If you’re trying to conceive, one of the most important things you can do is understand your menstrual cycle and pinpoint your fertile window. This is the time during your cycle when you’re most likely to get pregnant, and by tracking key fertility signs, you can significantly improve your chances of conception.

Understanding Your Menstrual Cycle

Your menstrual cycle typically lasts between 22 and 36 days and consists of four phases:

• Menstrual Phase (Days 1-5): Your body sheds the uterine lining if pregnancy hasn’t occurred.

• Follicular Phase (Days 1-13/22): Your body prepares for ovulation by stimulating follicles in the ovaries, with one becoming dominant.  If you ovulate on the later side, this phase will last longer.  I have seen healthy pregnancies come from ovulation as late as day 30. 

• Ovulation (Day 14-23 in a 28-36day cycle): A mature egg is released and travels down the fallopian tube, where it can be fertilized.

• Luteal Phase (Days 15/24-28/36): This phase should always ideally last 12-14 days AFTER ovulation.  This is the phase when your body prepares for pregnancy. If your luteal phase (the period of time AFTER ovulation until your menstruation begins) is shorter than 12 days there may be a luteal phase defect/low progesterone.  At the end of your luteal phase, if fertilization doesn’t occur, hormone levels drop, triggering menstruation.

Identifying Your Fertile Window

Your fertile window includes the five days leading up to ovulation and the day of ovulation itself. Since sperm can live in the female reproductive tract for up to five days, having intercourse during this window increases your chances of conception. I always recommend to have intercourse BEFORE you ovulate, this way the sperm is up there and ready for the egg when its released.

Ways to track your fertile window:

✅ Basal Body Temperature (BBT): Your temperature rises slightly after ovulation—tracking it daily can help identify patterns.
✅ Cervical Mucus Changes: Fertile cervical mucus is clear, stretchy, and egg-white in consistency, signaling ovulation is near.
✅ Hormone + Ovulation Predictor Kits (OPKs): I do NOT recommend the at home tests that just pick up an LH surge as these are not reliable and ovulation can often be missed.  I strongly recommend testing at home with either the MIRA or the OOVA device as these testing kits check LH and progesterone.  We NEED to see a rise in progesterone AFTER ovulation to confirm ovulation.  For discounts on these kits, head HERE.                                      ✅ Tracking Apps & Calendars: These tools help monitor cycle lengths and identify ovulation trends but often work based on an algorithm and miscalculate actual ovulation. I do NOT recommend these.

Maximizing Your Fertility Naturally

To boost your chances of conception:

• Eat a fertility-friendly diet rich in folate, omega-3s, and antioxidants. (I cover this in detail in my books, Yes, You Can Get Pregnant and The Egg Quality Diet)

• Reduce stress through meditation, journaling, dancing, singing, walks in nature, acupuncture, and breathwork.

• Avoid exposure to environmental toxins that can disrupt hormonal balance. For all my Aimee Approved bath, beauty and household items, head HERE.

• Prioritize quality sleep and moderate exercise to support reproductive health. For all my tips on fertility and exercise, head HERE.

Final Thoughts

Understanding your cycle and recognizing your fertile window is one of the most empowering steps in your fertility journey. By tracking your fertility signs and making key lifestyle adjustments, you can optimize your chances of conceiving naturally.

If you want personalized guidance, I’d love to support you on this journey. Learn more about my Fertility Coaching Programs and let’s work together to get you closer to your baby dreams!