It is important for women to keep a record of their period cycles. A Period cycle tracks down the days when you ovulate and hence help you in calculating the best time to conceive.
Here are some key facts about ovulation that will surely hold your attention.
#1. What is Ovulation?
Ovulation is the process that takes place once in every menstrual cycle when the hormonal changes trigger an ovary to release an egg. Ovulation is when that matured egg travels down the fallopian tube and is accessible to be fertilized in the fallopian tube itself.
#2. When Do Women Ovulate?
Ovulation can be calculated by marking the first day of the last menstrual period (LMP) or by recording 12-16 days before the next expected period. A woman’s monthly cycle is measured from the first day of her menstrual period till the first day of her next period. Most women ovulate between Day 11 – Day 21 of their cycle (when counting from the first day of the Last period).
This is commonly referred to as the ‘fertile time’ of a woman’s cycle because indulging in sexual intercourse during this stage can increase the chances of pregnancy.
Ovulation can take place at different times during a cycle i.e. it could occur on a different day each month. It is advisable to keep track of your cycle by using various apps available on your smart phones.
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#3. Ways to Tell That a Woman is ovulating
• Maintain the Calendar
Keep a menstrual calendar for a while to make sure that everything is working in place. If your periods are irregular, then you will need to be extra careful with the dates.
• Observe your Body
There are chances that your body sends you a memo when it's ovulating. It could be in the form of a pang of pain or a series of cramps in your lower abdominal. Pay close attention.
• Record your Temperature
Maintain a register of your basal body temperature, or BBT. Taken with the basal body thermometer, your BBT has to be the first thing you do in the morning. Your BBT keeps fluctuating as the hormonal level changes. Estrogen dominates the first half of your cycle whereas progesterone rules the second half, raising the body temperature. It happens so because it is preparing your uterus for fertilization.
• Be Aware of your Cervix
One major sign of an impending ovulation is the position of the cervix. During the beginning of a cycle, the cervix which is a neck-like passage between your vagina and uterus is low, firm and closed. But as ovulation nears, it pulls back up, gets a little softer and opens up a little, to give way to the sperm. Keep a daily check on your cervix to figure out the changes. The increase in the discharge of cervical mucus is also an important observation.
• Use an Ovulation Predictor Kit
Just like the pregnancy test kit an ovulation predictor kit (OPK) helps you in identifying the exact date of ovulation 12 to 24 hours in advance by observing the levels of the luteinizing hormone which hits at its peak just before ovulation.
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#4. Symptoms or Signs of Ovulation Period
The symptoms become quite apparent about five days before you ovulate. It is very important to listen to your body during times like these. The main signs and symptoms of ovulation are:
- Higher discharge of cervical mucus
- Increased body temperature
- Belly aches
- Tender breasts
#5. Difference between Ovulation and Fertile Days
An egg cannot survive for more than 24 hours, whereas the sperm can remain active for up to five days. This indicates that a woman can conceive four to five days before the egg is released.
The fertility window (including the lifespan of both the sperm and the egg) is about six days. The fertile days comprise of all the days of your menstrual cycle when your body is capable of becoming pregnant in case of unprotected sex.
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