QuestionHi Mr. Edward,
I want to ask you regarding my menstrual cycle and my fertility.
how do i calculate my menstrual cycle and what are the normal menstrual cycle that usually women have that is healthy?some article that i read says that we need to count from the first day of our period until the last day before our next menstrual. However, other article also says that we need to calculate from the first day of our period, until the first day of our menstrual.and how do i know if i am fertile enough to have a baby or not?
thank you.
AnswerHello Izura,
Menstrual cycles are calculated from the first day of your period (first day of flow not spotting) until the next cycle starts (having the next period begins the next cycle). You count each day so that the first day of the period is cycle day #1, the next day is cycle day #2, etc. Most women have an average cycle day length of 28 days but this can vary plus or minus 7 days. The fertile days are usually 14 days from the end of the cycle, so that if you have a 28 day cycle, the ovulation occurs around cycle day #14, whereas with a 30 day cycle it occurs around cycle day #16. I usually recommend that patients start intercoruse two days prior to and two days after the expected ovulation day to make sure that sperm is there at the time of ovulation. Because you will be having intercourse 5 days in a row, you must stop intercourse three days prior to the day that you are going to start it.
The only way to evaluate fertility is to do fertility testing.
Good Luck,
Dr. Edward J. Ramirez, M.D., FACOG
Executive Medical Director
The Fertility and Gynecology Center
Monterey Bay IVF Program
www.montereybayivf.com
Monterey, California, U.S.A.
for additional information check out my blog at http://womenshealthandfertility.blogspot.com check me out on twitter with me at @montereybayivf and facebook @montereybayivf
