What Are the Signs of Ovulation?
Ovulation can look different for everyone
Medically reviewed by Peter Weiss, MD
Ovulation is part of the menstrual cycle and occurs when hormonal changes signal to the ovaries to release a mature egg. Most people who menstruate ovulate every month, and it usually occurs in the middle of their cycle.
You may be wondering if there is a way to tell if you’re ovulating. The signs of ovulation vary for everyone. You might notice an increase in clear, wet, and stretchy vaginal secretions. Or, you may have no noticeable changes.
This article will provide an overview of ovulation, including the signs of ovulation, how they feel, and how long ovulation usually lasts.
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What Is Ovulation?
Ovulation is the process your body goes through to prepare for pregnancy. Hormonal changes signal to the ovaries to release a mature egg. The egg then travels to the fallopian tubes where it may be fertilized by sperm.
To trigger ovulation, your body’s level of luteinizing hormone (LH) surges. This rise causes the follicle in the ovary to swell and rupture. This releases the egg into the fallopian tubes. Levels of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) also rise during ovulation.
Learn More: Hormones and Your Menstrual Cycle
When Do You Ovulate?
The timing of ovulation can vary from person to person. The average length of a menstrual cycle is 28 days. For most people who menstruate, ovulation occurs in the middle of their menstrual cycle, about two weeks after the start of their previous period and two weeks before their next period.
What Are the Signs of Ovulation?
It is possible to experience several ovulation symptoms or none at all. Every person is different. Signs of ovulation may include pelvic pain, increased body temperature, or changes in your cervical mucus and saliva.
Ovulation Pain (Mittelschmerz)
During ovulation, a follicle in the ovaries ruptures, releasing the mature egg. For some people, it is possible to feel the rupture, and this can cause pain known as mittelschmerz pain.
You may experience pain in the lower abdomen around the time of ovulation. This pain can feel sharp and sudden or dull and achy. It may also feel like mild cramping, similar to menstrual cramps.
Changes in Body Temperature
Ovulation causes an increase in basal body temperature. Basal body temperature is your body’s temperature at rest. It fluctuates throughout the month due to hormonal changes.
Most people experience an increase in basal body temperature by about 1 degree F within 24 hours of ovulation. The secretion of the hormone progesterone causes this increase.
The best way to recognize an increase in your basal body temperature is to track it every day. To do this, take your temperature immediately upon waking before getting out of bed.
Changes in Cervical Mucus
The hormonal changes that lead to ovulation also cause changes in the amount and quality of your cervical mucus. Cervical mucus is the fluid that is made and released by the cervix each month. The cervix is the opening to the uterus and is located at the top of the vagina.
Throughout the month, your vaginal discharge changes based on your hormones and the phase of your menstrual cycle.
Just before ovulation occurs, your cervical mucus will likely feel thin and slippery, like egg whites. You will probably notice more volume than at other times of the month. This occurs as a way to help the sperm reach the mature egg.
Changes in Saliva
Perhaps a lesser-known sign of ovulation is a change in your saliva. When the hormone estrogen increases around the time of ovulation, it changes the pattern of your saliva.
People who are ovulating often experience saliva ferning, which means that their dried saliva forms a pattern shaped like fern leaves. It’s important to note that not all people who ovulate experience ferning. It can also be challenging to recognize the fern pattern in your own saliva.
Other Possible Signs of Ovulation
Other possible signs of ovulation may mimic the symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (PMS). The hormonal changes during ovulation may cause lower abdominal cramping, tender breasts, and bloating.
How Long Does Ovulation Last?
For most people who menstruate, ovulation lasts about 12 to 24 hours. To recognize when you’re ovulating, tracking your menstrual cycle phases and being aware of the changes that occur each month are helpful.
How to Predict and Track Ovulation
The best way to predict and track ovulation is to make notes about your menstrual cycle throughout the month. When you are aware of how your body feels and changes throughout your cycle, it is easier to notice ovulation symptoms that may come up.
To track your ovulation days, chart your menstrual cycle for several months. Cycle tracking may be helpful for people who have regular menstrual cycles that last between 26 and 32 days. If your cycle is irregular, tracking it will be more challenging.
It is possible to track your cycle on your own or with the help of an app on your phone or computer. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the use of two cycle-tracking apps as contraceptive devices: Natural Cycles and Clue.
Once you are tracking your cycle, estimate your ovulation time by counting back 10 to 16 days before your next period. Because the average menstrual cycle is 28 days long, the average day to ovulate is day 14 (day 1 is when your period starts).
Ovulation Home Tests
In addition to cycle tracking, at-home tests can be used to detect ovulation. Most home tests require a urine sample to detect higher levels of luteinizing hormone (LH). The increase in LH each month is what causes your body to ovulate. By monitoring your LH level, you may be able to predict when you ovulate.
Options for at-home ovulation tests include:
Ovulation tests: To use this test, urinate on the stick. The test will tell you if you are fertile that day. The most fertile time of the month is right after ovulation. If your cycle is 28 days long, begin testing on day 11 (counting from the start of your menstrual period), about three to five days before ovulation is likely to occur.
Ovulation predictors: This test predicts ovulation by tracking levels of LH in your urine. Use this test daily so that it can detect the LH surge.
BBT monitors: Use a basal body temperature (BBT) monitor to take your temperature every morning before rising. An increase in BBT may signal ovulation.
Saliva tests: While less effective than a urine test, it is possible to test your saliva for LH to predict ovulation.
Fertility Issues: The Main Reason for Irregular Ovulation
Many people experience irregular periods and irregular ovulation each month. This can make tracking your cycle challenging. It can also lead to fertility issues and difficulty becoming pregnant.
If your menstrual cycle is irregular, you may not ovulate each cycle. Health conditions that may cause irregular ovulation include:
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS): People with PCOS experience enlarged ovaries that often have fluid-filled cysts on them. This can disrupt ovulation and affect your fertility.
Premature ovarian insufficiency: Premature ovarian insufficiency occurs when the ovaries stop producing eggs because of low levels of estrogen in the body. This prevents ovulation from occurring.
Hypothalamic dysfunction: The hypothalamus is a part of the brain that regulates hormone levels. When it is not functioning normally, you may experience irregular periods or an absence of periods. This leads to irregular ovulation.
Other Causes of Infertility
Other causes of infertility that do not affect ovulation include uterine fibroids and blocked fallopian tubes.
Summary
Ovulation is part of the menstrual cycle and occurs when hormonal changes signal the ovaries to release a mature egg. This is how the body prepares for pregnancy. When the mature egg is released, it travels to the fallopian tubes to be fertilized.
Ovulation usually occurs in the middle of your menstrual cycle, about 14 days after the start of menstruation and 14 days before your next period.
Some people experience physical symptoms when they are ovulating. These symptoms can include lower abdominal pain, increased body temperature, and changes in the quality and amount of cervical mucus and saliva.
To track your ovulation, keep a record of your menstrual cycle by writing it down or using an app. There are also at-home tests available to determine if you are ovulating.
Read the original article on Verywell Health.
