Planning to conceive requires paying attention to many details. A careful observation of the menstrual cycle is necessary to predict the most favourable time for conception. Thorough planning and tracking of the menstrual cycle and even going for a fertility test makes things a lot easier and may also save you from false alarms.
Read on to know the best time to take a pregnancy test to confirm your pregnancy.
Looking at ovulation and menstrual cycle
One menstrual cycle usually lasts for 28 days, although this period varies from one woman to another depending upon various health and lifestyle factors. The eggs are contained inside follicles (egg sacs) in the ovaries. When the egg matures, the follicle ruptures to release the egg. This stage is called ovulation which takes place around the 14th day of the cycle. However, the ovulation period also differs from one woman to another. Women need to pay close attention to their menstrual cycle since ovulation does not have any apparent symptoms.
Ovulation is the crucial stage of the cycle when the woman is most fertile, and there are higher chances of conceiving. Mostly, the period of 10 to 16 days before the commencement of the next menstrual cycle is when ovulation occurs. This timeframe is the most favourable time for conception. This window of time can differ for women who experience a menstrual cycle, which is shorter or longer than 28 days. For women who are trying to conceive, the time of ovulation and the period of 10 to 16 days before the start of the next cycle is the best time as the chances of fertilization are significantly very high. A fertility test can also assist you in your plans for conceiving.
You can use the period calculators available online, which help you track your menstrual cycle.
What are the signs of pregnancy?
The following are the most common and visible signs of pregnancy that you should note:
i. If you have missed your period, this is the earliest and one of the most obvious signs of pregnancy.
ii. Feeling nauseous (especially morning sickness) is also very common. Nausea is often accompanied by vomiting, and many women may start experiencing it after two weeks of conception.
iii. Hormonal changes after conception mark the onset of pregnancy. Tenderness of breasts and swelling of breasts is a common sign of pregnancy caused by these hormonal changes in the body.
iv. Women usually experience mood swings in the first trimester of the pregnancy triggered by the hormonal activities in the body.
v. Other common signs of pregnancy to look out for are fatigue, headache, constipation, etc.
It is to be noted that these symptoms can be caused by other conditions as well. Hence, you should the pregnancy test to confirm the pregnancy. If you are confused or are not able to conceive, you can consult some of the best fertility doctors in Bangalore.
When to take a test?
Pregnancy tests must be taken at an appropriate time. Pregnancy tests detect the presence of the hormone hCG (Human chorionic gonadotropin) to confirm if you are pregnant. Even after the fertilization process, the test may yield negative results if it’S too early. Only after the implantation has occurred and the production of hCG has begun, will the test results be positive.
According to experts, pregnancy tests should be taken around 12 to 14 days after ovulation. Once 8 to 10 days have passed after ovulation, the embryo gets implanted in the uterus. Thus, taking the test before this period may yield negative results. The recommended time to take the test for accurate detection is 12 to 14 days after ovulation. Moreover, to confirm the results and clear inconsistencies, the test should be retaken after two days.
If your dreams of experiencing parenthood are hindered by infertility, consult the best fertility doctors in Bangalore. With the help of fertility tests and other techniques, they will help you in diagnosing the problem and suggest alternate methods of conceiving.