What is ovulation and how can you recognize your fertile days?
Ovulation is an important moment in your menstrual cycle. It occurs when a mature egg is released from a follicle in your ovary and begins to travel down the fallopian tube to the uterus.
Two days before ovulation and the day of ovulation are the most fertile days of your cycle. This is when you are most likely to get pregnant. Ovulation occurs around the middle of your cycle. However, the exact time can vary from woman to woman.
Over the course of your life, without hormonal intervention or extraordinary circumstances, ovulation will occur about 500 times and will follow you from puberty to menopause (2).
Like all the processes in your menstrual cycle, ovulation is controlled by a complex interaction of hormones. The rise in luteinizing hormone (LH) is particularly important.
You can tell when you are ovulating by paying attention to body cues such as your basal body temperature or cervical mucus.
Understanding when and how you ovulate is not only fascinating. It is incredibly valuable. It allows you to plan pregnancy, use contraception, and better understand your overall health and cycle.
With this knowledge, you can make confident and informed decisions.
What happens during the menstrual cycle when you ovulate?
Ovulation is the time when a mature egg is released into your fallopian tube. It requires a complex interaction of hormones in your body.
The follicular phase begins on the first day of your period and ends when you ovulate. During this time, your body releases follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), which causes several follicles to grow in your ovaries. These follicles, each containing an immature egg (oocyte), begin to produce increasing amounts of estrogen.
When this estrogen exceeds a certain threshold due to the growing follicles, your body responds by releasing luteinizing hormone (LH) (3).
This hormone causes a sudden increase (LH surge). This LH surge triggers the crucial moment: the most developed follicle matures, bursts and releases the egg, which then moves into the fallopian tube.
After ovulation, the empty follicle turns into the so-called corpus luteum, which produces progesterone and small amounts of estrogen. Progesterone plays an essential role in preparing and maintaining the lining of the uterus for a possible pregnancy (3).
The egg is now ready in the fallopian tube for about 12-24 hours and sperm can fertilize the egg.
If this does not happen within this period, the egg dies and you start your period (1).
As you can see, your ovulation is a complex, fascinating interplay in your body and a sign of your health.
When does ovulation take place?
Our cycles are as individual as we are, so there is no standard time for ovulation (1). Some women have shorter cycles, others longer, and the timing of ovulation is as variable as the length of the individual cycle (5).
While the luteal phase, the time between ovulation and your period, is relatively constant for most women at about 14 days, the follicular phase, which precedes ovulation, varies widely and can last from 10 to 16 days (6). The variability of the follicular phase results in different ovulation times.
In an exemplary 28-day cycle, ovulation usually occurs around day 14 (2). However, it is normal for the timing to vary slightly from cycle to cycle.
Various factors such as stress, diet or excessive exercise can affect your hormones and therefore also shift your ovulation (2). During the perimenopause, the transition phase to the menopause, ovulation can become more irregular (7). Conditions such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) can also lead to irregular ovulation and cycles (4).
What is the difference between ovulation and your fertile days?
Although ovulation occurs on a specific day and your egg is only fertile for a maximum of 24 hours, the fertile window in each cycle is about six days.
This fertile window is the time when you are most likely to become pregnant. Unprotected intercourse during these six days can result in pregnancy (4).
The fertile window starts about five days before ovulation and ends on the day of ovulation. It therefore comprises a total of six days.
This period takes into account the lifespan of the sperm, which can survive for up to five days, and the lifespan of the egg, which can be fertilized for about 12 to 24 hours after ovulation.
Within this window, the chances of pregnancy are highest, especially in the last three days before and on the day of ovulation (5).
In summary, ovulation is the moment when the egg is released, while the fertile window is the entire period during which sexual intercourse can lead to conception.
What are the physical signs of ovulation during the female cycle?
The fascinating interplay of your hormones has numerous effects that you may notice to varying degrees every month. Some women feel these changes more intensely, others hardly at all.
