You are probably not familiar with the signs of ovulation. According to a study by Monash University, 87% of women have no idea when they are at their most fertile, or can recognize the point at which their body releases an egg from their ovary. So, if you do, kudos to you – you’re in the minority.
But by not knowing more about your monthly cycle than simply when to stock up at Tampax next, you could be doing yourself a disservice.
Spanish and Austrian researchers have found that women are more susceptible to infection during ovulation – and this includes not only thrush, but also sexually transmitted infections. Why? Because the body naturally engages its immune system at this point in your cycle to give any sperm a better chance of survival. Plus, if you want to get pregnant, it’s important to be aware of when you’re in your fertile window.
The good news is that using your ovulation calendar and the signs of ovulation are quite simple.
Here’s how it’s done.
Signs of Ovulation: How to Exercise When You Ovulate
Ovulation calendar: Based on a 28-day cycle
Day 1 to 7
Menstruation – the body sheds blood, endometrial tissue (ie the lining of the uterus) and remnants of an unfertilized disintegrated egg. As follicles in the ovary begin to mature, estrogen levels rise.
Day 8-13
The lining of the uterus thickens in preparation for a fertilized egg.
Day 14
An egg is released from a follicle in the ovaries – also known as ovulation.
Day 15-28
When an egg is fertilized, it embeds itself in the thickened lining of the uterus; if it isn’t, it doesn’t self-lay and the lining breaks down, causing a period and the cycle starts again.
7 signs of ovulation
But what happens if you don’t have a regular 28-day cycle? Or, like your meditation practice, is it what you would call sporadic? According to the experts, there are many subtle signs of ovulation that you can watch out for.
1. Your cervix will feel firm
Typically, your cervix (found at the top of the vagina; insert a clean middle finger to the depth of your middle knuckle) will feel firm and smooth, kind of like the tip of your nose, but, just before ovulation, things will soften to similar to be in tune with your lips.
Other changes to feel for? With ovulation, your cervix will rise in the vagina by 2-3 cm and may also feel wider. It is good to touch.
2. Your discharge will look different
It’s time to get to know your dismissal. Assuming everything is right below (read here what your discharge says about you), this is also one of the most reliable signs of ovulation.
Test yours by inserting a clean index finger into the mouth of your vagina and seeing what comes out. ‘The main purpose of discharge is to provide something for the sperm to swim through to reach the fallopian tube,’ says Dr Geetha Venkat, director of the Harley Street Fertility Clinic.
“The cervix acts as a huge filter and obstruction to sperm, so only the strong, fast-moving ones will get through.” It’s the baby-making equivalent of Tough Mudder. “But not all discharge is good for transporting sperm and it will vary depending on where you are in your menstrual cycle.”
So what should you look for when planning for a little person? “When it’s stretchy and slimy, like raw egg whites, you’re in your fertile period – that’s the best time to try,” says Dr Venkat. “Sperm can stay in the body for about three days, so it’s better for the sperm to be there and wait for ovulation to occur.”
Not completely fired at that point? This is not an excuse to have unprotected sex. Research suggests that sperm can swim through even cloudy secretions from around day nine of your cycle. It is only after ovulation has occurred that things become clearer.
‘Once ovulation has occurred, the secretion becomes thicker and thicker, which is not useful for the transport of sperm. But it doesn’t have to be. With no egg to fertilize (eggs live for about 12-14 hours), what’s the point? They missed the boat,’ says Dr Venkat. Meaning can you get pregnant 12 days before your period? Very simple? It is quite unlikely. But if kids aren’t at the top of your ‘to do’ list, are you sure you’re ready to take that risk?
3. Your temperature will drop
Another clear sign of ovulation is your basal body temperature. “Before ovulation, it will drop,” says Dr Venkat. “However, it will probably be by less than a degree – say 37.2 degrees is normal, then it will drop to 36.8 degrees – so it’s a very subtle shift.”
Want to check all bases? Then track yours by taking your temperature at the same time every day, when you wake up. .
4. You may feel some discomfort
Do you like to think you’re pretty in tune with what’s going on with your body? Well, put your sensitivity to the ultimate test by seeing if you can actually feel when you ovulate.
“During ovulation, the follicle bursts, releasing fluid and an egg into the pelvic cavity,” says Dr Venkat. ‘The pelvic cavity is surrounded by peritoneum, a very sensitive membrane. When anything touches this, it can cause pain.’
5. You may experience spotting
“Some women may also notice some blood-stained discharge or spotting around the time of ovulation,” says Dr Venkat. Boring, but nothing to worry about.
6. You may sound arrogant
Researchers at the University of California – Los Angeles found that the closer a woman is to ovulation, the higher her voice will become. It’s the same whole evolutionary game – high pitch is perceived as more attractive and feminine to prospective mates. Believe it.
7. You may feel anxious
According to Condordia University, the hormones estrogen and progesterone not only determine whether you’re likely to fall asleep, but they also control how well your memory will function from one part of your cycle to the next.
Need to give a presentation at work? You will perform better on verbal memory tasks if you are ovulating. To lead a team running around the park? Best use Google maps or jog along.
Still not sure if you’re ovulating?
Take the guesswork out of your ovulation calendar with an ovulation predictor kit.
It monitors the hormones in your urine and is therefore a much more accurate (and clutter-free) alternative to identifying your high fertility days than reading your discharge or fingering your cervix.
They work by tracking the levels of luteinizing hormone (LH), which is released by the pituitary gland and triggers ovulation, and, in some cases, also estrone-3-glucuronide (E3G), which is produced around the time of ovulation. become to make your discharge more sperm friendly.
Evidence has shown that most women only have about six super fertile days a month to play with – namely the five days before ovulation and the day of ovulation itself. Sex 24-36 hours before the latter, when LH levels rise, is likely to lead to pregnancy.
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