When you are having problems trying to conceive and looking to find some answers, an important first step is to try to understand how your body works. The experts will tell you, you need to have regular sex throughout your menstrual cycle (several times a week). But do you know when the most fertile time is?

Your body is most fertile just before ovulation. Knowing when your body is about to ovulate will help you to time intercourse with your peak fertility.

So what are the signs that you are about to ovulate? The easiest way to identify this is to learn about your menstrual cycle and know the average length of its duration.

The Menstrual Cycle

The first day of your period (on set of bleeding) is considered the beginning of the menstrual cycle and on average is considered to be 28 days in duration. However this can vary between 25 - 34 days. There are two distinct phases:

1) The follicular phase.

This coincides with the beginning of the menstrual cycle and is known as the pre-ovulation phase. The length of this phase typically lasts between 13-18 days. During this phase the pituitary gland releases Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH).

The hormone FSH brings about the production and development of ovarian follicles. The dominant ovarian follicle will go on to develop and release an egg.

There is an associated increase in oestrogen at this time, which causes the mucus in the cervix to be more facilitating to the movement of sperm. The end of this phase is marked by ovulation.

2) The luteal phase.

Ovulation marks the beginning of this phase. The dominant follicle that released the egg (now the empty follicle) is known as the corpus luteum. The role of the corpus luteum is to produce progesterone, which promotes a favourable environment within the uterus in preparation for fertilisation and implantation of the egg.

If the egg becomes fertilised and implants into the uterus, the corpus luteum continues to produce progesterone to nourish the embryo until the placenta develops, around the second trimester of pregnancy.

If however, the egg is not fertilised the corpus luteum will disintegrate after approx two weeks. This results in the levels of progesterone dropping and signals the beginning of menstruation.

The luteal phase lasts on average between 12 '16 days.

Understanding you cycle length is important, so that you have a guide as to when ovulation may be occurring.

Possible Signs of Ovulation.

After ovulation the raised levels of progesterone causes an increase in body temperature. This is only slight - 0.4 degrees from your baseline. So if you take your temperature every day at the same time (ideally first thing in the morning - before your cup of tea!) you will see the pattern emerge as to where in your cycle you are ovulating.

This of course is retrospective so will take a few months to identify when you ovulated allowing you to predict for the future.

Keep a diary - some women notice abdominal cramps or twinges during ovulation, make a note of this. Others note breast changes, in particular a fullness or tenderness. Women have also reported an increase in their libido and state feeling more attractive. All of this written down enables you to build up a picture of your fertility.

If you are having problems conceiving, keep yourself informed. Things are less frustrating once you have some information to hand. We have discussed some ways in which to understand when you are most fertile - some things that you can do for yourself, giving you back some control if you are having problems conceiving.