Hand on heart, do you know which days of the month you can get pregnant? Maybe it’s only once you’re planning to have children that you start to take an interest in female fertility, ovulation and the menstrual cycle. In that case: better late than never! In this article we go into everything you need to know to get pregnant.

When can you get pregnant?
To understand your fertility and when you can get pregnant, you also need to understand your menstrual cycle and ovulation. The menstrual cycle lasts on average 28 days and consists of several phases. The first phase is from the first to the last day of your period. The second phase is from the last day of your period until ovulation, and the third phase is from ovulation until you get your period again. It is during ovulation that an egg can be fertilised by a sperm and lead to a pregnancy.

If you are planning to get pregnant or if you want to avoid a pregnancy, it can be helpful to chart your menstrual cycle to find out when ovulation occurs. You can most easily follow your menstrual cycle by using a menstrual cycle app, or by making notes in your calendar.

What is ovulation?
Ovulation usually occurs around day 14 of the menstrual cycle and it is possible that it will feel like a period pains, but it is also possible that you feel nothing at all.

At ovulation, an egg detaches from the ovary and enters the fallopian tube. There, the egg can be fertilised by sperm through sexual intercourse. Because sperm can survive up to five days, you can get pregnant even in the days before you ovulate. You can also get pregnant the day after ovulation, when the egg is “mature” within 24 hours of being released. Biologically, it is also at this point that women have the highest sex drive.

What does an irregular menstrual cycle mean?
The menstrual cycle can sometimes be irregular, this means that it may be, for example, 25 days one month and 35 the following month. For people wanting to get pregnant, it can be difficult to know when ovulation occurs. You can do an ovulation test to be extra sure, and these can be bought at the pharmacy.

Can you increase your chances of getting pregnant?
You can increase your chances of getting pregnant by understanding your menstrual cycle and ovulation, but also by making good and conscious lifestyle choices. This means eating a nutritious and balanced diet, incorporating movement and exercise into your everyday life and generally adopting healthy habits such as avoiding alcohol, tobacco and too much caffeine.

How long will it take to get pregnant?
There is no set time for how long it takes to get pregnant. For some it happens relatively quickly, for others it takes longer. Just because it is not happening as quickly as you had hoped does not mean that something is wrong.

If you have been trying to get pregnant for more than a year, you can try to find out the reason why you are not getting pregnant. Even after an examination, it is entirely possible that there may not be anything “wrong”, and that the conditions for having children are good.

There are studies that show a connection between different types of stress and infertility, although no precise research has been done. Worrying about not being able to get pregnant is a form of stress and strain on the body, so if you’re feeling anxious, it may be helpful to talk to someone to get all your feelings out. Setting aside more time for rest and activities that make you feel calm are also suggestions for reducing anxiety.