Knowing when ovulation is taking place is useful if you are trying to conceive – or trying to avoid getting pregnant.
Ovulation is the part of your menstrual cycle during which your ovary releases an egg. Ovulation, and the few days leading up to it, are the most fertile times of the month, when you are most likely to get pregnant.
So, using an ovulation calendar and tracking your cycle can help to take some of the guesswork out of trying to conceive – or avoiding it.
What is ovulation?
The average menstrual cycle lasts 28 days. Day one marks the start of the menstrual phase, when you have your period, and lasts around 5 days. During the follicular phase, which starts at the same time as your period and lasts until around day 12, hormones stimulate your ovaries to produce fluid filled sacs which contain an egg.
Ovulation then occurs, between days 13 and 15, when the egg is released from the ovary and travels through the fallopian tube, where it is likely to meet sperm and be fertilized. This is the most fertile part of your cycle. This fertile window begins a few days before ovulation actually takes place.
If the egg isn’t fertilized, your cycle enters the luteal phase. During days 16 to 28, the unfertilized egg travels to the uterus and is shed, along with the lining of the womb, when your next cycle begins.
What are the signs that ovulation is happening?
Some women have no idea when ovulation is taking place, which is why an ovulation calendar is helpful.
Others may notice signs that they are ovulating, which can include:
- Minor discomfort in the pelvis or abdomen
- Tender breasts
- Increased sex drive
- Mood changes
- Bloating
How can I track ovulation?
To know when you ovulate, you will need to know how long, on average, your cycle lasts. To do this, track your whole cycle for 3 months, starting from the first day of your period and counting the days until the next one starts. To work out the average, add your three cycle lengths together and then divide by 3.
Ovulation takes place around 14 days before the start of your period. So, if your average cycle length is 28 days, then ovulation is most likely to happen on day 14.
Remember, the fertile window includes the days leading up to and including ovulation, meaning conception can happen anywhere between days 10 and 15.
Sperm can live inside the body for several days, so if you are trying to conceive, intercourse should take place during this window to increase your chances.
If you are avoiding pregnancy, then avoid intercourse during this time.
How else can I calculate when I ovulate?
There are other ways to know when your fertile window has begun:
- Check your body temperature: When you ovulate, there is a slight increase in your basal body temperature – the lowest temperature you measure during rest.
- Check your discharge: Cervical discharge changes throughout your cycle. During ovulation, it is more likely to be clear and stretchy, like raw egg white.
- Use ovulation testing kits: These are sticks that you pee on, which will detect an increase in the hormones associated with ovulation.
Tracking your cycle is a simple way to know when you are ovulating and at your most fertile. Try combining an ovulation calculator with other methods to give you as much information about your cycle as possible.