How to Recognize Ovulation Signs When Trying to Conceive (original) (raw)

If you're currently trying to conceive, learning to recognize the signs of ovulation—such as changes in vaginal discharge, slight cramping, and a rise in basal body temperature—can be a key factor in your pregnancy success.

Ovulation occurs when a mature egg is released from the ovary and moves down the fallopian tube, where it awaits fertilization with sperm. If a fertilized egg successfully implants in the uterine lining, you'll end up with a positive pregnancy test. But if you miss the fertilization window, you need to wait until next month to try again.

By learning to identify the physical signs and symptoms of ovulation, you can properly time intercourse to boost your odds of getting pregnant. Here's what you need to know.

Determining Your Fertile Window

Your body is most fertile on the day of ovulation and the five days beforehand (known as the "fertile window.") This is because sperm can survive up to five days in the reproductive tract, while eggs survive for 12-24 hours.

Ovulation Signs and Symptoms

Not everyone will experience ovulation symptoms. That said, if you're paying attention to your body, you might recognize a few ovulation signs that indicate you're at the most fertile time in your cycle.

Here are some signs and symptoms that ovulation is coming or that ovulation has just occurred.

Illustration by Katie Kerpel

Positive ovulation test result

An ovulation predictor kit (OPK) detects a surge in luteinizing hormone (LH), which happens about 36 hours before you ovulate. OPKs work a lot like at-home pregnancy tests.

When your ovulation test is positive, this is the time to have sex, since you're most likely to conceive through intercourse in the five days before ovulation or the day of ovulation itself.

Ovulation pain or cramping

Also referred to as mittelschmerz, some people experience ovulation pain, cramps, or twinges when an egg is released. The pain usually appears on one side of the lower pelvis/abdomen, and it can feel dull or sharp, mild or severe. It can last a few minutes to a few hours, but it can also stick around for as long as a day or two.

Rise in basal body temperature

Immediately following ovulation, most individuals will experience a slight but detectable rise in their normal body temperature (around 0.5–1°F), according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG).

By monitoring basal body temperature (BBT) first thing in the morning daily, and tracking the results on a chart, it's possible to determine whether ovulation has occurred. (Though keep in mind that fever, restless sleep, and exertion can affect the accuracy of the temperature readings).

Using basal body temperature is a good way of guessing when you might be fertile next month, as these calculations only tell you when ovulation has already occurred.

Increased sex drive

Nature knows exactly how to make you have sex at the ideal time for conception. Many individuals experience libido changes before or during ovulation. If you have an increased sex drive, your fertile window could be near—especially if you notice any of the other aforementioned signs of ovulation.

Note, however, that if you’re anxious, stressed, or depressed, you may not notice or have an increase in sexual desire, even right before ovulation.

Cervical mucus changes

Another way to detect impending ovulation is to monitor your vaginal secretions or cervical mucus.

In general, your vagina produces the least amount of secretions following your menstrual cycle. Right before ovulation, most people detect increased cervical mucus that's thin and slippery (similar to the consistency of raw egg whites). Then, after you ovulate, your cervical mucus becomes thicker with less production.

Keep in mind that other things, aside from ovulation, might also impact the amount and consistency of your cervical mucus. They might include the following:

Fertile Cervical Mucus

When you’re approaching ovulation, your cervical mucus increases and transforms into a raw-egg-white-like consistency. This fertile mucus helps sperm swim into the reproductive system, and it typically makes sexual intercourse easier and more pleasurable.

Breast tenderness

Tender or sore breasts can be an indicator of ovulation; you can blame hormonal changes for this. The soreness might last until the start of your next period, and it can range from mild to severe. Keep in mind, however, that breasts can also be an early sign of pregnancy.

Heightened senses

Are you experiencing a heightened sense of smell or taste? Some studies indicate that this could be a sign of ovulation.

Light spotting

Slight vaginal bleeding can also be a sign of ovulation, though it's not extremely common. This ovulation bleeding might be reddish or brown, and it indicates shifts in estrogen and progesterone levels.

Abdominal bloating

The hormonal changes near ovulation can lead to fluid retention, bloating, and gassiness. One study found that bloating may become noticeable about five days before ovulation.

Mood and appetite changes

It's also not uncommon for people to experience mood and appetite shifts around ovulation. Specifically, your mood might improve around the time a mature egg is released from the ovary, while your appetite might decrease (though it should increase again after ovulation).

Change in cervical position

If you think of your vagina as a tunnel, the tunnel ends at the cervix. Your cervix shifts positions and changes throughout your menstrual cycle.

