Ovulation is the release of an egg from your ovary, into your fallopian tube. It typically happens about 13–15 days before the start of each period . Each woman’s menstrual cycle is different, so getting to know your body better can skyrocket your chances of conception.
What is Ovulation? And how do I know when I’m ovulating?
Ovulation refers to the release of an egg during menstruation. Part of the ovary called the ovarian follicle discharges an egg. The egg is also known as an ovum, oocyte, or female gamete. It is only released on reaching maturity. After release, the egg travels down the fallopian tube, where it may be met by a sperm and become fertilized. Ovulation and hormonal release during the menstrual cycle are controlled by a part of the brain.
Phases of Ovulation:
The ovulation process is defined by a period of elevated hormones during the menstrual cycle. It can be divided into 3 phases:
- The periovulatory or follicular phase: A layer of cells around the ovum begins to modify, or become more like mucus, and expand. The uterus lining begins to thicken.
- The ovulatory phase: Enzymes are secreted and form a hole, or stigma. The ovum and its network of cells use the stigma to move into the fallopian tube. This is the period of fertility and usually lasts from 24 to 48 hours.
- The postovulatory or luteal phase: LH is secreted. A fertilized egg will be implanted into the womb, while an unfertilized egg slowly stops producing hormones and dissolves within 24 hours.
The lining of the uterus also begins to break down and prepares to exit the body during menstruation, or menses.
How ovulation works: the basics
Tiny eggs develop in sacs called follicles in your ovaries. Follicles develop for several months before they are ready to release their egg. At any given time, there are follicles at several stages of development in your ovaries.
Understanding the basics of how ovulation works can be a powerful tool for your health
It’s common that people are introduced to the topic only after they have trouble becoming pregnant. But having a grasp on the process can give you insight into more than fertility. You’ll better understand any hormonally-influenced changes to your body around that time, and learn what factors might affect the timing of your ovulation (like stress), and why.
Fertility Ovulation Calendar
Fertility calendar, typically known as ovulation calemdar allows you to find out when you’ll be most fertile, and what your due date would be if you got pregnant on these dates. Knowing the days, you are most likely to be fertile can increase your chance of getting pregnant. The typical menstrual cycle is 28 days long, but each woman is different. There are about 6 days during each menstrual cycle when you can get pregnant.
Use the calendar to see which days you are most likely to be fertile.
Signs of Ovulation: What is it, and how do I know when I’m ovulating?
Pay attention to the physical signs of ovulation, Ovulation symptoms aren’t difficult to notice. Once you know what to look for, you’ll be surprised how easy it can be. Just about every person trying to get pregnant wants to know when it’s ovulation day. Ovulation is when an egg is released from the ovary. When the egg is ovulated, you want sperm waiting in the fallopian tubes available to fertilize that egg.
In other words, ideally, sexual intercourse should occur before the moment of ovulation in order to increase your odds of conception. You are most fertile in the days leading up to ovulation. If you can have sex during that time your chances of getting pregnant that cycle will go up considerably.
- Rise in basal body temperature, typically 1/2 to 1 degree, measured by a thermometer.
- Higher levels of luteinizing hormone (LH), measured on a home ovulation kit.
- Cervical mucus, or vaginal discharge, may appear clearer, thinner, and stretchy, like raw egg whites.
- You can notice by buying in advance, home ovulation predictor kits, which are relatively accurate, though somewhat pricey.
- Breast tenderness.
- Bloating.
- Light spotting.
- Slight pain or cramping in your side.
You can also get a rough idea of when you’re due to ovulate by recording the 1st day of each menstrual period. This works best for woman with regular cycles, but it’s a good way to start and it’s easier than peeing on a stick; right?
Find out day’s you are most likely to conceive using ovulation calendar.
How do I know if I’m ovulating?
As an adult, you are probably ovulating most of the time if your cycle is generally within range (that’s 24–38 days for adults, with fewer than 7–9 variance cycle-to-cycle, and a menstrual period of 2–7 days) (27). Cycle that are consistently outside of those ranges (they are long, short, or very irregular)—can be an indication of anovulation, and a reason to talk to your healthcare provider.
To know if you’re ovulating (and when in your cycle it happens), you might try:
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Tracking your cycle length and regularity in Clue
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Using ovulation urine tests, bought at your pharmacy
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Tracking your physical signs of fertility for a few cycles, including your basal body temperature and cervical fluid
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Having your healthcare provider check your hormonal profile (by testing a sample of your blood, taken during your mid-luteal phase)
Does the ovulation calendar really work?
Accuracy. There is no such thing as a perfectly “accurate” ovulation calendar or calculator. By definition, they are based on averages, and even if you’ve been charting your periods, your cycle length and ovulation date can vary cycle to cycle.
How can you boost your ovulation?
In general, every other night around the time of ovulation helps increase your chance of getting pregnant. Sperm can live up to 5 days inside your body. The best suggestion is to have sex regularly — when you’re ovulating, and when you’re not. You may be wondering why am I not ovulating but having periods or even asking if you can you ovulate without having a period?
Which food is good for ovulation?
10 Foods to Eat to Increase Fertility:
- Beans and Lentils. Everyone knows that beans and lentils are high in fiber, but they’re also high in protein, which can highly improve ovulation.
- Sunflower Seeds.
- Berries.
- Avocados.
- Quinoa.
- Greek Yogurts and Cheeses.
- Salmon.
- Asparagus.
Are you ready to conceive? What is the best time to conceive?
To increase your chances of getting pregnant fast, you need to get your fertile eggs and your partner’s sperm together as often as possible. You can only get pregnant on the few days each cycle around ovulation, when an egg is released.
We’re talking about the FERTILE WINDOW- the days in a woman’s menstrual cycle when pregnancy is possible. The fertility window depends on the length of the menstrual cycle, which varies among women.
How do you know if you fertile enough to get pregnant?
If your menstrual cycle lasts 28 days and your period arrives like clockwork, it’s likely that you’ll ovulate on day 14. That’s halfway through your cycle. Your fertile window begins on day 10. You’re more likely to get pregnant if you have sex at least every other day between days 10 and 14 of a 28-day cycle.
Also, there are Several websites and apps exist that assist this process by asking questions such as:
- When was the beginning of your last menstrual cycle?
- How long do your menstrual cycles generally last?
- How long is your luteal phase, or the time between the day after ovulation to the end of your cycle?
Many women find the tracking process attractive, as a means to get closer to their own bodies. It is generally useful for women to record or chart menstrual information for entry into the calendar. Keeping track of the menstrual cycle can also be key for highlighting any irregularities.
But some women find the charting too stressful. With so many things to worry about in life, they may not care to add another.
If stress is an issue, experts say that you should just try to have sex every two days as a minimum. If you can keep that going, you have an excellent chance of hitting a day when your body conditions are favorable. Sperm stay up to 7 days in the woman’s body, so increased contact can only work in your favor.