Understanding Female Fertility: What Every Woman Should Know

You’ve probably heard it before: “Just relax, it’ll happen when it happens.” But if you’ve ever tried to conceive, you know that’s easier said than done. For many of us, sex education focused on avoiding pregnancy - not understanding how our fertility actually works. So, let’s break down what’s really going on in your body, in a way that makes sense. Whether you’re actively trying for a baby or simply getting to know your cycle better, understanding fertility can help you feel more connected and confident in your own body.

What does fertility actually mean?

Fertility is simply your ability to conceive and carry a pregnancy to birth. To make that happen, three things need to work together: healthy sperm, healthy eggs, and a uterus ready to receive a fertilised egg. Each month, one of your ovaries releases an egg during ovulation. If that egg meets sperm at the right time, it can be fertilised and later implant into the uterine lining. About two weeks later, if implantation was successful, your body will start producing the hormone hCG - the same one that makes a pregnancy test turn positive.

Fun fact: Around 90% of healthy, fertile women conceive within a year of trying. But this varies a lot - some bodies just need more time, support, or lifestyle tweaks. And even if you’ve been trying for a year, that doesn’t mean you’re “infertile.” It simply means it’s time to look a little deeper.

The four hormones running the show

Your fertility is orchestrated by a handful of powerful hormones that rise and fall throughout your cycle:

Oestrogen thickens the uterine lining to make it ready for a potential pregnancy.
Progesterone maintains that lining and prepares the body for implantation.
FSH (follicle-stimulating hormone) encourages eggs to mature inside the ovaries.
LH (luteinising hormone) triggers ovulation — the moment the egg is released.

These hormones don’t act in isolation. They’re in constant communication, creating the rhythm of your menstrual cycle - a rhythm that’s unique to you.

Your menstrual cycle: four “seasons” of fertility

Think of your cycle as a kind of internal calendar, or better yet, a year with four seasons.

Winter (menstruation): The cycle starts with your period, when oestrogen and progesterone drop and the uterine lining sheds. Most people bleed for 3–7 days.
Spring (follicular phase): As bleeding ends, FSH stimulates new follicles to grow. Oestrogen begins to rise, thickening the uterine lining and boosting energy and mood.
Summer (ovulation): The LH surge causes an egg to be released. You might feel more confident, social, and even sexier. This is your most fertile time.
Autumn (luteal phase): Progesterone rises to support implantation. If pregnancy doesn’t happen, hormone levels fall, and your next period begins.

Only 13% of women have the textbook 28-day cycle. So if yours is longer or shorter, that’s completely normal - what matters is consistency and how your body feels.

The fertile window: timing really matters

If you’re trying to conceive, the most fertile days are the five days leading up to ovulation and the day of ovulation itself. Here’s why: while an egg only lives for about 12–24 hours, sperm can survive inside your body for up to five days. That means having sex in the days before ovulation gives the sperm time to “wait” for the egg to arrive.

Try this: Track your basal body temperature (BBT) or use an ovulation predictor kit (OPK) to spot your fertile window. Or use the Flouria cycle tracker - it does the work for you.

Implantation - when pregnancy truly begins

After fertilisation, the egg (now a blastocyst) travels down the fallopian tube toward the uterus. About 6–12 days later, it attaches itself to the uterine lining - a process called implantation. Some women notice mild cramping or light spotting around this time, though many feel nothing at all. Both are perfectly normal. Once implantation happens, your body officially recognises the pregnancy and begins producing hormones to support it.

When your cycle feels “off”

Irregular periods - whether they come too often, too far apart, or with unpredictable bleeding - can be a sign that something’s out of balance. Sudden weight changes, stress, illness, or conditions like PCOS or thyroid disorders can all play a role.

Keep track: Note the length, flow, and any changes in symptoms each month. Patterns in your cycle often reveal what’s happening hormonally, and can be the first clue to what your body needs.

So, what’s the bigger picture?

Understanding your fertility isn’t just about getting pregnant - it’s about learning how your body communicates. Every phase of your cycle is a signal, guiding you toward balance and health. If conception takes time, remember: that doesn’t make your body broken. It makes it human. Fertility isn’t a test of worth - it’s a conversation between biology, hormones, and timing.

