In today’s developed world, women in their mid-thirties have spent most of their adult life avoiding pregnancy. The moment that they are ready to take the plunge, getting pregnant fast becomes a priority.
How to increase chances of success? It all comes down with knowing what is normal during the menstrual cycle. Figuring out the subtle and not-so-subtle signs of ovulation is essential. Each of us needs to keep track of multiple clues at the same time, to better time the fertile window. However, some symptoms are not easily discernible, and we are unique beings, hence learning to spot when our bodies are prepared to ovulate can take several months.
What is ovulation?
Ovulation happens when the ovary releases one or more eggs or ova. The process usually lasts for one day and it takes place around the middle of the menstrual cycle. Afterward, the egg takes two additional days to slide through the fallopian tube until it reaches the womb.
Signs of ovulation
Here is a list of possible ovulation clues:
- – mild pain in the lower abdomen
- – drop in temperatures
- – soft, high, wet and open cervix
- – egg-white clear discharge
- – breast tenderness
- – increased sex drive
- – high levels of energy.
When does ovulation happen?
In order to accurately predict when ovulation takes place and fertility peaks, we need to learn the average length of our mentrual cycles. One way to know this is to track menstruation for at least six months. Based on this piece of information, we can predict afterward the start date of the next period based on the historical data that we have gathered, and subtract 14 days from this date.
This will be, most likely, the ovulation date. Thus, for a woman with a 28-day menstrual cycle, ovulation will occur on day 14 while for a woman with a 35-day cycle, it will likely take place on day 21 (subtract 14 from 35). This way of predicting ovulation is called the calendar method.
Pregnanct can set in not only during ovulation, but also before. Generally, the fertile window starts five days before ovulation. Doctors recommend having intercourse at least every two days during this week.
However, the highest chances of fertilization are on the day the egg is released. Therefore, having sex about 12 hours before ovulation and 12 hours afterward maximizes chances of getting pregnant.
How to track irregular ovulation
With regular cycles, tracking ovulation using the calendar method is the easiest way to predic peak fertility days.
But there are simple ways to track ovulation even when cycles are irregular:
- chart the basal body temperature (BBT)
- check the cervix
- try ovulation predictor kits.
Basal body temperature (BBT)
Keeping track of BBT is simple, although perseverance is also needed. Take the temperature (by mouth) each morning after waking up. Any physical activity will raise temperatures, that is why measuring BBT before getting out of bed is optimal. Moreover, it is best to check BBT around the same time every day.
BBT is lower before ovulation and shows a sustained increase after ovulation. One day after ovulation, BBT generally rises by around 0.4° F. The temperature shift should be sustained, meaning that BBT has to be higher for at least three days compared to the previous six days.
Pregnancy is highly likely when temperatures remain high for at least 18 consecutive days.
On the contrary, if the egg has not been fertilized, BBT will drop before the period, in 12-16 days after ovulation.
The cervix during ovulation
The lower part of the womb is called the cervix. This word comes from Latin, and it means “neck.” Imagine the uterus or womb as an upside down pear. The cervix is the narrow end of the inverted pear.
Knowing how the cervix feels can offer clues about a possible pregnancy. This is because the cervix goes through changes throughout the cycle, after pregnancy and even during intercourse.
To check the cervical position, insert the middle finger inside the vagina. The vagina will have a spongy feel, whereas the cervix should be either like the inside of the cheek or a bit harder and drier like the tip of the nose.
The tell-tale sign of approaching ovulation is the egg-white, stretchy and slippery cervical mucus or discharge.
However, a woman could be in her fertile period even if her body does not show clear-cut indications of being ready to conceive. A more subtle sign of ovulation is the change that the cervix goes through exactly before ovulation. More specifically, it becomes soft (like lips), wet, open and high. After ovulation, it will feel dry, closed, low and hard.
Tracking cervix changes could be challenging in the beginning. One way of getting familiar with this technique is palpating it every two or three days before and after ovulation.
Ovulation predictor kits
Unlike the calendar method, BBT, cervical mucus, and cervical position tracking, ovulation predictor kits (OPKs) or ovulation tests allow women to find out when they are fertile right from the first month.
Ovulation tests are of two types: urine-based and saliva-based.
Urine tests check the increase in a hormone called LH (luteinizing hormone), which is found in pee (urine). LH levels increase two days before ovulation.
Saliva tests check the pattern formed by spit as it dries up. The kit comes with a portable microscope for checking salivary ferning. As estrogen levels rise close to ovulation, the salt content in phlegm increases as well. When saliva dries, the salt crystals form a fern-like pattern, meaning ovulation is impending.
Salivary tests are easier to perform, but urine tests are more accurate than saliva tests.
We can see now that multiple physical signs reveal that the body is preparing for a small human. Yet, there are also emotional clues, such as spiking energy levels in the week before ovulation and increased irritability. Some women may even feel increased attraction to the “bad boy” type rather than to the “doting dad” figure.
Getting in tune with our bodies increases chances of pregnancy but also allows us to monitor our health.
Each of us is different. What were your signs of ovulation in the month you got pregnant? Share with us your experience.
