Oh boy, do we have a topic for you today! Have you ever tried getting pregnant and found that it just isn't happening? You might be missing your ovulation window. But how are you supposed to know when that is? Don't worry; we're here to help you unlock the secret of knowing your ovulation day!
What Is Ovulation?
Just in case you don't know what ovulation is, let's start with some basics. Ovulation occurs when one of your ovaries releases an egg into your fallopian tube. This usually happens once a month in women who aren't on hormonal birth control (spoiler alert: hormonal birth control prevents ovulation!). If that egg comes into contact with sperm, fertilization can occur!
When Does Ovulation Usually Happen?
Most women will ovulate around 14 days before their next period starts. However, this varies depending on the length of your menstrual cycle. If your cycles are shorter or longer than average, then there's a chance you may be ovulating earlier or later than day 14.
For example: - Women with 28-day cycles tend to ovulate around day 14 - Women with 21-day cycles tend to ovulate around day 7 - Women with 35-day cycles tend to ovulate around day 21
Listen...we’re not saying all women’s period patterns match up – everybody’s body operates differently!
So how can YOU figure out when YOUR particular egg drop takes place? Here are some tips:
Keep Track of Your Menstrual Cycle
The first step towards figuring out when you're going to release a child/ovulate is tracking your menstrual cycle over several months (ideally at least three) so that patterns begin emerging.
Some things you should look out for: - The first day of your menstrual cycle is considered day one – mark it on the calendar! - Not everyone has a 28-day cycle – we’re all different! Track yours to get a better sense. - Any abnormal bleeding or unexpected cramps during that time? Mark them down!
Basal Body Temperature
Yep, you heard it right. Your BBT (Basal Body Temperature) can help detect ovulation. It’s not the most reliable method, but if you track your temperature over time and look at recordings from past days/weeks/months, there’ll be noticeable drops in temperature around ovulation timing.
How do I go about this process? 1. Purchase yourself an excellent BBT thermometer (this special type reads up to two decimal points.) If purchasing online, please make sure not to fall for anything below $50 or way over $1000 because some might try and scam you with inferior products. 2. Every morning before getting out of bed/eating/etc., take a reading of your body’s internal temperature and note it down somewhere safe...and hygienic! If using an oral thermometer that requires insertion into the rectum (winks), ensure proper sanitation measures are taken after readings. 3. Over time, patterns will begin emerging from these recorded temperatures.
Cervical Mucus Check
We promise this isn't creepy! Checking your cervical mucus consistency (“CM”) can reveal when you're going through higher fertility modes as well as when sex generally increases odds of pregnancy by achieving successful sperm win!
When approaching Ovulation timing
• Before Ovulating - typically:
oDry sensation
oSticky feel due to thicker white/clear discharge occurring
• During Ovulating - typically:
oWetter sensations may arise
Egg White cervical mucus being exuded indicates high fertility and the best time for sex
Or other wet sensations may arise outside of egg white, but when in doubt, have a go at it!
It might sound like an odd concept to some people, but learning about your body this way (even if only trying conceive) can be helpful for any gynecological health problems that come up later on.
Ovulation Predictor Kits
These kits predict ovulation by measuring hormone changes in urine or saliva – totally mess-free!
How do they work? 1. Purchase - no brainer. oPlease stick within budget. Don’t let these drug companies get the best of you! 2. Wait till the kit indicates measurement is necessary either through color or engineering design unique to brand purchased 3. Results seen are easily interpreted when compared against their respective brands basic instruction sheet.
Kits come with 5-10 sticks per purchase and successful use simply involves peeing onto those strips before going forward into baby making moves!
Something To Keep In Mind: DON’T just rely on one technique every month, try out several techniques to ensure accuracy over longer periods.
Check-In With Your Doctor
Not everyone experiences a textbook cycle (life would be too easy, right?) – internal hormonal imbalances could make seemingly regular cycles irregular as well! If unexplained “infertility” goes beyond six months without conception success, take yourself down to your local medical clinic and speak with a doctor specialist regarding personalized guidance towards next steps, goal attainment timelines and structured IVF plans if indicated after thorough instrumentation efforts prove unsuccessful.
Don't automatically assume complications though. It's always good practice/routine/habit (!) of contacting doctors whenever experiencing unusual issues or concerns / spotting unusual patterns while tracking ovulating processes endlessly.
Finally...
Knowing YOUR ovulation schedule isn’t rocket science; it’s all about paying attention what happens inside your body each month/months. Pay attention to signs already occurring, stay open-minded about new methods and you’ll have a baby growing inside of you in no time!
And remember, nobody said the journey was easy but it can definitely still be fun!