Understanding Your Menstrual Cycle

Home , Fertility, Menstrual cycle, Menstruation, Menstruation (mammal), Ovulation

NEW FERTILITY PATIENT REFERRALS ARE GUARANTEED AN APPOINTMENT WITHIN 10 WORKING DAYS WITH THE FIRST AVAILABLE SPECIALIST

after 6 months of trying to conceive and 80% within 12 months. months. 12 within 80% and conceive to trying of months 6 after hours. The sperm, however, can survive from 3–5 days. 3–5 from survive can however, sperm, The hours.

pregnant fall 60% average On pregnant. falling of chance 20% a Once the egg has been released it can survive for up to 24 24 to up for survive can it released been has egg the Once

With each menstrual cycle a normal, healthy, fertile couple has about about has couple fertile healthy, normal, a cycle menstrual each With

possible fertilised egg. egg. fertilised possible

prior to the egg being released. being egg the to prior Meanwhile, the lining of the uterus is prepared to receive a a receive to prepared is uterus the of lining the Meanwhile,

for the release of an egg. This will peak in the urine 24-36 hours hours 24-36 urine the in peak will This egg. an of release the for

not notice any of the above. the of any notice not amount of LH or Luteinising Hormone present, which is needed needed is which present, Hormone Luteinising or LH of amount

experience breast tenderness. However, some women may may women some However, tenderness. breast experience pregnant. They are a simple urine test and they detect the the detect they and test urine simple a are They pregnant.

and may also notice some abdominal bloating. They may also also may They bloating. abdominal some notice also may and accurately determine the time a woman is most likely to become become to likely most is woman a time the determine accurately

Some women may also experience slight pain during ovulation ovulation during pain slight experience also may women Some available in pharmacies and large supermarkets. They can help to to help can They supermarkets. large and pharmacies in available

allows the sperm to swim freely and last in this environment. environment. this in last and freely swim to sperm the allows Home ovulation kits are good predictors of ovulation and are are and ovulation of predictors good are kits ovulation Home

appearance of raw egg white. This mucus is sperm friendly and and friendly sperm is mucus This white. egg raw of appearance

to and during ovulation is recommended. recommended. is ovulation during and to thin, clear and slippery. It is often described as having the the having as described often is It slippery. and clear thin,

needed in the tubes to meet the egg, so regular intercourse prior prior intercourse regular so egg, the meet to tubes the in needed mucus will change from being sparse, cloudy and dense to to dense and cloudy sparse, being from change will mucus

and 14 etc. to increase her chances of conception. Fresh sperm is is sperm Fresh conception. of chances her increase to etc. 14 and You may notice some changes during ovulation. The cervical cervical The ovulation. during changes some notice may You

and ovulates on day 14 should have intercourse on days 9, 11, 13 13 11, 9, days on intercourse have should 14 day on ovulates and

much harder to calculate ovulation. calculate to harder much throughout the fertile period. So a woman who has a 28-day cycle cycle 28-day a has who woman a So period. fertile the throughout

If your cycle is irregular and changes length each month it is is it month each length changes and irregular is cycle your If recommended you have unprotected intercourse every 2-days 2-days every intercourse unprotected have you recommended

To optimise your chance of becoming pregnant, it is is it pregnant, becoming of chance your optimise To

days long then ovulation will occur around day 14. day around occur will ovulation then long days

Optimising Conception Optimising

then ovulation will occur around day 18, or if your cycle is 28 28 is cycle your if or 18, day around occur will ovulation then

days from the end of the cycle. So if your cycle is 32-days long long 32-days is cycle your if So cycle. the of end the from days

month, then you can calculate ovulation by counting back 14 14 back counting by ovulation calculate can you then month,

If your period is regular and the length is the same every every same the is length the and regular is period your If

menstrual cycle. menstrual

woman’s a of time fertile the is and ovary the from egg an

u v l O

a t will be around day 14 of her cycle. Ovulation is the release of of release the is Ovulation cycle. her of 14 day around be will i o n

Assuming the woman has a 28-day cycle, her time of ovulation ovulation of time her cycle, 28-day a has woman the Assuming

16 13

17 12

lining called the endometrium. the called lining

18 11

hormones are causing the womb (uterus) to actively shed the the shed actively to (uterus) womb the causing are hormones

(usually on day 14) day on (usually

19 10 Ovulation occurs Ovulation

3–7 days. Period pain usually occurs in the first few days as as days few first the in occurs usually pain Period days. 3–7

20 this but this is the average. The “period” usually lasts between between lasts usually “period” The average. the is this but this 9

e L

s u again

a than longer or shorter vary may lengths Cycle bleed. to begin

thickens

21 e h 8

Uterus lining Uterus a P you day the or “period” the of 1 day begins and days 28–32

thicken P

22 l between somewhere is length cycle menstrual average The

7 h

continues to continues

u a

Uterus lining Uterus

occurs 6

o Usually, only one egg is released per cycle. per released is egg one only Usually,

menstruation F

breaks down, breaks

selected to become a possible candidate for release. for candidate possible a become to selected

24 5 Uterus lining Uterus

Each monthly menstrual cycle, between 20-30 eggs are are eggs 20-30 between cycle, menstrual monthly Each

25 4

a 26 3

28 1 n

M cycle they have around 400,000 left. 400,000 around have they cycle

in their ovaries. By the time they reach their first menstrual menstrual first their reach they time the By ovaries. their in

Females are born with approximately 2 million immature eggs eggs immature million 2 approximately with born are Females

Menstrual Cycle Menstrual

Understanding Your Your Understanding Menstrual Cycle Diagram Cycle Menstrual When Should I Seek Advice?

If you are a woman under 35 years of age... We recommend that you start to investigate your cause of infertility by making an appointment with one of our specialists after 12 months of regular unprotected intercourse.

If you are a woman aged between 35-40 years... It is recommended that you investigate the cause of infertility after six months of regular unprotected intercourse.

If you are a women aged 40 and over... It would be recommended that further investigations are commenced after three months of trying to get pregnant; as female age is one of the most important predictors of whether pregnancy will be achieved.

Single women or same-sex couples... Women or men who know they need or may require donor sperm, eggs or a surrogate should contact a fertility specialist once they are ready to start a family.

Women who want to preserve their fertility... The ideal age for a woman to consider egg freezing is under the age of 35 years; as this is when the eggs are the healthiest.

Where to now?

Get a referral from your GP, to one of our accredited specialists to book a fertility health check. Contact Us Call 1300 354 354 Email [email protected] Visit cityfertility.com.au MFS14 1015 1115