In many situations, timing is everything. If you and your partner have tried to conceive but have not yet hit the mark, you may need a lesson in both fertility and punctuality. First, you must understand the key to a woman's fertility: the enstrual cycle. To increase your chances of achieving pregnancy, you must follow this cycle very carefully. A closer look reveals its incredible, miraculous functionality.

How does fertilisation take place?

During each month of the female sexual cycle, there is a cycle increase and decrease of FSH(Follicle Stimulating Hormone, which stimulates the follicles in the ovaries to ripen several eggs) and LH(Lutenising Hormone, which stimulates ovulation).

Pre-ovulatory Phase:

The pre-ovulatory phase is the time between menstruation and ovulation. During the first few days after the begining of menstruation, concentrations of FSH & LH increase several fold. These hormones cause accelerated growth of 6-12 primary follicles each month. When under the influence continues of FSH, the group of follicles continues to grow and secrete oestrogen, and one dominent follicle becomes a mature graafian gollicle; in other words, it continues to increase its oestrogen production under the influence of an increasing level of LH. Small amounts of progesterone are are produced by the mature follicle a day or two before ovulation.

Ovulatory Phase:

Estrogens that have liberated stimulate the repair of the endometrium (uterus lining) and thicken. New Ovulation occurs on the 14th day(there is rupture of the mature graafian follicle). The post-ovulatory phase is the period between ovulation and the next menses. A single ovum is expelled from an ovarian follicle into the abdominal cavity in the middle of each monthly cycle. This ovum then passes through one of the fallopian tubes into the uterus and, if it is fertilised by a sperm, it implants in the uterus where it develops into a foetus.

Menstrual Phase:

If fertilisation does not take place, this ovum gets released in the menstrual phase. During the menstrual phase, follicles in each ovary begin to enlarge. Menstrual flow from the uterus consists of 50 - 150 ml of blood, tissue fluid, epithelial cells derived from the endometrium.