Period of fertility: what is it?
The period of fertility, or fertility, is the phase during which a woman can become pregnant. "It corresponds to the days during which the probability of conceiving a baby is optimal.", explains the midwife.
What are the fertile days to get pregnant?
"The fertile window begins 3 days before ovulation and increases until ovulation and then stops. It is therefore a fairly short period.", details the professional. To know your fertile period, you have to know the length of your cycles to be able to calculate your ovulation date.
How to calculate your fertile period?
If we generally assume that the length of the menstrual cycle is 28 days, this is in fact arbitrary data. Some women have short cycles (between 21 and 23 days), others have long cycles (up to 35 days). Not having a 28-day cycle is in no way a sign of any pathology or an indication of difficulty conceiving. From the moment you know the length of your cycle, here is how to calculate your fertile period.
The menstrual cycle is made up of 3 phases: the follicular phase (approximately 14 days, including several days of menstruation), ovulation and the luteal phase (approximately 14 days). Ovulation is the expulsion of an oocyte from the ovary. This oocyte has a lifespan of 12 to 24 hours, while the sperm can survive in the cervix and remain fertilizing for 3 to 5 days.
- For a 28 day cycle, ovulation will take place on D14 and the fertility period will therefore last from D11 to D15.
- For a 30 day cycle, ovulation will take place on D16 and the fertility period will therefore last from D13 to D17.
- For a 25 day cycle, ovulation will take place on D11 and the fertility period will therefore last from D9 to D12.
Be careful, however, that having sex during the fertile window does not mean that there will be pregnancy. According to data from the Biomedicine Agency, the probability of achieving pregnancy by having sex at the right time is only 25% per cycle between 20 and 25 years. We go to about 12% chance between 30 and 35 years old and to 6% chance after 40 years.
What is the most fertile age for a woman?
"We know that from the age of 35, women's fertility declines rapidly. This is why we speak of a biological clock. Fertility peaks at age 20, then begins to decline at age 30 and more rapidly from age 35", details the midwife. This does not mean that a woman of 38, or 40, will not be able to get pregnant.. But she is statistically less likely to achieve a pregnancy naturally per cycle.
Thanks to Elise, midwife.
Read also :
⋙ This good habit may well boost your fertility
⋙ Ovulation test: when to take the test and how to use it?
⋙ Secondary infertility: why do some parents struggle to have other children?