10 things you need to know about ovulation
The decision to have a baby is one of the biggest you'll ever make, and after making that step you'll want things to go as smoothly as possible.
Understanding your ovulation cycle is the first thing to get your head round. Use our ovulation calculator to work out when you're ovulating. Then there are 10 things about ovulation every woman needs to know.
Read through our step-by-step guide, but first take note of our fertility facts.
Fertility facts
* The average age for having a first baby in the UK is now 30.
* A woman in her early twenties has double the chance of getting pregnant compared to a woman in her thirties.
* Four out of 10 healthy couples in their thirties will take more than 12 months to conceive.
* The quantity and quality of your eggs decline with age. Women in their twenties generally have good quality eggs, but after 35 years the quality decreases.
* Every baby girl is born with all her eggs intact in her ovaries, around 300,000 to 400,000. When she reaches puberty an egg will be released each month.
By Julia Shaw
2 months
paula
hi im 33 have pcos and long for another child. i found out i have pcos 5 years ago when trying for my son.
i was told i wasnt ovulating. and was given clomid to start. with luck i didnt need to take then as i fell with out
at that time i didnt have ant signs of ovulating.. and now im trying again i still dont have ant signs.
could i still become pregnant with out these signs.
many thanks
p baldwin