Key takeaways

Fertility relies on timing - ovulation and sperm must meet within a small window.
Oestrogen, progesterone, FSH, and LH are the main hormones behind your cycle.
Only 13% of women have a 28-day cycle; “normal” looks different for everyone.
The fertile window lasts about six days - the five before ovulation plus the day itself.
Tracking your cycle helps you understand your body’s unique rhythm.
Irregular cycles can signal stress, hormonal imbalance, or other health factors - not failure.

Your fertility journey - whether it’s just beginning or already winding through ups and downs - deserves understanding, patience, and care. And we’re here to guide you through every chapter.

References:

Merlino, L., Chiné, A., Galli, C., & Piccioni, M. G. (2020). BRCA1/2 genes mutations, ovarian reserve and female reproductive outcomes: a systematic review of the literature. Minerva ginecologica, 72(5), 339–348. https://doi.org/10.23736/S0026-4784.20.04624-9

de Angelis, C., Nardone, A., Garifalos, F., Pivonello, C., Sansone, A., Conforti, A., Di Dato, C., Sirico, F., Alviggi, C., Isidori, A., Colao, A., & Pivonello, R. (2020). Smoke, alcohol and drug addiction and female fertility. Reproductive biology and endocrinology : RB&E, 18(1), 21. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12958-020-0567-7

Conforti, A., Mascia, M., Cioffi, G., De Angelis, C., Coppola, G., De Rosa, P., Pivonello, R., Alviggi, C., & De Placido, G. (2018). Air pollution and female fertility: a systematic review of literature. Reproductive biology and endocrinology : RB&E, 16(1), 117. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12958-018-0433-z

Gentile, G., Scagnoli, S., Arecco, L., Santini, D., Botticelli, A., & Lambertini, M. (2024). Assessing risks and knowledge gaps on the impact of systemic therapies in early breast cancer on female fertility: A systematic review of the literature. Cancer treatment reviews, 128, 102769. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctrv.2024.102769

You’ve probably heard it before: “Just relax, it’ll happen when it happens.” But if you’ve ever tried to conceive, you know that’s easier said than done. For many of us, sex education focused on avoiding pregnancy - not understanding how our fertility actually works. So, let’s break down what’s really going on in your body, in a way that makes sense. Whether you’re actively trying for a baby or simply getting to know your cycle better, understanding fertility can help you feel more connected and confident in your own body.

What does fertility actually mean?

Fertility is simply your ability to conceive and carry a pregnancy to birth. To make that happen, three things need to work together: healthy sperm, healthy eggs, and a uterus ready to receive a fertilised egg. Each month, one of your ovaries releases an egg during ovulation. If that egg meets sperm at the right time, it can be fertilised and later implant into the uterine lining. About two weeks later, if implantation was successful, your body will start producing the hormone hCG - the same one that makes a pregnancy test turn positive.

Fun fact: Around 90% of healthy, fertile women conceive within a year of trying. But this varies a lot - some bodies just need more time, support, or lifestyle tweaks. And even if you’ve been trying for a year, that doesn’t mean you’re “infertile.” It simply means it’s time to look a little deeper.

The four hormones running the show

Your fertility is orchestrated by a handful of powerful hormones that rise and fall throughout your cycle:

Oestrogen thickens the uterine lining to make it ready for a potential pregnancy.
Progesterone maintains that lining and prepares the body for implantation.
FSH (follicle-stimulating hormone) encourages eggs to mature inside the ovaries.
LH (luteinising hormone) triggers ovulation — the moment the egg is released.

These hormones don’t act in isolation. They’re in constant communication, creating the rhythm of your menstrual cycle - a rhythm that’s unique to you.

Your menstrual cycle: four “seasons” of fertility

Think of your cycle as a kind of internal calendar, or better yet, a year with four seasons.