Ovulation pain
A common phenomenon is ovulation pain. If you feel a slight pulling or pain in your lower abdomen in the middle of your cycle, this is probably a sign that you are ovulating. Around one in five women experience this discomfort, which usually lasts between three and a maximum of twelve hours (8).
The exact trigger for mid-cycle cramps is not fully understood, but may be related to the rapid increase in luteinizing hormone (LH) (9).
When this pain becomes uncomfortable, heat and relaxation can provide relief, similar to menstrual cramps. However, if the pain becomes more severe or interferes with your daily life, it is advisable to see a doctor.
a woman that is holding her lower stomach like she has period cramps
Basal body temperature changes
The hormone progesterone has a measurable effect on your basal body temperature and is therefore a reliable indicator of ovulation.
Basal body temperature is the lowest point of your body temperature when you wake up and increases by 0.2°C to 0.45°C immediately after ovulation. It then remains elevated until your next period begins.
Changes in cervical mucus.
During your cycle, the cervical mucus, a fluid produced by the glands on the cervix, also changes. During the fertile window, cervical mucus becomes thinner, clearer and more stretchy - similar to raw egg white.
This change in consistency makes it easier for the sperm to reach the egg. The volume of cervical mucus also increases, which can lead to increased discharge (9).
You may also notice other symptoms, such as an increased libido, sensitive breasts, bloating or light spotting.
How can you tell when you ovulate?
If you want to get pregnant or use ovulation timing for contraception, it is important to know when you ovulate.
Many women use an ovulation test to do this. This involves testing your urine with a test stick. This will tell you how much luteinizing hormone is in your urine.
However, these tests are not always reliable because they do not work equally well for every woman and every lifestyle. Errors can occur, especially if your urine is very dilute or if you test directly in the morning (11).
The better alternative is to observe and track your natural, physical symptoms.
Your cervical mucus and basal body temperature change in a characteristic way around ovulation.
If you take your basal body temperature with an accurate thermometer every day immediately upon waking, and at the same time document the consistency and amount of your cervical mucus, you will be able to identify valuable patterns.
Your basal body temperature rises and your cervical mucus changes.
These observations will help you pinpoint your ovulation time. With patience and time, you will develop a clearer understanding of when your fertile window begins and ends.
How can our Daysy computer determine your ovulation?
Taking your basal body temperature every day is a proven way to reliably detect ovulation. However, manually recording this data can be challenging as it requires a long learning curve, a lot of knowledge, and commitment.
This is where our Daysy cycle computer comes in, taking the work out of the process and simplifying it for you. We want to help you manage your fertility as easily and accurately as possible.
Daysy reliably determines your ovulation and fertile window. This allows you to easily and effectively integrate natural family planning into your daily life and get to know your menstrual cycle better.
Every morning, you use Daysy to measure your basal body temperature under your tongue for around 60 seconds. The data collected is processed automatically and you receive a clear indication of your fertility status directly on the device - either fertile (red) or non-fertile (green).
The associated app also provides you with reliable predictions for your fertile window and ovulation in future cycles. From the first measurement, Daysy's algorithm begins to analyze your cycles and adapt to your individual patterns.
To ensure Daysy is accurate from day one, you will initially see many "yellow days" (learning phase) and "red days" (fertile), but the longer you use Daysy, the more Daysy narrows down your fertile window.
Daysy's sophisticated algorithm continuously adapts to your body and your cycle patterns and learns from your daily measurements.
This gives you an impressive accuracy of over 99% in differentiating your non-fertile days from your fertile days.
This high reliability makes Daysy a valuable companion that guides you safely through all phases of your cycle.
Whether you are trying to plan a pregnancy or simply want to gain a better understanding of your body, Daysy is always at your side. She gives you the peace of mind that your fertility and health are in the best hands.
What does it mean if you don't ovulate?
It is not unusual for you to occasionally experience a cycle without ovulation (anovulation). You have probably already experienced one or more anovulatory cycles without even realizing it. Despite the absence of ovulation, you may still get your period (12).
