Timing is important when you're planning a pregnancy, especially if you're having trouble conceiving. Knowing when you're most fertile can help.

Every month, there are about five days when you can get pregnant. Ovulation dates can vary widely. So can the indicators. You may feel a brief sharp pain on one side of your lower abdomen, or notice an increase in vaginal discharge or slight spotting. This is around the time when you ovulate – releasing a mature egg from an ovary.

To estimate when you're ovulating, record your temperature daily, examine your vaginal mucus discharge, and track your menstrual periods. You can also buy an ovulation test kit from a pharmacy. Learn more about ovulation:

• Find Your Ovulation Day
• Infertility: Problems With Ovulation
• Ovulation
• Ovulation and Transport of Egg
• Superovulation

To find out when you are most fertile, or when you are most likely to become pregnant, use the interactive tool: When Are You Most Fertile?

If you think you are pregnant, you can take a home pregnancy test. If the test shows that you are pregnant (positive test), you should speak with your health professional to confirm the results and arrange follow-up care.

Last Updated: June 2021