Winter (menstruation): The cycle starts with your period, when oestrogen and progesterone drop and the uterine lining sheds. Most people bleed for 3–7 days.
Spring (follicular phase): As bleeding ends, FSH stimulates new follicles to grow. Oestrogen begins to rise, thickening the uterine lining and boosting energy and mood.
Summer (ovulation): The LH surge causes an egg to be released. You might feel more confident, social, and even sexier. This is your most fertile time.
Autumn (luteal phase): Progesterone rises to support implantation. If pregnancy doesn’t happen, hormone levels fall, and your next period begins.

Only 13% of women have the textbook 28-day cycle. So if yours is longer or shorter, that’s completely normal - what matters is consistency and how your body feels.

The fertile window: timing really matters

If you’re trying to conceive, the most fertile days are the five days leading up to ovulation and the day of ovulation itself. Here’s why: while an egg only lives for about 12–24 hours, sperm can survive inside your body for up to five days. That means having sex in the days before ovulation gives the sperm time to “wait” for the egg to arrive.

Try this: Track your basal body temperature (BBT) or use an ovulation predictor kit (OPK) to spot your fertile window. Or use the Flouria cycle tracker - it does the work for you.

Implantation - when pregnancy truly begins

After fertilisation, the egg (now a blastocyst) travels down the fallopian tube toward the uterus. About 6–12 days later, it attaches itself to the uterine lining - a process called implantation. Some women notice mild cramping or light spotting around this time, though many feel nothing at all. Both are perfectly normal. Once implantation happens, your body officially recognises the pregnancy and begins producing hormones to support it.

When your cycle feels “off”

Irregular periods - whether they come too often, too far apart, or with unpredictable bleeding - can be a sign that something’s out of balance. Sudden weight changes, stress, illness, or conditions like PCOS or thyroid disorders can all play a role.

Keep track: Note the length, flow, and any changes in symptoms each month. Patterns in your cycle often reveal what’s happening hormonally, and can be the first clue to what your body needs.

So, what’s the bigger picture?

Understanding your fertility isn’t just about getting pregnant - it’s about learning how your body communicates. Every phase of your cycle is a signal, guiding you toward balance and health. If conception takes time, remember: that doesn’t make your body broken. It makes it human. Fertility isn’t a test of worth - it’s a conversation between biology, hormones, and timing.

Key takeaways

Fertility relies on timing - ovulation and sperm must meet within a small window.
Oestrogen, progesterone, FSH, and LH are the main hormones behind your cycle.
Only 13% of women have a 28-day cycle; “normal” looks different for everyone.
The fertile window lasts about six days - the five before ovulation plus the day itself.
Tracking your cycle helps you understand your body’s unique rhythm.
Irregular cycles can signal stress, hormonal imbalance, or other health factors - not failure.

Your fertility journey - whether it’s just beginning or already winding through ups and downs - deserves understanding, patience, and care. And we’re here to guide you through every chapter.

References:

Merlino, L., Chiné, A., Galli, C., & Piccioni, M. G. (2020). BRCA1/2 genes mutations, ovarian reserve and female reproductive outcomes: a systematic review of the literature. Minerva ginecologica, 72(5), 339–348. https://doi.org/10.23736/S0026-4784.20.04624-9

de Angelis, C., Nardone, A., Garifalos, F., Pivonello, C., Sansone, A., Conforti, A., Di Dato, C., Sirico, F., Alviggi, C., Isidori, A., Colao, A., & Pivonello, R. (2020). Smoke, alcohol and drug addiction and female fertility. Reproductive biology and endocrinology : RB&E, 18(1), 21. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12958-020-0567-7

Conforti, A., Mascia, M., Cioffi, G., De Angelis, C., Coppola, G., De Rosa, P., Pivonello, R., Alviggi, C., & De Placido, G. (2018). Air pollution and female fertility: a systematic review of literature. Reproductive biology and endocrinology : RB&E, 16(1), 117. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12958-018-0433-z

Gentile, G., Scagnoli, S., Arecco, L., Santini, D., Botticelli, A., & Lambertini, M. (2024). Assessing risks and knowledge gaps on the impact of systemic therapies in early breast cancer on female fertility: A systematic review of the literature. Cancer treatment reviews, 128, 102769. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctrv.2024.102769

Understanding Female Fertility: What Every Woman Should Know