Understanding Pregnancy and Fertility

Aug 2, 2024

Lecture Notes: Pregnancy and Fertility

Speaker Information

  • Name: Dr. Shashi Agarwal
  • Profession: Consultant in Obstetrics and Gynecology
  • Current Practice: Agarwal Healthcare, Bangalore, India

Key Points on Pregnancy Timing

  • Possibility of Pregnancy Right After Periods:
    • It is possible to conceive right after periods, though it is not very common.
    • Several factors influence this possibility:
      • Length of the menstrual cycle.
      • Duration of menstrual bleeding.

Menstrual Cycle Overview

  • Cycle Length Variations:
    • Longer Cycle: 5 to 7 days bleeding.
    • Shorter Cycle: 21 to 25 days cycle is common.
    • Regular Cycle: 28 to 30 days, ovulation occurs around day 14.

Fertile Window

  • Definition:
    • The fertile window is the period during which conception is possible.
  • Regular Cycle (28 to 30 days):
    • Ovulation occurs approximately 12 to 14 days before the next period (around day 14).
    • Fertile window spans from about day 11 to day 21 of the cycle.
  • Shorter Cycles:
    • Women with shorter cycles have an even shorter fertile window, roughly 12 to 14 days before the next period.

Sperm and Ovum Viability

  • Sperm Lifespan:
    • Sperm can live for about 2 to 5 days in the female reproductive tract.
  • Ovum Lifespan:
    • The ovum (egg) can survive for about 3 days after ovulation.
  • Extended Fertile Window:
    • Due to sperm longevity, one can conceive up to 5 days before ovulation.

Conclusion

  • Women with shorter or longer menstrual cycles can conceive shortly after their menstrual periods due to the timing of ovulation and the lifespan of sperm and eggs.