An anovulatory cycle can be more common at different stages of life, especially for girls who have just started menstruating and women approaching menopause. During these times, the body goes through many hormonal changes that can trigger anovulatory cycles (12).
Other causes can affect your ovulation. These include short-term psychological and physical factors such as jet lag, seasonal changes, stress, smoking, or excessive stress and additional longer-term issues such as PCOS and thyroid disorders (2,13).
What can you do if you are not ovulating?
Daysy gives you a wonderful opportunity to check how regular your ovulation is. If your temperature does not rise, you have had an anovulatory cycle where you have not ovulated.
Ovulation is a crucial indicator of your reproductive health and essential if you want to get pregnant. It is therefore important to identify possible underlying problems and cycle disorders.
Consider yourself first. Have you had a lot of stress recently? Have you made any changes to your lifestyle?
If you notice in the DaysyDay app that you are frequently not ovulating or that your periods are very irregular, it is advisable to discuss these observations with a doctor.
Together, you can identify possible causes and find solutions, either through small lifestyle changes or targeted medical examinations.
Why is it important to know when you ovulate?
Ovulation can give you valuable insight into your health and provide incredible value in a variety of life situations.
Increase your chances of getting pregnant significantly
The days around ovulation are the only time in your cycle when fertilization is possible, this knowledge is especially important when you try to conceive.
Knowing when ovulation occurs allows you and your partner to consciously plan your time together around those fertile days, increasing the likelihood that sperm and egg will successfully meet.
This precise planning can help you achieve your dream of a family and your desire to have children.
Prevent unwanted pregnancies
If you want to prevent pregnancy, knowing when you ovulate gives you valuable, hormone-free control over your fertility.
By precisely recognizing when you are ovulating, you can decide whether to abstain from sexual intercourse on these days or use additional contraceptive methods.
This conscious planning not only gives you security, but also the freedom to plan your family in a self-determined and effective way.
Recognize potential possible fertility problems
Irregular or missed ovulation can indicate deeper health issues, such as hormonal imbalances or polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
If you miss several ovulations, this is an important signal from your body that something might not be quite right. By taking these signs seriously and seeking medical help early on, you can clarify possible causes and give your body the support it needs.
Planning and understanding your cycle
Since you get your period about 14 days after you ovulate, knowing this can help you predict when your next period will start. This gives you that extra bit of confidence and is especially useful for vacations, special occasions, or just general life planning.
Daysy makes it even easier and more accurate for you to see when your next period is due in the app.
Personal well-being
By observing how your body and well-being change around ovulation, you can better understand how your lifestyle, diet or stress levels affect your cycle.
This knowledge enables you to make targeted adjustments and support your health in the best possible way.
Knowing when you ovulate is the key to taking control of your fertility.
The timing of your ovulation is like a window into your reproductive status. It gives you the information you need to make informed decisions about your fertility, monitor your health and better understand your cycle.
Accurately tracking your ovulation is a valuable tool to help you take control of your life.
With Daysy, you can accurately and effortlessly track your ovulation. Whether you are trying to get pregnant or just want to learn more about your cycle, Daysy can help you better understand your body and manage your fertility.
Sources:
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(5) Understanding ovulation and the fertile window. (2021). In The Fertility Society Of Australia [Report]. Abgerufen am 7. August 2024, von https://www.fertilitysociety.com.au/wp-content/uploads/Understanding-ovulation-and-the-fertile-window.pdf
(6) Reed, B. & Carr, B. (2015, 24. April). The Normal Menstrual Cycle and the Control of Ovulation. Europe PMC. Abgerufen am 7. August 2024, von https://europepmc.org/article/nbk/nbk279054
(7) Hale, G. E., Robertson, D. M. & Burger, H. G. (2014). The perimenopausal woman: Endocrinology and management. The Journal Of Steroid Biochemistry And Molecular Biology, 142, 121–131. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsbmb.2013.08.015
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