Calculate Your Menstrual Cycle Length (Episode 3)
In this episode you will learn the following:
Some women have a monthly cycle, whilst for other women their cycle spans over two of even more months. Learn how to calculate your average cycle length so that you can use it to estimate when your next period is due and when you are due to ovulate which can help you plan when to try and conceive. If you are trying to get pregnant, this episode of the "How To Get Pregnant" series will help you learn the following:- How to calculate your cycle lengths and work out your average cycle length.
- The phases that the endometrium and ovary go through during each cycle.
- The Luteal phase and why it's important.
- Ovulation and when it occurs during your cycle.
- How to keep a record of your cycles.
- How measuring your basal body temperature (BBT) can help you learn when you ovulated.
- How to maximize your chances of falling pregnant.
About this Series
Dr Tash, leading fertility & pregnancy expert explains how to get pregnant. 1 in 6 couples struggle with getting pregnant after 12 months, this series digs deep in to how you can get pregnant naturally. Sperm and egg must meet within a small 12-24 hour window within the menstrual cycle. You will learn how you can maximize your chances of conceiving and increase your chances of getting pregnant faster.
Ovulation Calculator has produced this video series with leading fertility expert, Dr Natasha Andreadis (Dr Tash).
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Video Transcript
I'm Dr. Tash. Today we're going to be talking about how you work out your menstrual cycle length. The reason you want to know your menstrual cycle length is so that you know when you're ovulating. If you know when you're ovulating, you know when to have sex, and that means you're going to maximize the chances of you falling pregnant.
The menstrual cycle is a series of phases that the endometrium and the ovary go through. Essentially the ovary releases an egg after having gone through those steps, and the endometrium, the lining of the uterus has prepared itself to receive a fertilized egg. Part of the menstrual cycle is the luteal phase. That's the third phase of the ovarian cycle. During this phase, you've got something called the corpus luteum which is in your ovary, and it's pumping out a really important hormone called progesterone. And what progesterone does is it nourishes the endometrium, the lining of the uterus, as well as nourishing the embryo. It's really important to have a good corpus luteum, because without a good corpus luteum you're not getting enough progesterone and without that pregnancy is unlikely to be successful.
If you're serious about getting pregnant, you will need to know when you're ovulating. Ovulation occurs a couple of days before the luteal phase. So that really means you should be having sex in the days leading up to ovulation and on the day of ovulation.
I recommend you keep a clear diary of your menstrual cycle length, and that way over a few months, say 6 to 12, you can work out your average cycle length. Every woman is different. Now that you know your cycle length, you'll be able to figure out your luteal phase. And the way you can do that is by measuring your basal body temperature.
Basal body temperature is your body's lowest core temperature usually recorded in the morning after you've been asleep. Once you've measured your basal body temperature, over time you'll be able to see a pattern. And what happens is your temperature should rise after you've ovulated. And that temperature rise occurs in the luteal phase. That phase starts about two days after you've ovulated. It helps to know your basal body temperature, because it'll tell you when you're going to ovulate. It'll help you plan when to have sex, and to maximize your chances of falling pregnant.