Just before ovulation, the cervix moves up higher (you may even have difficulty reaching it), becomes softer to the touch, and opens slightly. When you’re not in the fertile stage of your cycle, the cervix is lower, harder, and more tightly closed.

While you may think cervix checking is limited to OB-GYNs during childbirth, it's something you can learn to do. And while you’re checking your cervix, you can evaluate your cervical mucus changes, too.

Saliva ferning pattern

For some people, a ferning pattern in their saliva is another possible sign of ovulation. A unique and uncommon way to detect ovulation, a ferning pattern looks like frost on a windowpane. There are specialized microscopes sold for this purpose, but you could technically use any toy store microscope. Note that this method isn't accurate for everyone though.

Pinpointing Your Exact Ovulation Date

Can any of the ovulation signs listed above give you the exact date you ovulated? Here’s the bottom line: It doesn’t matter. As long as you have sex within three to four days of your possible ovulation date (or have sex frequently all month long), then you’ll increase your odds of conception.

When Do You Ovulate?

Ovulation happens on approximately day 14 of a typical 28-day menstrual cycle ("day one" is the first day of your period). Of course, not all menstrual cycles run exactly 28 days; it's common for some people's cycles to be shorter or longer.

A general guideline is that ovulation occurs about 14 days—or two weeks—before the start of your next period. For example, if your cycle is 22 days, you'll ovulate around day 8. On the other hand, if your cycle tends to be 35 days, you'll ovulate on day 21.

If your menstrual cycle is regular—meaning the time between your periods is usually consistent—you can rely on a calendar method for tracking your fertile period. But if you have irregular cycles, ovulation can be more difficult to pinpoint. You might consider looking at other signs of ovulation to determine your best chances of conceiving.

Also consider using an online ovulation calculator, like the one below, to figure out when you're fertile.

How Long Does Ovulation Last?

Ovulation only happens one time per menstrual cycle. After the egg is released from the ovary, it survives for 12-24 hours.

That said, your fertile window (the timeframe when you're most likely to conceive) lasts longer than this. Sperm can survive up to five days in the reproductive tract, and days-old sperm can fertilize an egg to form a pregnancy. You're most likely to conceive by having sex on the day of ovulation and the five days beforehand.

Other Ways to Detect Ovulation

While the physical signs of ovulation are often good predictors of fertility, some individuals prefer to take a more scientific approach. Here are other ways to detect ovulation.

As always, if you have questions or concerns about ovulation, be sure to reach out to an OB-GYN or health care provider.

Signs of Irregular Ovulation

If you’re not ovulating (anovulation), you can’t get pregnant. And if you’re ovulating irregularly (oligoovulation), it may be harder for you to conceive. Here are some signs you're experiencing an ovulation-related problem.

Irregular or missing periods

Most people have a "regular" menstrual cycle that's as short as 21 days or as long as 35 days. If your cycles are commonly shorter or longer than this, you may have an ovulation problem. Not getting your period at all (or going many months between cycles) can also signal that you’re not ovulating. In these cases, it's important to get checked out by an OB-GYN specializing in fertility issues.

No rise in basal body temperature

If you’ve been charting your cycles and you don’t see a slight increase in BBT, it’s possible you’re not ovulating. However, some people don’t get the rise in BBT, even if they are ovulating. Why this happens is unknown.

It's important to note that irregular sleep patterns, as well as not taking your temperature at the same time every morning, can throw off your charting results.

Inconsistencies in ovulation test results

Ovulation test kits detect the hormone LH, which surges just before ovulation. If you never get a positive result, you may not be ovulating.

Oddly enough, getting multiple positive results can also indicate an ovulation problem. This implies your body is attempting to trigger ovulation but is not achieving success. Think of it as a misfire. This is common in people with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS).

What to do for irregular ovulation

If you suspect you’re not ovulating regularly, see your OB-GYN or health care provider. To diagnose a fertility problem, they might order blood tests for progesterone, prolactin, and thyroid levels, among other things. They might also conduct a transvaginal ultrasound.

If your health care provider has determined that you’re not ovulating regularly, the next step might involve lifestyle changes or treatment with a fertility drug called Clomid.

Note that ovulation issues aren't the only cause of infertility, and there could be other factors keeping you from getting pregnant, like blocked fallopian tubes or male infertility. The good news is that most couples with fertility challenges will be able to get pregnant with the help of treatments.

Key Takeaways

Sometimes, you can detect signs of ovulation to get pregnant faster. That said, even if you have sex at the appropriate time, conception isn't guaranteed to happen right away. Healthy couples in their 20s or early 30s have a 25-30% chance of conceiving in each cycle. By age 40, the chances drop to 10% per cycle.