What is ovulation? It is a phase of the menstrual cycle when a mature egg is released from a follicle within the ovary. Once the egg leaves the ovary, it is captured by the finger-like, or fimbriated, ends of either the left or right fallopian tube and is ready to be fertilized by a sperm. The menstrual cycle is a crucial component of women’s health and involves the monthly shedding of the uterine lining in preparation for pregnancy.
The ovaries play a key role in ovulation by producing and releasing eggs during the menstrual cycle. When the pituitary gland releases a surge of luteinizing hormone, the ovaries release an egg during ovulation. This usually happens around day 14 of a 28-day cycle. The egg awaits conception from sperm.
Knowing when you’re ovulating is critical to understanding your fertility window. Therefore, ovulation tracking is vital for natural family planning. Discover more about this fertility awareness method and how to track your ovulation window during your menstrual cycle.
Tracking Ovulation: Methods and Tools
Ovulation predictor kits (OPKs) are home tests that detect a rise in luteinizing hormone (LH) in urine to help identify when ovulation is most likely to occur. They work similarly to home pregnancy tests. Ovulation tests can be read in a few different ways, depending on the brand. Most tests have two lines, while others display a yes or no response.
In addition to OPKs, there are several other ways women can track ovulation, including the following:
Basal Body Temperature
Due to a rise in progesterone, a woman’s basal body temperature (BBT) increases slightly during ovulation, which is the body temperature at rest. This method uses a specialized thermometer to measure BBT and temperature rises. Some smartwatches also have a basal body temperature tracker, so be sure to check out that function if you wear one. Women should record results and note what days of their cycles a temperature increase occurs to better indicate when they are ovulating.
Cervical Mucus Observation
Cervical mucus is a type of vaginal discharge produced by the cervix that changes throughout the menstrual cycle and can indicate ovulation. Typically, cervical mucus is thick, white, and dry in the first half of the menstrual cycle. Just before ovulation, cervical mucus turns clear and has a slippery consistency, similar to egg whites. This allows sperm to travel to the egg more easily. Women should monitor their cervical mucus to identify changes that indicate ovulation and fertility.
Calendar Method
The calendar method involves tracking your menstrual cycle to predict ovulation. Mark the first day of your period each month. Track your cycle for at least six (6) months to determine your cycle length. Subtract 14 days from the length of your cycle to estimate the day of ovulation. Your fertile window is about seven days long, including the five days before ovulation, the day of ovulation, and the day after ovulation.
Managing Irregular Periods and Ovulation Tracking
A typical menstrual cycle is 28 days long, but the length can vary drastically from person to person. Irregular periods, or menstrual cycles that don’t follow a consistent pattern, make it challenging to track ovulation. Signs of ovulation irregularities include:
- Cycle length: The time between periods is less than 21 days or more than 35 days
- Cycle variation:The length of time between cycles varies by more than nine days
- Menstrual flow:The amount of menstrual blood changes from period to period, or the flow is much heavier or lighter than usual
- Bleeding:Bleeding or spotting occurs between periods, after menopause, or after sexual intercourse
- Pain:Periods are accompanied by severe pain, cramping, nausea, or vomiting
- Missed periods:Three or more periods are missed in a row
In addition to specific strategies, ovulation kits, ovulation calculators, and other fertility monitoring tools can assist with tracking ovulation during irregular cycles. Women and aspiring parents can consult healthcare and fertility specialists for personalized advice. What’s more, ovulation induction can be used to treat irregular periods.
Various medical conditions can affect ovulation, such as:
- Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS):A hormonal problem that can cause infrequent or missing periods.
- Thyroid disease:Both hyperthyroidism (too much thyroid hormone) and hypothyroidism (too little thyroid hormone) can affect ovulation.
- Premature ovarian failure:Refers to a condition where the ovaries shut down and stop releasing eggs before age 40.
- Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID):Can cause lower abdominal pain, painful periods, and changes in vaginal discharge.
- Uterine abnormalities:Fibroids, polyps, scar tissue, or an abnormally shaped uterus can make it difficult for a fertilized egg to attach to the uterine wall.
- Medications:Some medications, such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), steroids, and some epilepsy medications, can affect ovulation.
- Birth control:Many birth control devices and contraception methods use hormones to interfere with ovulation.
- Illness:A flu with a high fever, vomiting, and diarrhea can make your body think you aren’t well enough to get pregnant, impacting the ovulation process.
Treatment for irregular periods depends on the cause and other factors, such as whether the woman is attempting to become pregnant.
Empowering Women Through Knowledge
Staying on top of your menstrual cycle and understanding your body’s ability to ovulate is critical to identifying potential issues or irregularities impacting your fertility. There are several methods to track when your body is ovulating to increase the likelihood of conception. Because no method is 100% accurate, the best approach is to combine methods.
Women, men, and couples interested in parenthood now or in the future are encouraged to consult qualified healthcare providers for expert advice. In addition to advanced fertility treatments, the specialists at RMA Network offer patients advice backed by accurate medical findings. Anyone wishing to learn more about ovulation tracking should contact us to schedule a first visit.
