The first day of your period, mark the number “1” on the calendar for that day. The first day of your next period, mark a “1” on the calendar that day, and mark the number of days in your last cycle on the day prior. Ovulation (releasing an egg from the ovary) typically occurs during the midpoint of your cycle. For example, in a typical 28 day cycle, ovulation tends to occur on day 14. In a 30 day cycle, ovulation should be expected on day 15. You can begin attempts to get pregnant before the end of your first cycle of course. Obviously, you should quit birth control before you try to get pregnant. Have sex more frequently within a few days of this midpoint to increase chances of pregnancy.
Start using OPK sticks two days before the midpoint of your cycle, and continue using them until you either have a positive result or start your next cycle. Use them once per day. Cheap, generic sticks are usually adequate. They look like pregnancy tests and you can either pee on the wick at the end or immerse it in pee in a cup (read the actual instructions). Try to use the OPK sticks at the same time each day. Ovulation can vary widely between cycles and different women. Mark your OPK test results on the calendar for each day. It’s important to know that they detect something called the LH surge (luteinizing hormone) from the pituitary gland in your brain that tells your ovaries it is time to ovulate. It doesn’t happen immediately however, the LH surge precedes actual ovulation by 24 to 36 hours. Have sex after a positive OPK test. Because the OPK test will register as positive prior to actual ovulation, you can wait up to 12 hours before having sex. However, having sex early will not decrease your chances of pregnancy, as long as you continue having sex regularly during ovulation.
Sticky or scant findings indicate you are probably not ovulating yet. Creamy consistency indicates you may ovulate soon. Wet, watery, or stretchy mucous indicates ovulation is likely very close. Very wet mucous that can stretch between your fingers for an inch or more indicates ovulation is right around the corner or in progress. This is the ideal time for intercourse. This type of mucous is like a superhighway for sperm to cruise up into the cervix and reproductive tract. At the cervix, sperm is chemically changed, or capacitized, to enable it to fertilize the egg. This process takes about 12 hours, so in order to co-ordinate actual ovulation with capacitized sperm, wait 12 hours after your positive OPK test before you have sex again. This will time your actual ovulation with the maximum number of live capacitized sperm in your system.
In order to measure your basal body temperature, you must take your temperature with a basal thermometer (a thermometer with a very fine scale) right after awakening in the morning. During ovulation, basal body temperature increases by 0. 1 or 0. 2 degrees, and is sustained at this level until the next cycle begins. By regularly charting your temperature, you will be able to predict when you are likely to next ovulate.
Fertile cervical mucous will flow from your cervix into the Instead Cup covered in a film of semen. This will maximize the effectiveness of both your cervical mucous and your partners semen, which will liquify after about an hour when sperm will enter the cervical mucous and into your reproductive tract.
If hooking your finger under the bottom lip and pulling doesn’t work for you, break the seal at the top by poking it with a finger and pull it down and out. Putting your legs up to your chest and bearing down may help also.
