Don't understand ovulation at all

[user19282]

I have just finished my period and would like to start trying for another baby. I've downloaded the flo app which is telling me the next 9 days are the days to try but I don't understand at all how this is. Sorry if I'm sounding stupid but what determines when I ovulate and how do I know if these are the right days to try to conceive? Before I had my first baby my periods were regular and started the same day each month but this year they have completely changed.

When I got pregnant with my first I wasn't tracking anything so still had no idea

You can take ovulation tests so that you can see your “peak”, or typically if you have a 28 day cycle you’d ovulate on day 14ish x

Thank you so much! x

If you've only just downloaded Flo it will have no data to accurately predict. Even once it does, it doesn't actually know what's happening in your body - unless your cycle is exactly precise month on month it may not be helpful, even then, you can still have a weird month and ovulate late or early.

I have PCOS and this year my cycles have been everywhere from 22-38 days long. So I can't trust my Flo at all - it usually gives me a massive window to be fertile in, because it can't predict as its so different month on month.

I still use it though, as find it useful to track the cycles, and if I do get a positive OPK I can log it on there.

If this is month one I would try to use body clues first and foremost before you get bogged down in daily testing etc.

Watch your cervical mucus - thick and white you're not very fertile - as it clears and goes like egg white and stretches between your fingers - very fertile.

The best way to test is actually to reach into the vagina and feel your cervix. If you are body comfortable!

The cervix itself feels like it has a little bump on when closed (not fertile)

It opens when you are fertile.

The first part of the cycle can vary hugely but, post ovulation, it is fixed til your next bleed. Once you have ovulated, that egg will only remain fertile for a few hours.

i wouldn’t trust any of those apps, they won’t be able to predict especially not initially. In a 28 day cycle you’d expect to ovulate on day 14. Most accurate is to take ovulation tests.