A menstrual period or menstruation is the time of the month when a woman bleeds, in order to discard her unused unfertilised egg, and the inner wall/lining of the uterus called the endometrium that the body built (Anticipating a pregnancy).
Read More
Tap here to set
CALCULATE
FAQs
Q. What do you mean by ‘most fertile days’?
A.
Also known as the fertility window, the most fertile days mark the days of your menstrual cycle when there is the highest possibility of you getting pregnant. During your most fertile days, your ovary will release a mature egg (on the day of ovulation), which will travel to your uterus via the fallopian tube. If you have unprotected sexual intercourse at this time, a healthy sperm can reach your egg, fertilise it, and mark the beginning of a pregnancy. If not, you will get your next period.
Q. Are ovulation calculations accurate?
A.
The method used for ovulation calculations is called Standard Days Method. It relies on your discipline in marking the date of period every month this will enable you to determine the duration of your menstrual cycle – ideally, it is 28 days. However, owing to a lot of external factors (like exercise or a lack thereof, diet, stress, quality of sleep, etc.), this duration can increase or decrease. Some women never get their periods regularly, and this can further throw off the calculations. However, ovulation calculations can be a good way to roughly estimate your most fertile period, and then take efforts to try and conceive.
Q. How do I know if I’m ovulating?
A.
Your body will go through certain changes close to ovulation. Here are some tips to follow and things you can watch out for:
Ovulation occurs mid-menstrual cycle. Depending on duration of your menstrual cycle, be on the watch out for any signs and symptoms around your possible day of ovulation. Some of the signs and symptoms include bloating, erect nipples, heaviness in the breasts, excess hunger or thirst, etc.
Watch out for Mittelschmerz, or ovulation cramps. Measure your basal body temperature around ovulation, there will be a slight spike in it (due to an increased level of progesterone in the body).
Look out for typical egg-white cervical mucus (EWCM), which marks the day of ovulation. This is the best time to try and get pregnant.
Maintain an ovulation calendar to understand the trend your body follows every month.
Q. Is there any pain felt during ovulation?
A.
Yes, but not by all women. Some women may experience Mittelschmerz, or ovulation cramps (the intensity of the cramps may vary from woman to woman). Ovulation cramps are typically felt on any one side of your lower abdomen, and can last between a couple and 24 hours.
Q. What are the chances of getting pregnant during the fertile days?
A.
The fertile days are your best chance of trying to get pregnant. Having said that, do remember that factors like lifestyle, age, health, etc. will affect your chances of actually conceiving. In addition, also remember that your partner’s overall health will affect your chances of getting pregnant too.
Q. What are the highest and lowest fertile days?
A.
The day prior to ovulation, and the day of ovulation, are your 2 most fertile days of the entire menstrual cycle – the so called ‘highest fertile days’. Fertility as such extends over a 7-day duration. Any time of the month apart from this fertile window is a low fertility day.
Q. What is Menstrual Period?
A.
A menstrual period is the time of the month when a woman bleeds, in order to discard her unused, unfertilised egg, and the inner wall/lining of the uterus called the endometrium that the body built (anticipating a pregnancy). Menstrual discharge (which contains blood along with the above products) leaves the body via the cervix, out of the vaginal opening. Typically a period lasts anywhere between 3 and 6 days. Any healthy woman who has achieved puberty will keep getting periods till she reaches menopause.
Q. How to calculate a menstrual cycle and period?
A.
The duration from Day 1 of your last period to one day before Day 1 of your coming period, is known as your menstrual cycle. Typically, it lasts 28 days. The total number of days you bleed is the duration of your period.
Q. Why is it important to track menstrual period?
A.
The most compelling reason to track menstrual periods is to avoid an unwanted and/or unplanned pregnancy, as well as to plan a pregnancy. Knowing your menstrual cycle well will enable you to engage in sexual activity as per your goal – to avoid a pregnancy or to get pregnant. Knowing your period well can also help diagnose early signs and symptoms of illnesses, since many health disorders impact your menstrual cycle. Some common health problems that can be diagnosed by observing changes in the menstrual cycle include thyroid issue, hormonal fluctuations, diabetes, liver problems, etc.
Q. Menstrual Period Calculator/Tracker – When is my period due?
A.
