by Shola Oslo

A fertility calculator can help you pinpoint when you’re next going to ovulate. What is a fertility calc, you ask? It’s not a technical gadget that requires a degree to operate… it’s a simple online calculator that lets you plug in a few numbers to work out the best time to conceive.

There’s only a short window of time to conceive in your cycle, so fertility calculators offer a simple way to target your conception efforts to reach your goal of getting pregnant fast.

So, how do you use a fertility calculator to get pregnant? Whether or not you decide to do it yourself with a calendar or use software available online, you will still need to know some very important dates and numbers. Most fertility calculators online ask you 2-3 questions and these questions are straight forward they must be accurate to calculate ovulation correctly.

You’ll need to enter the date your period started last month, the length of your cycle and an approximation of your luteal phase length.

Hopefully, you’ll be taking records of your menstrual cycle (this is important if you’re planning on getting pregnant) so it will be pretty easy to use the calc program. The cycle length is worked out by counting the days in between each period, so that’s no big deal for you.

What’s a luteal phase? It’s the second half of your menstrual cycle that occurs once you have already ovulated. It can last anywhere from 10 days to 16 days, and it’s not as easy to work out, because you need to have an idea of when you’re ovulating.

Don’t worry if it sounds too difficult! The majority of online calculators require only the most basic of information, so if you find one that wants information you can’t give, just move on to the next calculator.

The ultra low tech way to get your fertile dates is to use your diary or pda, and enter your cycle start dates as a diary entry. Then, all you need to do is subtract 14 from the predicted date of your next period, and voila - you have an ovulation date. Of course, this is not accurate, so assume you might be fertile + or - a couple of days of that date.

The best way to narrow this down is to check your basal body temperature, and pay attention your vaginal secretions they will change during ovulation. If you can narrow this down and find the exact day of ovulation it will make using a fertility calculator to get pregnant a much more reliable source, increasing your chances of conception greatly.

So now you know how to use a fertility calculator to increase your chances of getting pregnant. Keep reading, because in a minute, I’ll share with you a link to a free fertility calculator that won’t require you to enter information on your luteal phase.

About the Author: