When estrogen is high for a few days, it triggers luteinizing hormone (LH) which tells the follicle to spit out the ripe egg with the help of prostaglandins. Once the egg is released into the fallopian tube, the follicle that housed it collapses on itself and turns into the corpus luteum (thus luteal phase), which produces progesterone and some estrogen. If the egg does not fertilize or implant during this stage, progesterone and estrogen gradually decrease for the rest of the cycle as the corpus luteum shrinks back into the ovary. The reduction in these hormones together with the help of prostaglandins in the uterus then causes the start of your menstrual period and the cycle begins again.
How do I know when I’m ovulating?
There are a number of methods we can use to get to know our own bodies better and determine when/if we’ve ovulated, and I urge all women, whether you’re looking for a baby or trying to conceive To touch. time to really get to know your cycles.
Monitoring cervical mucus is a very simple way to see when and if you might be ovulating. After your period, your cervical mucus is usually pretty dry or non-existent, followed by a few days where it can be white and sticky/cloudy. Immediately before and during ovulation, your cervical mucus will likely increase and become more of a raw egg white consistency, think watery and stretchy. After this (if fertilization/implantation has not occurred), it may be white and sticky again before your period starts.
Temperature charting is a method of tracking your basal body temperature (must be measured before you get out of bed in the morning) and when you see an increase from your normal, it is a sign that you have ovulated. There are many applications that can help you get this map correct.
Ovulation predictor kits (OPKs) can also be used to help track ovulation. This is where you pee on a stick in the morning and it will measure the luteinizing hormone (LH) in your urine which is the hormone that helps trigger ovulation. This may not be a reliable indicator in women with PCOS because they may have a higher overall level of LH.
Some women experience symptoms such as spotting or mild cramping on one side when they ovulate, others may find they have increased libido, changes in mood or concentration and migraines, but these symptoms vary greatly from woman to woman. They are not necessarily a reliable indicator on their own, but can help build an overall picture.
Using a combination of these things should give you a good idea of not only if you’re ovulating, but when! You can also have your hormones tested using various types of lab tests.
The bottom line:
The most important things to remember when it comes to ovulation is that it is best understood within the wider context of your menstrual cycle. We are all different and can vary at different times in our lives depending on things like our overall health and nutrient status, stress levels etc.
Contrary to popular belief, we do not all have 28 day cycles and we do not all ovulate on day 14 of our cycle. It is also possible for us to have periods and not ovulate.
The best way to tell when and if you are ovulating is to check in with your body regularly using a combination of the methods above. If you’re still not sure, or feel like you could use support with your ovulation or hormones throughout your cycle, working with a specialist fertility nutritionist can help you discover what might be going on and support you with lab tests and tailoring provide diet and lifestyle advice.
The Fertility Nutrition Center is a safe place for couples to visit and find a trusted nutritionist who has trained with Sandra Greenbank on fertility nutrition fertilitynutritioncentre.org
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