Trying to become pregnant can be a difficult process for women who have fertility problems. Though there are several different levels of fertility issues and many ways you can handle them, one of the best ways of doing so is by knowing when you ovulate. Knowledge of your date of ovulation each month is also helpful for those women who are trying to avoid becoming pregnant. While just knowing your ovulation dates is not the best way to prevent pregnancy, it is a helpful tool for doing so.
Record the first day of the last period you had (the date that you began your last menstrual cycle).
Make a note of the average amount of days in your personal menstrual cycle. Understand that your menstrual cycle starts on the first day of your period and finishes on the last day before you start your next period. Calculate your normal menstrual cycle by keeping track of it for a time frame of several months. Be aware that your cycle can vary each month. Average the amount of your cycles over a span of three to four months to discover the length of your average menstrual cycle.
Be aware that women normally ovulate 14 days before the beginning of a menstrual cycle. For example, a woman with a 28-day cycle will likely ovulate on the 14th day of her cycle; a woman with a 30-day cycle will probably ovulate on the 16th day of her cycle.
Use ovulation calculators available online to view your predicted dates of ovulation. You can utilize sites such as The Imperfect Parent and Ovulation-Calculator to get your ovulation date calculated for you (see Resources). Be prepared to provide the first day of your latest period and your average menstrual cycle length to receive results.
Observe your vaginal discharge. When you approach ovulation, your vaginal discharge will become more clear and watery and wetter and thicker on your actual day of ovulation. Following ovulation this discharge will feel slightly sticky.