Whether you are trying to get pregnant or not, knowing when you are ovulating is one of the best things you can learn. Yet to a great number of women, such questions as, When do I ovulate, or What does ovulating feel like may seem puzzling or even stressful. No need to panic, because this guide simplifies and explains it a way it is, such that you know how your body functions and on what signs you should look.
What is Ovulation?
Ovulation refers to when a mature egg is released by one of the ovaries. Most often it occurs once every menstrual cycle. Once the egg is released, it descends along the fallopian tube where it can encounter sperm and be fertilized.
Ovulating Meaning:
In simple terms, ovulating implies that your body is shedding an egg. It is the most fertile part of your cycle, and it normally occurs in the middle of your menstrual cycle.
At what time does ovulation begin?
The typical menstrual cycle lasts 28 days, though the normal range is from 21 to 35 days. Ovulation does eventually occur somewhere 14 days before your period starts. So, let’s say your period is a monthly and it’s 28 days long, then you should ovulate on your 14th day.
What is the Luteal Phase?
Once the ovulation is over, the body goes into the so-called luteal phase. This is the time after ovulation when your period will resume. It normally takes 12 to 16 days. In the process, the progesterone hormone rises and prepares the uterus to be suitable in case of a possible pregnancy.
What Does Ovulation Feel Like?
Not all ladies observe any signs or symptoms of ovulation; some ladies even do not notice anything. Here is what (ovulation symptoms) you may feel:-
- Mittelschmerz (Ovulation Pain): Pain, which is either dull or sharp, on one side of the lower abdomen
- More of Cervical Mucus: Thin, runny, and looks like egg whites
- Breast Tenderness: The hormonal change causes breast tenderness
- Increased Libido: This is a natural tendency to elevated fertility
- Improved Senses: Other women say that their sense of smell or taste improves
- Light Spotting: In certain situations, there can be some slight spotting of blood
Those who wonder whether they are ovulating or not, it is recommended that they track the signs of an ovulation on a routine basis.
Monitoring ovulation: How to track Ovulation?
Knowledge of your ovulation is the secret of a healthy reproduction, and fortunately, there are several methods to calculate it:
- Basal Body Temperature (BBT)
First thing in the morning, before getting out of bed, measure your temperature. An increase by a few degrees (around 0.5 to 1.0°F) shows that ovulation has already taken place.
- Ovulation Predictor Kits, or OPKs
These resemble pregnancy tests and are able to recognize the increase in luteinizing hormone (LH) that occurs prior to ovulation.
- Tracking of Cervical Mucus
Monitor your day-to-day texture and quantity of cervical mucus. At the point where it gets clear and jelly-like, just like the egg white, then, it is around ovulation time.
- Ultrasound and Hormonal monitoring
It is the most precise approach and is usually taken in clinic settings or in some fertility procedures, such as Ovarian Induction.
Why Ovulation and Fertility Are Important?
When you want to establish a pregnancy, to be able to support your idea as much as possible, you need to have intercourse when you are ovulating. Egg has a lifespan of approximately 12-24 hours following ovulation, but sperm has the ability to survive up to 5 days within the reproductive tract. This is the reason known as the fertile window, days before and on ovulation.
Even when you are not actively looking to conceive, getting to know when you ovulate can be useful in making more intelligent decisions in contraception or dealing with the effects of hormones in a more effective way.
Problems with Ovulation to be Taken into Account
Not all women do ovulate. Some might have problems, including:
- Irregular Cycles
- Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)
- Thyroid Imbalances
- Premature Ovarian Failure
- Overstressing or Skinny Fatness
It is necessary to get advice from a fertility specialist, in case you are not ovulating regularly or you do not know whether you are ovulating or not.
Ovarian Induction- A Remedy to Irregular Ovulation
Ovarian Induction can be advised to women who do not ovulate naturally. This is where ovaries are stimulated using drugs to produce eggs. It is usually a primary process in fertility intervention, and it can work miraculously among women with hormonal imbalances, PCOS, or any other ovulatory disorder.
Ovarian Induction is a closely tracked, safe method, which is mostly done along with timed intercourse, intrauterine insemination ( IUI), and in vitro fertilization (IVF).
When is the Time to Consult a Fertility Specialist?
When you have been in the process of trying to get pregnant for more than a year (half a year in case you are older than 35) or when you have uneven cycles or painful periods or, on the contrary, there are no signs of ovulation at all, you should address a specialist.
The first steps that a fertility professional can take are to perform hormone tests, ultrasound observation, and even prescribe a change in lifestyle or medication to enhance natural ovulation and the health of the reproductive system as a whole.
In conclusion, Knowledge is Power.
The center of your fertility is ovulation. Now that you know the answer to the question, what is ovulation, to appreciate the symptoms of ovulation and the fact that the luteal phase is essential, all this knowledge will make you one step closer to having full command over your reproductive health.
It does not matter whether you are currently pregnant, have an intention to conceive, or are thinking about fertility treatment; precise ovulation tracking is the key. And when it is not occurring regularly, you know there is some assistance available to ovulate regularly.
Trust the Professionals at SCI IVF Hospital
We know how hard it is emotionally and physically in an attempt to conceive; that is why at SCI IVF Hospital, we have tried our best to make the experience as easy as possible. On our team of highly experienced professionals in the area of fertility care, we provide individualistic treatment programs that are decorated with Ovarian Induction, advanced diagnostic measures, and support your treatment process in a caring manner.
We are a well-known name in the field of IVF and reproductive health in India, given our commitment to clinical excellence and patient well-being.
Don’t guess, know yourself. And make your initial step with SCI IVF Hospital.
Make an appointment now and receive understanding, compassion, and professional advice from those who know it best.