Understanding Ovulation Symptoms

When you’re trying to conceive, understanding your ovulation cycle is crucial. Knowing the signs of ovulation can significantly increase your chances of getting pregnant. At Reproductive Partners Fertility Center (RPSD), we believe in empowering our patients with knowledge to help them achieve their dreams of parenthood. Here, we’ll walk you through the key ovulation symptoms to watch for.

Ovulation is a phase in the menstrual cycle when a mature egg is released from the ovary. This is the time when you are most fertile. Typically, ovulation occurs in the middle of your menstrual cycle, around day 14 in a 28-day cycle. However, this can vary from woman to woman.

As you approach ovulation, your cervical mucus changes in quantity and consistency. You might notice an increase in clear, stretchy, and slippery mucus, similar to egg whites. This mucus helps sperm swim more easily to the egg.

Your basal body temperature, which is your temperature when you’re fully at rest, slightly increases after ovulation. By charting your BBT every morning before getting out of bed, you can identify a pattern over a few months. A sustained rise in BBT typically indicates that ovulation has occurred.

Luteinizing hormone (LH) surges right before ovulation. You can detect this surge using over-the-counter ovulation predictor kits (OPKs). A positive result usually means you will ovulate within the next 12 to 36 hours.

Some women experience a mild ache or pain on one side of their lower abdomen around the time of ovulation. This is known as mittelschmerz, a German word meaning “middle pain.” It can last from a few minutes to a few hours.

Hormonal changes during ovulation can cause your breasts to feel tender or sore. This is due to the surge in hormones like estrogen and progesterone.

You might notice a spike in your sexual desire during ovulation. This natural increase in libido is your body’s way of encouraging reproduction.

During ovulation, your cervix may become higher, softer, and more open. Checking cervical position requires practice, and it’s best to do it at the same time each day.

Tracking ovulation can be done using various methods:

If you’ve been trying to conceive for over a year (or six months if you’re over 35) without success, it may be time to consult a fertility specialist. At Reproductive Partners Fertility Center, we offer comprehensive evaluations and personalized treatment plans to help you on your journey to parenthood.

To schedule a consultation with an RPSD expert, click here!