Page 131 - Sex Manual Ebook

PREDICTING OVULATION

1) The calendar method

If your cycle is regular – the same number of days each time – you

can try the calendar method (also known as the Standard Days

Method). To estimate when you'll ovulate, count back 14 days from

when you expect your next period. Your fertile window includes the

day you ovulate and the preceding five days. So, for example, if day 1

is the first day of your period and day 28 is the day before you expect

your next period, you'd be fertile on days 10 through 15. This

method is the easiest way to estimate your fertile window, but it's not

very accurate, even if you have a good idea of when your next period

will start. That's because ovulation rarely happens exactly 14 days

before menstruation. In one large study, the day of ovulation varied

from seven to 19 days before menstruation among women with 28-

day cycles. Ovulation happened 14 days before a period only 10

percent of the time. So you can see how it's possible to miss your

fertile window altogether using this method. On the other hand, it's

easy and free and worth a try, especially if you're not in a hurry to

conceive.