When you are trying to conceive, it is never a bad idea to keep a fertility calendar so you can be aware of your most fertile days, and your calendar can be as simple or as in-depth as you’d like. If you keep track of your body basal temperature, which is your body’s temperature at complete rest, you can find out when exactly you are ovulating. It can also help you find out if your ovulation is abnormal, so you can share the information with your doctor.
If you are tracking your basal body temperature, you will need to use a graph chart. If not, you can use a simple wall calendar. There are also many mobile apps available to help you keep track of your fertility.
Why Should You Keep a Calendar?
While keeping a fertility calendar can help you know when you are ovulating and whether or not your ovulation is normal, it can also help show your doctor that you have been having intercourse timed for ovulation. If you have been doing so for six months with no luck, your doctor may be able to start investigating. Keeping a fertility calendar can also help you plan. For example, if you have to plan a trip, you can try to plan it around your ovulation.
Fertility Signs to Track
You don’t have to track every single thing on your fertility calendar; at the least, track the first day of your periods. However, tracking more fertility signs will help you discover your fertile window. Consider tracking signs such as:
- Body basal temperature
- Sexual mood
- Ovulation pain
- Unusual symptoms such as headache, nausea, fatigue, or bad cramps
- Sexual activity
- Things that can throw off your cycle, such as travel, illness, or extreme stress
This does not mean that you have to track all of the above. Consider it a list of options that you can choose from to track what will be most helpful to you. Keeping a fertility calendar will help you time sexual intercourse for pregnancy, but if you end up trying for longer than you expected, you can share the information with your doctor.
NCCRM
The North Carolina Center for Reproductive Medicine/Talbert Fertility Institute is the premiere center for reproductive health in North Carolina and the East Coast. Our team specializes in fertility testing, diagnosis, and treatment of infertility conditions. We’re experts in IVF, Tubal Ligation Reversal, Male Infertility, Intrauterine Insemination (IUI), Gestation Surrogacy, Family Balancing, and more. Contact us today.
