Difference Between Fertile and Ovulation

Main Difference – Fertile vs Ovulation

Fertile period and ovulation are two terms used when talking about conception and pregnancy. Both fertile days and ovulation are two periods that occur within the menstrual cycle of women. The main difference between fertile and ovulation is that fertile period is the time period in which both sperms and the egg are viable inside the female reproductive system whereas ovulation is the release of an egg by an ovary. Generally, the egg is viable only for 24 hours. But, sperms are viable up to five days. The last fertile day is the day of ovulation. Several days before ovulation, the female reproductive system secretes the fertile cervical fluid, a fluid where sperms can survive. The day of ovulation and five days prior to the ovulation are referred to the fertility window.

Key Areas Covered

1. What is Fertile
      – Definition, Facts, Importance
2. What is Ovulation
      – Definition, Facts, Importance
3. What are the Similarities Between Fertile and Ovulation
      – Outline of Common Features
4. What is the Difference Between Fertile and Ovulation
      – Comparison of Key Differences

Key Terms: Conception, Egg, Fertile, Fertile Window, Menstrual Cycle, Ovulation, Sperms

What is Fertile

Fertility refers to the person’s ability to conceive the young. The day of ovulation and the five days leading up to the ovulation day is referred to as the fertile window. The fertile window is six days of the time of the menstrual cycle of the woman. Generally, sperms are viable for five days in the female reproductive system. Therefore, the deposition of sperms within the fertile window results in conception. 

Figure 1: Fertile Period

The day of ovulation and the day before are the two most fertile days of a woman. Several days prior to ovulation, the female body produces “fertile” cervical fluid. This fluid is wet, slippery, and slimy. The sperms can survive in this fluid. 

What is Ovulation

Ovulation refers to the release of the egg from the ovary. It occurs with the rupture of follicles, releasing the secondary oocyte. The ovulation occurs about halfway through the menstrual cycle. Thus, it occurs after 14 days of menstruation. But, the time of ovulation may differ greatly from woman to woman, depending on the length and the consistency of the menstrual cycle. The egg is viable only for 24 hours. The ovulation is shown in figure 2.

Figure 2: Ovulation

The day of ovulation can be predicted by fertility data such as basal body temperature, texture of the cervical fluid, physical symptoms, and ovulation test. The day of ovulation can be used to determine the fertile window. At the period of ovulation, hormones such as estrogen are released from the body, increasing the thickness of the lining of the uterus. The increasing levels of estrogen trigger the release of luteinizing hormone (LH), which in turn, releases the mature egg from the ovary. If the egg is not fertilized, the lining of the uterus is shed at the next menstrual cycle.

Similarities Between Fertile and Ovulation

• Fertile and ovulation are two terms used in during conception and pregnancy.
• Both fertile and ovulation periods occur during the menstrual cycle.
• The knowledge about both fertile and ovulation is important in order to get pregnant.

Difference Between Fertile and Ovulation

Definition

Fertile: Fertility refers to the person’s ability to conceive the young. Fertile period is the period of the menstrual cycle in which both sperms and the egg are viable inside the female reproductive system.

Ovulation: Ovulation is the release of an egg by the ovary.

Occurrence

Fertile: Fertile period occurs five days before the ovulation day.

Ovulation: Ovulation occurs in the middle of the menstrual cycle.

Getting Pregnant

Fertile: There is a chance to get pregnant in the fertile period.

Ovulation: Ovulation is the best time to get pregnant.

Conclusion

Fertile and ovulation are two terms used during conception and pregnancy. Fertile period is the period of the menstrual cycle of a woman that has the chance to get pregnant. Ovulation is the release of an egg from an ovary. It occurs at the midway of the menstrual cycle. Fertile window is the six days during which a woman is fertile. The main difference between fertile and ovulation is the significance of each time period during conception.

Reference:

1.“What’s a fertile window?” Ovia health, Available here.
2.“What is ovulation?” What is ovulation & When Am I Fertile?, 15 Nov. 2017, Available here.

Image Courtesy:

1. “SDM-circle3” By Vargklo at English Wikipedia – Transferred from en.wikipedia to Commons by Econt using CommonsHelper (Public Domain) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Hormona foliculo-estimulante -FSH” By MartaFF – (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia

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