The science of ovulation is important for us to understand when we DON'T want to get pregnant. But we discover just how complex it can seem when we DO want to conceive.

Like most websites about fertility, the FertilityTies.com website that Dr. Quintero offers his time to each week is full of education and forums for married couples who are trying to time intercourse correctly. For the Choice Mom who needs to know when insemination is best timed, similar rules apply. As he indicates on his guide to understanding ovulation,:

• A female is fertile for just a few days each cycle, on the days just before and up to ovulation.? This is when insemination needs to occur as it is the only phase of your cycle when you can conceive.
• If you are charting your basal body temperature (BBT), you will notice that it rises slightly AFTER ovulation.?
• The goal is to track several months of BBT to detect what you hope is a pattern of timing, so you can anticipate ovulation in a subsequent month. By the time you see the temperature rise, ovulation has already occurred and thus you've missed the right time in that cycle.
• If you are taking fertility medications, you could be ovulating later during your cycle. Dr. Quintero advises that you consult with your doctor.

To help you pinpoint your ovulation, Dr. Quintero offers a free online ovulation calendar. You can learn more about it here.