Sex - when is the right time?
Wondering when to have sex to conceive a baby? Wondering when to have sex if you're looking at a positive ovulation test? This guide is here to turn your quest for pregnancy into an exciting and enlightened adventure. We want to answer all your questions so that you can maximise your chances of conceiving! Discover how a little ovulation test can become your partner in this adventure together, adding a touch of magic and science to your journey towards becoming parents. Get ready to plunge into a world where timing and love are intertwined in the most joyful way.
Understanding the menstrual cycle
Let's start with a journey through the female cycle to better understand the magic of the steps that regulate the human body.
Day 1 : Day 1 begins with the first day of your period. The top layer of your uterine lining breaks down. Bleeding lasts about 5 days. The FSH hormone, which stimulates the follicles, builds up in the pituitary gland. This FSH hormone then sends a very important message to the eggs: "Up and at 'em!
Generally speaking, on day 7, the bleeding has stopped. The follicles surrounding the oocyte have developed. Well-filled with fluid, they provide close protection for the egg. They can be clearly seen with an ultrasound scan. Their role is vital because they produce oestrogen, the true love hormone. In fact, over the course of the month, you will notice that your desire increases in proportion to the level of oestrogen.
Between the Days 7 and 14A follicle will continue to develop until it reaches maturity. The uterine lining rebuilds itself and prepares for the eventual implantation of a little guest. So you're in a great mood and life is just too good? Thank your hormones! In the first half of the cycle, under the influence of oestrogen, the mood is lighter, decisions are easier to make and sleep is peaceful. It's at the moment of ovulation that it reaches its peak. Finally, the liquid cervical mucus (food for the spermatozoa on their way to the egg), which until then had been thick and sticky, gradually becomes clearer and more liquid. As a result, it becomes increasingly permeable to sperm.
Understanding ovulation
Around day 14 (for an average 28-day cycle), oestrogen reaches its peak and luteinising hormone (LH) triggers ovulation. The follicle will hatch and the egg can be released: a process we call ovulation.
If you've taken an ovulation test, it's this luteinizing hormone (LH) that the test has detected. We recommend that you use an ovulation test every day since your 10th cycle day. The test line darkens as the level of LH in the urine rises, indicating the approach of ovulation. A dark line, similar to or darker than the control line, suggests a peak. of LHsignaling ovulation. This is the moment when the egg will be released to perhaps meet a spermatozoon.
As you've guessed, it's during this period that the egg can be fertilized by a sperm. Sex should be made BEFORE and DURING ovulation, ideally 3 to 5 days before ovulation, as sperm can survive in the female genital tract for up to 5 days. In this way, they are already present when the egg is released, increasing the chances of fertilization.
When should you make love if you have a positive ovulation test? You need to get to know your cycle through ovulation tests and start making love 3 to 5 days before your ovulation day. That's when you'll have the best chance of conceiving a baby and getting pregnant!
The ovum is released - Over the next few days, the ovum makes its way to the uterus, aided by vibratory cilia. Now it gets exciting: will it meet a sperm on its way? Will it produce a baby? Or will his life soon come to an end?
If the egg is fertilized, it will now travel down the Fallopian tube to the uterus. Its journey will take 4 to 5 days, before it finally creates a nest in the uterus (implantation). Estrogen has given way to progesterone. Its mission: to soften the uterine lining, store water and valuable nutrients such as sugar, proteins, vitamins and antibodies. It's all part of preparing the place where your little darling will develop.
Understanding fertilization
Fertilization and egg implantation : Once implanted, the ovum begins to secrete chorionic gonadotropin hormone (HCG), also known as the "pregnancy hormone". This keeps the corpus luteum active, enabling it to continue secreting estrogen and progesterone. Your pregnancy has just begun! This is when you can take a pregnancy test to detect this hormone. Your pregnancy test will then be positive.
If the egg is not fertilized, the corpus luteum will stop producing progesterone and will be evacuated with the next period. Hormone levels will fall around day 25, and a new cycle will begin.
How do ovulation tests work?
Visit ovulation tests work by detecting the peak of luteinizing hormone (LH) in the urine, which precedes ovulation. When LH levels rise, this indicates that ovulation is imminent, usually within 24 to 36 hours. To interpret the results, compare the color of the test line with that of the control line. A test line as dark as or darker than the control line suggests a peak in LH, indicating the time of your ovulation.
To do this, you'll need several ovulation tests a month, so you can track your LH levels and find out on which day they're highest (by comparing them with other days).
That's why we've created a monthly pack of 6 Plusbaby ovulation tests. This allows you to start testing a few days before your expected ovulation date, based on the length of your cycle. Test at the same time every day. If you don't see an LH peak, continue testing daily until you've used up all 6 tests. If you do detect a peak, this indicates that your most fertile period is in the next few days.
To use Plusbaby ovulation tests, it is advisable to perform them later in the day, as LH levels may be higher after waking up. It's important to always perform the test at the same time. It is not advisable to drink a lot of liquid before the test, as this can dilute the urine and affect the results. Keeping tests from day to day to compare the test line can be useful to visualize the evolution and detect the LH peak more easily.
How to use ovulation tests?
For a thorough interpretation of ovulation test results, the key lies in analyzing the test line. A progressive increase in the intensity of this line indicates a rise in luteinizing hormone (LH), culminating in a line as dark as or darker than the control line, signalling that ovulation is very close (within 24 hours). This fertile window, just before and after the LH peak, represents the ideal period for maximizing the chances of conception. Ideally, you should have intercourse 2-3 days before the LH peak, and also on the day when the peak is highest
What other factors need to be considered?
Fertility can be influenced by several factors in addition to ovulatory timing. Age plays a crucial role, with female fertility generally declining after the age of 35. Overall health, including conditions such as polycystic ovary syndrome or endometriosis, can also impact fertility. Finally, lifestyle, including diet, exercise, smoking and alcohol consumption, has a notable effect on the ability to conceive.
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a hormonal disorder affecting the ovaries, which can interfere with ovulation. Endometriosis is characterized by the growth of endometrial tissue outside the uterus, which can cause pain and infertility. For those affected, it is advisable to consult a fertility specialist for suitable treatments, such as hormone regulation for PCOS or surgery for endometriosis, to complement a healthy lifestyle.
How can you optimize your design chances?
To optimize the chances of conception, understanding the ovulatory cycle and the judicious use of ovulation tests are essential. It's crucial to understand the ovulatory cycle and to engage in intercourse 3 to 5 days before the LH peak, right up to the day of ovulation, as detected by the ovulation tests. This approach, aligned with medical recommendations and the insights provided by Plusbaby tests, underlines the importance of planning according to individual biology. By taking personal factors into account and following the right advice, couples can improve their journey towards conception.
Factors such as age, reproductive health and lifestyle also influence fertility. In the case of conditions such as PCOS or endometriosis, medical consultation is recommended. Adopting a healthy lifestyle and using ovulation tests strategically will maximize your chances of pregnancy.