A menstrual period calculator can help you estimate the due date of your next period. It will help you determine the duration of your menstrual cycle, and thereby predict possible day of ovulation as well as Day 1 of your period. A period calculator can give you estimated due period dates for the next months all you need to provide is the first day of your last period and the average length of your menstrual cycle.
Q. How to use menstrual calculator?
A.
You need to give three inputs in a menstrual calculator for it to work:
1. The first day of your last menstrual period
2. The average duration of the last period
3. The average length of the menstrual cycle
Once you provide the above details, a menstrual calculator can help you know the next menstrual date, ovulation phase, and fertile phase. Imagine the freedom and control this can give you over your life!
Q. What is a period and why do we have them?
A.
A period is the process during which a reproductive woman’s body discards an unused, unfertilised egg, the endometrium, and some blood, because a pregnancy was not established.
When a girl gets a period for the first time, it marks the beginning of her reproductive life. Till she gets her first period, a girl cannot reproduce – she cannot become a mother or have babies.
However, a pregnancy can only be established if the mature egg produced by a woman’s body is fertilised by a healthy sperm – a process that will occur only if and when the woman has unprotected sexual intercourse with a healthy and reproductive man. If she does not, then body needs to get rid of all the things it produced, in anticipation of a pregnancy. This is why we get periods – to undo the changes the body made, expecting to get pregnant.
Q. What does a period feel like?
A.
Depending on what kind of sanitary product you use – sanitary napkin/pad, tampons, or menstrual cup – you may or may not actually ‘feel’ your period. A tampon and menstrual cup will both prevent your blood from flowing out of the body. A pad, on the other hand, will soak up the blood once it emerges from your vaginal opening (and may hence leave you feeling a bit damp or wet down there).
Apart from that, you may feel other symptoms like heaviness in your breasts, hardness in your nipples, irritability, cramps in your uterus, headache, nausea, etc.
Q. Does having your period smell?
A.
Menstrual discharge does not smell till it comes in contact with air. So, your period will not smell if you are using a tampon or a cup, but it might smell if you are using a pad. Make sure you change your pad as often as required to avoid this.
Q. Does having your period hurt?
A.
Menstruation (i.e. bleeding) doesn’t hurt, but periods are often accompanied with other symptoms that may make them a painful experience – cramps in the uterus, heaviness in the breasts, erect nipples, headaches, dizziness, etc.
Q. Is there anything I won’t be able to do when I have my period?
A.
Not really. If you do not experience too much pain, you can go about living through your period as you live through any other normal/ordinary day. However, if you bleed too much, or if you experience any symptoms, you may feel restricted in a few ways. Most women refrain from heavy physical activities and avoid getting wet (in the rain, or swimming, etc.).
Q. Will anyone notice when I have my period?
A.
Not unless you tell them! However, periods can affect your mood enough for people to make an educated guess. Also, if you are not careful, you might have a staining accident, which will give people a clear indication!
Q. How much blood do I lose during my period?
A.
The upper limit is 80ml – however, most women lose about 60ml blood. This is why it is important to eat healthy on your period, so that your body can replenish itself well.
Q. When will I stop having my period for good?
A.
Women usually stop getting periods in their late 40s, however some may as early as in their late 30s, while others may continue to get periods even in their 50s. This is known as menopause – when your ‘menses’ pause. Menopause marks the end of a woman’s reproductive ability.
Disclaimer
Disclaimer:
Firstcry Parenting - Period & Ovulation Calculator determines the probable dates for Period & Ovulation Cycle. Only your physician / Doctor can accurately determine your Period & Ovulation dates based on his / her knowledge of your medical history.
All the calculations are tentative and Firstcry won’t be responsible for any related consequences.
Reference:
The information on this website is of a general nature and available for educational purposes only and should not be construed as a substitute for advice from a medical professional or health care provider. Should you have any concerns about your health, or of that of your baby or child, please consult with your doctor. You also acknowledge that owing to the limited nature of communication possible on interactive elements on the site, any assistance, or response you receive is provided by the author alone. Parenting.Firstcry.com accepts no liability for any errors, omissions or misrepresentations. Your use of this site indicates your agreement to be bound by the Terms of Use.
© 2010-2023 www.FirstCry.com. All rights reserved. This website can be best viewed in resolution width of 1024 and above.