Find out when you are most fertile

Note: The calculator provides an estimate based on the information you provide and may not be accurate. Please seek advice from a medical professional if you are trying to conceive.

Physical signs of ovulation

If you have irregular menstrual cycles, or your cycle length varies from month to month, it can be difficult to calculate when you are ovulating and work out when you are most fertile.

In this case, it might be helpful to look out for the signs of ovulation. These include:

• Mucus changes. About two weeks before menstruation, look out for slick and slippery mucus.
• Abdominal pain. You might experience general or localised pain to one side of the abdomen.
• Premenstrual symptoms. You might have premenstrual symptoms such as breast enlargement and tenderness, abdominal bloating and moodiness.
• Temperature rise. You might notice a small rise, about half a degree Celsius, in basal temperature after ovulation has occurred. This temperature rise suggests that ovulation has already taken place.

Prep for pregnancy

If you’re thinking about having a baby, now is the perfect time to start thinking about your health. Here a few simple things you can do to prep your body, mind and life for pregnancy.

• See your GP. Book in a full check-up with your doctor and chat through your intentions to conceive.
• Start taking folic acid. Australian Dietary Guidelines recommend that women of childbearing age take 0.5 mg of folic acid supplements daily for at least one month before pregnancy and three months into the pregnancy.
• Get a general dental check-up. Now is a good time to visit the dentist to make sure there aren’t any existing problems and to get any dental work you need done before you get pregnant.
• Consider your hospital birth options. Think about whether you want to have your baby in a public or private hospital, and if you would like a private obstetrician or not. Learn about your options here.
• Make sure you’re covered. Depending on what you decide, you’ll need to choose a private health insurance policy that fits in with those needs. Medibank offers a number of insurance policies for growing families. If you’re thinking about getting health insurance, or upgrading your cover to include pregnancy and birth related services, be aware that most insurers have a 12-month waiting period.