How long after your menstrual cycle are you fertile?

How long is my menstrual cycle, charting TTC? Help please!!!?

• If i want to chart my cycles. Do i use the average length? They were as follow 19 March, 12 April and 9 May. 19 March to 12 April was 24days and 12 April to 9 May was 27days (according to baby med cycle regularity tool) the average for these cycles is 26days. Do i use the average when charting fertile window or what? TTC #1 :) Baby dust to all you ladies out there!!!

• Answer:

  It's difficult to hae an accurate "average" with only two months worth of charting. However, it does give you an idea of when you may be ovulating. Women generally ovulate 12-16 days before their next period is due. Subtract 16 days from your shortest cycle (24 - 16 = 8) and subtract 12 days from your longest cycle (27 - 12 = 15). Therefore, your "fertile window" lies between CD8 and CD15. It is best to have sex every 36-48 hours during the fertile window, as men need that much time to get their sperm count up again. There are other signs of ovulation you can look for as well. Your cervix will generally be high, open, soft & wet when you're ovulating, and your cervical mucus will look and feel like raw egg whites. Some women feel slight twinges on either the right or left ovary during ovulation. Also, I would recommend charting your basal body temperature as well. When your temperature rises at least .4 degrees, it means that you have ovulated. By then you may have missed your window of opportunity, but at least you will know for next month when you usually ovulate. A good reason to track your temperature is to find out if you have a luteal phase defect. This happens when there are less than 10-12 days between ovulation and your period. Your body does not produce enough progesterone, and you will need to supplement from ovulation to 12 weeks pregnant. Hopefully this isn't the case for you, though!