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Abstract

Ovulation occurs on 1 day during each menstrual cycle (even if multiple follicles are involved), and the several days preceding ovulation are when intercourse is most likely to result in pregnancy. Collectively, the potentially fertile days up to and including the day of ovulation are called the “fertile window” (1). Since the 1930s, several biomarkers of the fertile window have been investigated for the purposes of empowering women and couples seeking to use fertility-awareness based methods or natural family planning to avoid pregnancy, as well as to expand understanding of human reproductive physiology.

Topics

Fertility Awareness > Fertile Window > Biomarker IdentificationMenstrual Cycle > Ovulation > Fertile Window TimingFertility Awareness > Natural Family Planning > Physiological Basis
Stanford fertile window biomarkers review, fertile window definition ovulation timing intercourse, fertility awareness based methods fertile window identification, natural family planning fertile days ovulation biomarkers, fertile window menstrual cycle reproductive physiology, Stanford JB fertile window fertility awareness review, days of fertility preceding ovulation pregnancy likelihood, biomarkers fertile window natural family planning history, clinical identification fertile window ovulation day, fertility awareness pregnancy avoidance fertile window
PMID 25772771 25772771 DOI 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2015.02.015 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2015.02.015

Cite this article

Stanford, J. B. (2015). Revisiting the fertile window. *Fertility and sterility*, *103*(5), 1152-1153. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fertnstert.2015.02.015

Keywords

Female, Fertile Period, Fertility, Humans, Ovary/physiology, Ovulation, Ovulation Detection/methods, Self Care

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