Ovulation...What Is It and How To Recognise It?

What is Ovulation? For all women our menstrual cycles are unique, just like ourselves, however there is a general pattern that is considered the "norm" (if there is such a thing).  What is considered the norm is our cycles last approx. 28 days, with our period beginning on day 1, lasting approx. 5-7 days.  If we follow the norm, then ovulation generally occurs around day 14 of our cycle.

Ovulation Defined

Ovulation is the term given to the hormone change that triggers the egg to be released by the ovary.  This egg is then available to be fertilised. We are at our most fertile just before and just after ovulation.  So, what’s happening in the lead up to ovulation, at ovulation and immediately after.

This all sounds very straight forward, it happens every month from when we begin our periods until we reach menopause, but this is when we begin to appreciate just how amazing our bodies are.  At the beginning of our cycle our pituitary gland (also known as the master gland) secrets a hormone called FSH (follicle Stimulating Hormone), this stimulates the follicles to develop and mature in the ovaries.  As the follicles begin to develop, they release the hormone oestrogen, the levels of oestrogen continue to increase and once it has reached a certain level it inhibits FSH.   This then signals the pituitary to releases a surge of LH (Luteinising Hormone) which causes the follicle to rupture and the egg is released from the ovary…and ovulation has occurred.

If the egg is fertilised it will travel to the uterus, where all being well it will implant, and a pregnancy will have occurred.  During this stage the ruptured cells in the ovary from where the egg was released (known as the corpus luteal mass) secrete the hormone progesterone.  Progesterone is important in the second half of the cycle as it keeps the endometrium(lining of the uterus) intact, increases the circulation to the endometrium and ever so slightly elevates the temperature to provide a snug warm environment to support a pregnancy.  If no pregnancy occurs the egg is reabsorbed, and the lining of the uterus is shed through a period.

For couples trying to conceive being aware of ovulation is very important.  Once the egg is released it is estimated that it will only survive for 8-12 hours unless fertilised.  Healthy sperm can survive a little longer, for up to 5 days.  So being aware of what is happening in the body is crucial to get your timing right.

How can I tell if I’m about to ovulate?

It’s a good question, some of us are really in tune with what is happening in our bodies and others aren’t.  I generally find that the couples I work with might not have necessarily been aware of signs before but can begin to recognise the subtle ques the body gives just before or around ovulation.  These signs include;

• Abdominal pain
• Changes in cervical discharge
• Changes in temperature
• Increased libido
• Breast Tenderness
• Spotting

I often encourage women to monitor their basal body temperature (BBT) for a couple of months as a guide to when ovulation occurs.  This is not exact as there are many factors that can interfere with the readings such as a late night, feeling unwell, alcohol or broken sleep.  But around the LH surge we can see a slight rise in body temp and sight, I mean 0.2 degree Celsius.

Changes in cervical mucus, during most of our cycle the cervix produces mucus which is cloudy, thick or non-existent. As the level of Oestrogen increases our cervical mucus changes to be “sperm friendly” and is an indication that ovulation is imminent.  Our mucus changes to be clear, profuse and stretchy (egg white constitution) this is fertile mucus and for those trying to conceive is what we are looking for.

Listening to our bodies and noticing slight changes particularly if you are thinking about getting pregnant or currently trying is really important.  If you have any concerns about your cycle it's always important to seek advice from your healthcare practitioner.

Next time I plan to share more information about my Create Fertility programme that supports couples to prepare for a healthy pregnancy.  This includes our mind, our diet, rest and our overall health.  I hope you have found this information helpful.