Sometimes, having an irregular menstrual cycle can be a scourge for women (especially for those who are planning a pregnancy). Menstrual cycle irregularities have a direct impact on the difficulty of predicting ovulation, which is the time when your ovaries release eggs that can be fertilized by sperm. Normally, ovulation in women is very short (about 12-14 hours), so ideally, fertilization should occur during that time window (or 6 days before and 1 day after ovulation) if you are to increase your chances of getting pregnant. So what if your periods are irregular? Don't worry, there are some simple methods you can use to calculate your ovulation period if your menstrual cycle is irregular. There are many things that cause the menstrual cycle to change, such as illness, stress, taking birth control pills, etc. However, remember that irregular menstrual cycles are sometimes an indicator of a serious disease (such as polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), prediabetes, or thyroid disorders). So if your period is always irregular, make sure you first consult a pregnancy plan with your doctor.
Step
Method 1 of 2: Monitoring the Signals Your Body Gives
Step 1. Take your body temperature
During ovulation, your basal body temperature (BBT) will increase. Therefore, make sure you always measure your SBT every morning for a few months to monitor for specific patterns.
- Measure your SBT as soon as you wake up in the morning and record the results in a special calendar that is easily accessible to you. For accurate SBT monitoring results, as much as possible measure your SBT at the same time every day. Before getting out of bed, review your SBT results to anticipate possible ovulation that day.
- Normally, the SBT number will always stabilize at the beginning of the menstrual cycle, then decrease just before ovulation begins. When a woman is ovulating, the increase in progesterone levels in the body causes her SBT to also spike. If you're planning a pregnancy, the best time to have sex is two days before ovulation – just before your temperature rises. Sperm takes time to fertilize an egg; As a result, if you have sex on the exact day of ovulation, you only have about a 5% chance of getting pregnant.
Step 2. Observe your cervical mucus
Every month, your vagina will secrete a fluid in the form of cervical mucus. The color and texture of cervical mucus is highly dependent on the state of your hormones at that time. Therefore, if you want to monitor your menstrual cycle and calculate the time of ovulation, observing changes in the color and texture of cervical mucus is an important method that you should do.
- When you ovulate, your cervical mucus will become thinner and clearer. In addition, the texture is also slippery and stretchy like raw egg whites.
- Meanwhile, the color of cervical mucus on days other than ovulation tends to be cloudy white with varying consistency.
- Your vagina has brown spots a few days after your period? Don't worry, this situation is common and harmless. This is a sign that your vagina is cleaning up any remaining blood. Normally, the blood that comes out is not much and more like faint spots.
Step 3. Observe your cervix
The cervix is the tube that connects your vagina and uterus; When you ovulate, the texture and position of your cervix will change.
- Touch your cervix with one or two fingers, then record your observations regarding its position and texture.
- Early in your menstrual cycle, your cervix tends to be denser and easier to reach. When you are about to enter the ovulation period, the position of the cervix will be slightly higher (making it more difficult to reach), open, and the texture will be softer; This change occurs to facilitate sperm access to the egg.
- To touch the cervix, you need to insert your finger into the vagina. After a few centimeters, your fingertips will feel something shaped like a small donut at the tip of your vagina. That's your cervix.
- If you're not sure how to do this, read more here.
Step 4. Measure your hormone levels using an ovulation predictor / test kit
An ovulation predictor device is used to measure levels of luteinizing hormone (LH) which will increase sharply before ovulation.
- Similar to pregnancy test kits, ovulation predictor kits also work by measuring hormone levels in the urine. The test result will turn positive one day before you ovulate; Therefore, make sure you do this method several times in the middle of your menstrual cycle to get the most accurate results.
- Observing cervical mucus and monitoring vaginal discharge patterns can help you determine when to use an ovulation predictor kit. The ovulation predictor kit also provides guidance on when to do a urine test that is most appropriate based on the degree of your menstrual irregularity.
Method 2 of 2: Recording an Ovulation Chart
Step 1. Start taking notes on the first day of your period
The ovulation chart will work much more effectively when combined with the results of regular vaginal discharge and SBT observations. Even if your period is irregular, make sure you always start recording your ovulation chart on the first day of your period.
- The first day of menstruation is counted as the first day. If your menstrual cycle is irregular, it is likely that the cycle range is 21-35 days with a period of 2-7 days.
- Count the number of days before your period. When you start a new menstrual cycle, the first day of your period is counted again as the first day.
- Observe the range of your cycle over the last few months. After that, try to find what the average range is.
Step 2. Record your SBT every day
Create simple X and Y graphs; the X line contains temperature numbers that are 0.1°C apart (ranging from 36-37°C), and the Y line contains the days in your cycle.
- Each time you finish measuring the SBT, put a red dot at the correct coordinates. In this way, you can monitor the increase or decrease in SBT from day to day.
- Connect the dots to make it easier to see visually.
- When you ovulate, the previously stable SBT will drop and then spike drastically; this indicates that you are entering the two most fertile days of your cycle.
- You can view sample ovulation charts at BabyCenter.com.
Step 3. Add a description of your vaginal discharge from day to day
If necessary, provide special symbols that will make it easier for you to read the chart. For example, MK indicates a dry period that occurs for several days after menstruation and ovulation, MH indicates menstrual period, CN indicates normal vaginal discharge, and CO indicates smooth, clear, and stretchy ovulation fluid.
Compare your vaginal discharge observations with the previous cycle; observe any changes in the consistency of vaginal discharge at certain times in each cycle. This can provide important clues about variations in your menstrual cycle
Step 4. Observe the average results in the ovulation chart to find out when you are ovulating
If your periods are irregular, finding patterns that indicate your most fertile period is not easy. An ovulation chart will help you to observe specific patterns that appear throughout your cycle.
If your period is irregular, of course, a clear average result will be difficult to obtain. But at the very least, an ovulation chart helps you to make a better estimate
Step 5. Use an ovulation chart to monitor your period
The difficulty of monitoring the time of menstruation will certainly have an impact on the lack of preparation. Don't worry, the ovulation chart will help you to measure the length of your menstrual cycle based on the pattern of previous cycles.
You can also observe the average total menstrual time from the data; this really helps you to prepare for the following months
Tips
- For those of you who are planning a pregnancy, the best time to have sex is 6 days before ovulation and 1 day after ovulation.
- Unlike the egg which will only survive 24 hours after being released, sperm can last about 5-7 days in the woman's body.
