5 Main Signs Of Fertility To Look Out For!

Perhaps you and your partner have been trying for a baby but are not too sure if you are maximising your chances of conceiving. The best way to do this is to know when you are fertile in each cycle. The question is, how should you go about it?

Well, it all starts by looking out for ovulation signs! Although these signs are more beneficial to women trying to conceive, all women can benefit from monitoring ovulation as it is a vital sign of good general health and an indication of whether you are suffering from an infection.

The following are signs of fertility to look out for monthly:

Fertile cervical mucus

Like we always say, your vaginal discharge is your friend! In this case, we are talking about fertile vaginal discharge. It is usually watery and clear, like raw egg white, seen during your ovulation day. You can learn more about it in the Vaginal Discharge - Should I Worry? post. This change in the cervical mucus during your fertile window, specifically during ovulation, happens in order to create a favourable environment for sperm to swim and reach the egg. If you are trying to conceive, be keen on checking cervical mucus.

You can always track these changes in the Grace app so you do not miss a thing.

Increased sex drive

Do you ever feel hornier at certain times of your cycle? This mainly happens when entering your fertile window and before you ovulate. Our bodies are so cool that we get an increased sex drive when we are most likely to conceive thanks to a jump in hormone levels such as estrogen and progesterone. You will also have subtle body changes that make you feel a little sexier and more appealing to your partner. Probably the most exciting sign of fertility, right?

Change in cervical position

Change? Yes, if you did not know the cervical position changes throughout your cycle. In one of the blog posts, we looked at why and when the changes happen as well as how to check for your current cervical position. You can check out the How to find your cervix post for a step by step guide. For now, what’s most important for you to grasp is that during ovulation, the cervical position becomes higher, softer and more open. Again, this is all to help the sperm swim easily and reach the egg.

Increased basal body temperature

Your "basal body temperature" is your temperature when the body is fully at rest. Ovulation may cause a slight increase in basal body temperature and you’ll be most fertile two to three days before the temperature rise. For women trying to conceive, tracking your basal body temperature around the time of your fertile window can help you predict when you will ovulate. This helps increase your chances to conceive.

A positive result from your ovulation predictor

Ovulation predictor kits are special sticks that you pee on to determine if there has been a surge of the luteinising hormone. Why luteinising hormone? It triggers the release of an egg from the ovary which we know as ovulation. A positive result using this predictor kit indicates that you could expect to ovulate within 36 hours from when you take the test. You can aim to have sex on the day of the surge and the following two days after. To get an ovulation predictor kit, check at your local pharmacy and follow the instructions on the pack to use it.

Remember the Grace app helps you predict when you’ll ovulate and the ovulation kit will help you confirm the same thing when it is about to happen.

Other signs to look for:

• Breast tenderness - while sore breasts can’t predict when you’ll ovulate, they may hint at the fact that ovulation occurred that month, which can be a reassuring sign of fertility.

• Increased sense of smell - A study showed that women's scents sharpen near the time of ovulation and they become sensitive to musky scents.

As we have seen, the female body is simply amazing. Your body, through signs and symptoms, will communicate to you when you are fertile. All that’s left for you to do is to know these signs and symptoms, look out for them and track them with Grace to predict the best time to conceive. Should you not see some of these signs do not panic! Remember not to diagnose yourself and always seek medical attention if this persists.

How many of these signs do you notice monthly? Share in the comments Stay informed, stay in control.

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