All you need to know about ovulation
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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 11 things about ovulation every woman needs to know.
Read through our step-by-step guide to getting pregnant, 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 20s has double the chance of getting pregnant compared to a woman in her 30s.
- 4 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 20s 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
Where to next?
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10 things to do before trying for a baby
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Determining the sex of your baby
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Ovulation calculator
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Print out and keep ovulation chart
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Things to do before trying for a baby: Dentist and folic acid
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Things to do before trying for a baby: Eat and know your cycle
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Things to do before trying for a baby: Have sex and check your man
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Things to do before trying for a baby: The Pill and your doctor
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Understanding your cycle
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What is the best age to have a baby?
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Your 20s
Please leave a comment, tip or story in the box below
farah, about 1 month
hi I would like to know if there is any way i can get ababy boy i have 2 beatiful girls so i would love to have abrother for my girls.
Report this commentArianne about 2 months, 5 months
i gave birth two months ago..i had ovulate last two weeks and i had sex last time without any protection. could i be get pregnant?
Report this commentsian-louise newton, 5 months
my daughter has just gne 2 in may. my periods are irregular and i lost a baby april last year how do i know if i can get pregnant after my loss as ive been trying for a month ans still havnt concieved??
Report this commentDeanna, 6 months
I am just wondering i am trying for a baby at the moment and it just isnt happening i have no idea when i ovulate so should i just do it every 2nd day of the month and see what happens.......i have a 5 year old son but would love a bubby girl...please help
Report this commentAMELIA JOHN, 6 months
I delievered a baby boy last year in august, but the baby died and i have been trying to get pregnant again for the past eight months.and again i have been having pains in stomach anytime it is getting close to m y period with heavy flow pls can u tell me what is wrong with me
Report this commentlindsey, 6 months
i have been trying for a baby for 14 months now,me and partner are healthy,ive recently taken two test which say negative as i am 2 months late with my period,im at a loose end and dont know what todo next,help!
Report this commentclaire, 7 months
i have realy irregular periods i can go for 3 moths with out onw. we have been tryin for a baby for 4 years now and nothing is happening. i have had test and they come back normal and yes he is fine i know that its me as pass partners have kids and i never got pregnat with them. im realy at a lose end now can any one please help me?
Report this commentstacay worral, 9 months
Hi i was wonderin if you can help me i'm 19 nearly 20 and me and my partner have been trying for a baby for three years now but still no luck cn you help me please i am worried somethink might be wrong with me and i went to the doctors and i explained to them but they won't help me and they said that i'm to young to be worrying about that please say that you can help me thanks
Report this commentReagan, 10 months
hi iv bin trying for a baby for at least over a year im only 20 do you think ther is something worng my periods are regular but nothing has happend
Report this commentDiane sinclair, 10 months
i already have 2 children but really want another one. my periods are regular, they come between the 3rd and 4th week from the start of my last one, but only last a day or 2. can this affect my chances of conceiving? also my husband did quite a lot of drugs in his youth, will that cause problems too?
Report this commentcarmen, 10 months
hello, i try to know when am ovulating but i can't,am looking for baby boy i need help to knowhow i work for that .
Report this commentchantell pasher, about 1 year
i am trying to have a babie and i am having truble with my ovulation i can not get it to come out right for me i would like to find out how to make it work for me will u please help me ...thank you
Report this commentMASOOD, about 1 year
HI I WANT ARTICLE ABOUT OVULATION TO IMPLANTATION OCCURES FOR LECTURE IN UNIVERSITY.THANKS
Report this commentmichelle, about 1 year
hi im 32 and trying to conceive my 3rd child after having the contraceptive injection having not had the injection since july and still not having regular periods im wondering how long it is all going to take
Report this commentgloria, about 1 year
how do i read my cycle is it from the first day of mensration or the last day
Report this commentjoanne richardson, about 1 year
i start with pain in my right lower abdomen from about the 12,13,14,15, day of my circle and get constipated could this be normal,need some advice
Report this commentmaria, about 1 year
i a have dificiltys to get pregnant , for 12 yaers the doctors say that everyting its o.k i had 2 ectopik pregnancys . what do you think i should ?
Report this commentnat, about 1 year
my periods r at difrent dates ow do i no im ovulating????????????????
Report this commentjacqueline herron, about 1 year
been trying for a baby for 4 yrs i had 2 misscarries i had to give birth this year afr easter found out it was a little girl we would like to try for another baby my son whos 8 its very hard don kow why things happen
Report this commenttammy, about 1 year
i have 2 children and have been trying to get pregnant since jan o7 my periods are short and painful can you give me any advise.
Report this commentpaula, about 1 year
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
Report this commenttesfre, about 1 year
i gave you thanks for your news letter.I got so many interestig advises so keet it over thanks
Report this commentcarol, about 1 year
sometimes my periods are irregular when do i kno when im ovulating?
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lin martin, about 1 month
i was on depo shot in october 2004 came of it in 2007 november and been on pregnacareplus since then and been having irregular periods. i became pregnant in january 2009 and had miscarriage in march 2009 since then am trying to get pregnant but is not happening i have one son from previouse relationship and he is 5yrs now. am about to get married very soon and i have been with my boy friend almost 4yrs now. i have been to see my doctor and he conduct series of test but everything is normal. pls help me as am really worried.
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