Menstrual cycles can be unpredictable and tough to calculate, but there are a few ways to make the process easier. First, it’s important to understand how the menstrual cycle works. The cycle begins on the first day of menstruation and ends the day before the next period begins. Ovulation usually occurs about midway through the cycle.
The average menstrual cycle is 28 days, but it can range from 21 to 35 days. To calculate your menstrual cycle, you’ll need to keep track of the first day of your last period and the number of days in between periods.
How to calculate menstrual cycle
Having the best chance of getting pregnant is knowing when you ovulate. You must keep track of your menstrual cycle in order to determine your ideal fertile window. You can accomplish this by using a calendar or if you’d prefer, our helpful online tracker.
When you start bleeding on the first day of your period, your cycle officially starts. The day before your subsequent period starts is the final day of your cycle. Remember that your period, which typically lasts 5-7 days and happens on the days that you actually bleed, occurs when your uterine lining sheds. The first day of your period marks the beginning of your menstrual cycle, which typically lasts 21 to 35 days until the day before the start of your next period.
The majority of women have irregularly sized monthly cycles. You might go 28 days without a period one month, then 24 or 32 the next. This is completely normal, which is why you need to monitor your period for a few months to determine the ideal fertilization window or the ideal time to get pregnant. You can estimate your most fertile days by tracking for a few cycles to learn the average length of your cycle.
Count the days until your next period, which is day one of your subsequent cycle, starting on the first day of your current period. Add the total number of days over the course of three months. That number can be calculated by dividing it by three.
Normally, ovulation happens 12 to 16 days before your period. The second phase of the cycle is constant and generally lasts 14 days. The length of the entire cycle is determined by the first part, which does change. Ovulation, for instance, occurs on day 14 of a 28-day cycle. Ovulation occurs on day 12 if the cycle lasts 26 days. The ovulation day is day 18 if the cycle lasts 32 days.