Just as every woman is different, the signs of ovulation also vary from one woman to another. Ovulation, which is the release of a mature egg from an ovary, occurs halfway through a woman’s cycle, on the average between 10-16 days before a period; though this varies with different women.
Once the egg is released, it starts to travel through the fallopian tube down to the uterus. If the egg is fertilized by a sperm during this journey, pregnancy occurs. If not, the egg can live up to 24 hours, after which it dissolves and leaves the body two weeks later, alongside blood and tissues of the lining of the uterus as menstruation.
A sperm on the other hand can survive up to 3 to 6 days. This means that there’s a very small window of opportunity every month when you are most fertile and during which pregnancy can only occur. This is known as the fertile window.
It is very important to know when you are ovulating, especially if you are trying to conceive. Having intercourse regularly, especially days before ovulation and on the day of ovulation will improve your chances of conceiving. The fertile window closes after ovulation.
Signs of Ovulation
In some women the signs are pronounced, while others have no obvious signs. Some of these signs can be tracked or charted, while others are random. Tracking at least two of these symptoms can help you know when you’ve ovulated:
1. Increased Basal Body Temperature (BBT):
The basal body temperature is the temperature of the body while at rest. During ovulation, your temperature is slightly increased due to the release of the hormone progesterone; which is released after an egg is released from the ovary, to thicken and prepare the uterus in anticipation of pregnancy. To keep track of when your basal body temperature rises, you will need to take the measurement with a digital thermometer early in the morning before you get out of bed and keep a chart. Doing this for at least a month, preferably at the same time everyday, will give you an idea of what’s normal and when there is a spike.
2. Egg-White Cervical Mucous (EWCM)
A change in your normal vaginal discharge is one of the main ways to track ovulation. Checking every morning and taking note of the colour, consistency and amount will help you notice the time in your cycle when the difference occurs. An increased amount of discharge which is thinner and more slippery, like egg whites, is an indication that you are ovulating or about to ovulate. This is ideal for transporting sperm more easily to the released egg.
3. High, Open and Soft Cervix
Changes in cervical position and firmness is another key evidence of when ovulation is taking place in your body. Examine your cervix by placing one or two clean fingers to reach back past the vagina into the cervix and feel around, taking note of details like how does the cervix feel, firm or soft? How easy was it to reach the cervix, far or near? How wet is the cervix?
During ovulation, the cervix is high positioned, making it more difficult to reach; soft when felt; open and wet. After ovulation it becomes low to reach, hard when felt, and closed.
4. A dull one sided ache in the lower abdomen
This pain is called mittelschmerz, a German word for “middle pain”. It happens to about 20% of women right in the middle of the cycle, and is thought to be caused by the release of the egg from the ovary, or the contraction of the fallopian tubes as the egg travels down. This pain usually lasts for about a day or two, and is felt in the area of the ovary.
5. LH surge
The lutenizing hormone (LH) is what triggers ovulation in the body. When the surge takes place, ovulation is most likely to start in the next 12-36 hours. This hormone can be detected in the urine using an Ovulation Predictor Kit.
6. Increased libido
You may find that you have an increased sex drive in the middle of your cycle. This is a very good thing if you are trying to conceive, because you are more likely to have sex when you are ovulating, which is the target anyway.
7. Breast tenderness
An increase in progesterone levels can make the breasts feel sore and tender, very similar to PMS symptoms.
8. Spotting
It’s possible to have very slight spotting in your panties, known as ovulation spotting. It may be due to the egg bursting through the follicle as it is released or due to hormonal changes.
9. Bloating
Hormones can make you feel slightly bloated and your clothes may feel snug around your abdomen.
10. Mild nausea
Again, it’s down to the hormones. Hormonal changes can bring on a bout of nausea similar to PMS nausea or morning sickness in pregnancy.
11. Headache/migraine
This is true for women that normally have headaches during their periods. They are more likely to have headaches when they are ovulating. It’s all due to the hormonal shift in the body.
