a medical professional. Before any medical procedure, it is imperative that you discuss your personal medical history, risks, and concerns with your doctor. If you have questions during or after a procedure, your doctor should be immediately contacted. Avenue Women’s Center is not an emergency center. If you are experiencing severe symptoms, such as bleeding and/or pain, seek immediate medical attention. Contact your physician, go to an emergency room, or call 911.