Family planning can be best when synced with ovulation. Each cycle is different, and so is the ovulation date. So, how would you know about the most fertile days? To learn, use this easy-to-use, free, and precise ovulation calculator. Make the best use of your menstrual clock to increase the chances of conception or prevent unintended pregnancies! 

How to use the ovulation calculator

To use our free ovulation calculator, you should know the date of the first day of your previous period. Enter the date and select the length of your menstrual cycle. You should count from the first day of your period to the day before the start of the next period to calculate the length of your menstrual cycle. Click on submit. The results will provide your ovulation date and the fertile window (the most fertile days in your cycle). 

Are ovulation calculators accurate

The accuracy of ovulation calculators depends on the information you provide. If your cycle is regular and you remember the dates correctly, you can get an almost precise ovulation period or fertile window. However, if you do not remember the exact details, chances of error exist, and the results can be average or inaccurate. 

How to calculate ovulation for irregular periods

If you have irregular periods (frequent changes in the length of the menstrual cycle), tracking your ovulation through a calculator can be harder. However, other indicators like clear, stretchy, and increased cervical mucus can help you track your ovulation. Even ovulation test kits can be helpful in such cases. 

You should also remember that irregular periods do not mean absent ovulation. So, chances of pregnancy always exist. You should not have unprotected sex if you do not intend to get pregnant, but if you want to conceive, read how to get pregnant with irregular periods to improve your chances of conceiving. 

Can I use an Ovulation Calculator if I have PCOS/PCOD?

Most of the women with PCOS/PCOD do not ovulate regularly. Sometimes, even if you have regular periods, ovulation can be missing. So, an ovulation calculator cannot be precise enough to detect fertile days in such cases.

However, you can consult a doctor to understand your menstrual cycle better. You should keep a track of your menstrual cycle to observe irregularities and patterns. 

You can also use ovulation predictor kits to test at home. These may not be accurate, but along with other signs of ovulation, like changes in cervical mucus and basal body temperature, you have better chances of predicting your fertile window correctly. 

Signs of ovulation

Your body goes through many changes throughout the menstrual cycle, including ovulation.  You can use these signs and the ovulation calculator to predict your fertile window correctly. The symptoms of ovulation are:

Changes in cervical mucus

The vaginal secretions increase and also get clear and stretchy. It is a sign of your fertile days. After ovulation, the discharge gets thick and cloudy. 

Change in basal body temperature

Your temperature at rest, or the basal body temperature, also rises during ovulation. You can check it every morning using a special thermometer to measure basal body temperature. Two to three days before the temperature increases are the most fertile ones. 

Ovulation pain

A woman suffering from cramps
A woman suffering from cramps

You can also experience cramps, also called ovulation pain, in the middle of your cycle. It causes pain on one side of your abdomen and can last up to 48 hours. 

Changes in cervical firmness

The cervix becomes soft, high, open, and wet during ovulation. It can also feel more sensitive. You may take some time to figure out such changes in your cervix. 

Secondary ovulation symptoms

Other noticeable changes during ovulation are light spotting, breast tenderness, bloating, increased sex drive, changed sense of taste, smell, or vision, loss of appetite, and headache. 

Best time to conceive

The best time to conceive is one day before ovulation. However, the fertile window lasts 6-7 days, five days before ovulation, the day of ovulation, and one day after. Having regular unprotected sex at this time is the best way to get pregnant naturally. Some women can conceive quickly, while others can take some time. You can use the above calculator, manually track your cycle, and watch for ovulation symptoms to figure out your fertile window. 

Natural ways of contraception

An ovulation calculator is also useful when trying natural family planning. To avoid unintended pregnancies, it is important to know your fertile window. Besides, you can use signs like basal body temperature and changes in cervical mucus or track your menstrual cycle to determine the fertile days. 

Once you do, you can avoid having unprotected sex during the fertile window. If you recently gave birth and are breastfeeding, continuing it for six months can delay ovulation. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do I need an ovulation calculator?

An ovulation calculator can help you predict your ovulation date and fertile window. So you can plan pregnancy accordingly. Even if you do not want to get pregnant, you can use ovulation as a method of natural planning and avoid unprotected sex at this time. 

Is there a formula to calculate the ovulation date? 

There is no exact ovulation formula. You can roughly calculate your ovulation date by subtracting 14 days from the expected date of your next period. However, each cycle can vary in length. You can use our precise ovulation calculator to find your ovulation date. 

Can the ovulation calculator be wrong? 

The ovulation calculator works according to the data you enter. So, if you add incorrect information, ovulation calculators can be wrong. Even in the case of irregular periods or problems like PCOS where ovulation is absent, an ovulation calculator cannot predict the ovulation date and fertile window. 

Do you calculate pregnancy from the last period or ovulation? 

Pregnancy is counted from the first day of your last period. The two weeks before that, or the ovulation period, is when your body prepares to release an egg to be fertilized. 

How to calculate ovulation using the calendar method? 

Note your period date for six months. Subtract 18 from the shortest cycle. Count the number obtained from the first day of the present cycle for the first fertile day. Similarly, subtract eleven from the longest cycle. Count it from the first period day for the last fertile day. 

How do you calculate ovulation after abortion? 

An abortion will not likely affect ovulation. So, ovulation will happen around two weeks following a loss, and women can also conceive again if they are sexually active at this time. However, ovulation also depends on the length of your usual menstrual cycle. You can use our ovulation calculator to find out your ovulation date. 

Why are ovulation calculators different? 

Ovulation calculators work by calculating the averages of menstrual cycles. They depend on the information you enter, and if it is inaccurate, chances of error exist. However, with the right information, they can provide a healthy, fertile range that can be useful for you.

What is the ovulation period and how is it calculated? 

Ovulation is when your ovary releases an egg, and you become fertile. It is roughly two weeks before the start of your next period. You can use our free ovulation calculator to find your ovulation date and fertile window. 
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