What Is Ovulation? – Symptoms of Ovulation

You most likely learned about menstruation as a teenager, or even earlier. But ovulation? Many women only truly grasp what it means once they start paying closer attention to their bodies – for instance, when they want to have a baby or when something isn't quite right.

So what exactly is ovulation? How can you tell when it happens, and what does it mean if you can't work out when you're ovulating? In this article we talk openly about everything this process involves. Because each of the four phases of the menstrual cycle is equally important – not just your period.

Find out how ovulation works, what role it plays in your fertility and why it's worth paying attention to the signals your body sends you during ovulation.

What ovulation means 

Ovulation is the process by which your body releases an egg from the ovary, and it is one of the 4 phases of the menstrual cycle. During ovulation, the follicle releases an egg which – if fertilised – can lead to pregnancy.

In a healthy body, where everything is working well hormonally, ovulation usually takes place every month, roughly in the middle of the menstrual cycle. With a 28-day cycle, that means ovulation occurs around day 14.

Ovulation and the menstrual cycle 

Besides the influence of hormonal fluctuations, the menstrual cycle is largely governed by the activity of the hypothalamus, which sets the ovulation process in motion. The hypothalamus produces gonadotropin-releasing hormone, which prompts the pituitary gland in the brain to release two further hormones: follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinising hormone (LH).

Between days 6 and 14, FSH helps the follicles to mature – those small fluid-filled sacs in the ovaries in which the eggs develop. In the course of this process, one of the eggs matures fully between days 10 and 14 of the cycle. Then, on day 14, LH levels suddenly surge, causing the ovary to release the fully matured egg. That's how ovulation works.

After ovulation, the released egg may or may not be fertilised, provided unprotected intercourse has taken place. If it is, the resulting embryo can implant in the lining of the womb and a pregnancy begins.

Otherwise, if the egg isn't fertilised or doesn't implant, the body sheds the endometrium (the lining of the womb) along with menstrual blood – in the phase of the cycle we know as menstruation. During this time, protect yourself from unexpected leaks, stains and discomfort, and look after your body with pads and tampons made from 100% organic cotton, hypoallergenic and gentle on the delicate skin of the intimate area.

When ovulation takes place 

If we're talking about a regular 28-day menstrual cycle, ovulation theoretically takes place on day 14 (mid-cycle), that is, 14 days before the first day of your next period.

But every woman and every body is different. Your menstrual cycle may be irregular, shorter or longer than 28 days, and its length can even vary from month to month. For this reason, it can be difficult to pinpoint exactly when you ovulate.

What you can do: keep track of your menstrual cycle. You can use an app or a cycle diary to estimate when ovulation is most likely. As a rule, menstruation begins 14 to 16 days after ovulation.

How many hours does ovulation last 

Ovulation can last between 16 and 32 hours. After ovulation, the released egg survives in the body for between 12 and a maximum of 24 hours. If it isn't fertilised within that window, it is reabsorbed by the body and the lining of the womb is shed during menstruation.

The glands involved in ovulation 

Ovulation involves both certain glands and the hormones they produce or influence. For your ovaries to release an egg each month, three glands play a particularly important role:

• The hypothalamus: it links the hormonal and nervous systems and communicates with the pituitary gland.
• The pituitary gland: situated at the base of the skull, it produces its own hormones while also influencing the secretory function of the other endocrine glands.
• The ovaries: the two almond-shaped glands in the pelvis that contain the eggs; they produce oestrogen and progesterone – the two female sex hormones that are central to the menstrual cycle.

Symptoms of ovulation 

The symptoms of ovulation aren't always obvious – one more reason why it's hard to spot. Unlike menstruation, which announces itself clearly through vaginal bleeding and other typical symptoms, ovulation can easily go unnoticed.

If you want to track your cycle and work out as precisely as possible when you're ovulating, look out for the following signs:

• A change in vaginal discharge: the consistency, colour and thickness of cervical mucus change over the course of the cycle; before ovulation it is thick, white and drier, but just before ovulation it comes to resemble raw egg white – clear and noticeably more slippery.
• Mild pain on one side of the lower abdomen (mittelschmerz): a classic ovulation symptom that affects around 40% of women, presenting as mild pain that may be stronger on the side of the lower abdomen where the ovary that released an egg that month is located.
• Increased libido: during ovulation, oestrogen levels peak and trigger a sudden surge in luteinising hormone, which goes hand in hand with a stronger sex drive.
• Tender breasts: also because of raised oestrogen levels during the ovulatory phase, stimulation of the breast tissue can cause breast pain.

• Changes in basal body temperature: body temperature normally rises slightly after ovulation, by around 0.2 – 0.5 degrees Celsius.

  

What you can do to boost your fertility 

Your chances of becoming pregnant are highest during ovulation, because that's when your body is at its most fertile. So the first step towards boosting your fertility is to track your menstrual cycle and work out when ovulation takes place. Once you know that, you can identify the optimal window for unprotected intercourse to maximise your chances of conceiving.

Although the egg only survives in your body for 12 to 24 hours, sperm can survive for up to 5 days. Unprotected sex from 3-4 days before ovulation until the first day after it therefore has the highest likelihood of fertilising the egg and resulting in pregnancy.

And here are some further steps you can take to improve your fertility as well as your chances of a straightforward pregnancy and a healthy baby:

• Eat a balanced diet and maintain a healthy body weight, as being either underweight or overweight can affect the regularity of your cycle and ovulation.
• Avoid habits that can lower your fertility, such as smoking or drinking alcohol.
• Avoid excessive caffeine consumption. You can still drink coffee, but in moderation. Balance is key.
• Make sure you don't have any sexually transmitted infections, to avoid complications later on.
• Prioritise your sleep and get plenty of rest to avoid disrupting your cortisol levels. That also means avoiding shift work where possible.
• Supplement your diet with vitamins and minerals if your doctor recommends it.
• Don't ramp up the intensity of your exercise regime too much, and use techniques to manage stress.

Problems associated with ovulation 

Like menstruation, ovulation doesn't always go exactly as it should. Depending on cycle disturbances, your state of health, hormonal fluctuations and other factors, problems such as absent or irregular ovulation can occur.

Absent ovulation (anovulation) 

Absent ovulation indicates that something is interfering with the body's normal functioning and preventing the natural process of egg release. This condition is also known as anovulation and can have the following causes:

• Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS): if the follicles don't mature sufficiently and are unable to release an egg, ovulation cannot take place.
• Stress: excessive stress – whether physical or emotional – can affect the pituitary gland and the production of the hormones involved in egg release, thereby preventing ovulation.
• Hormonal imbalances: hormone levels have a powerful influence on every phase of the menstrual cycle, including ovulation; if hormonal imbalances occur, they can lead to anovulation.

Premature ovarian insufficiency, dysfunction of the glands involved in ovulation (the hypothalamus and pituitary gland), a diminished ovarian reserve and the menopause can also cause ovulation to stop. An anovulatory cycle can in turn lead to an absence of cervical mucus and menstruation, to excessively heavy or unusually light bleeding during your period, or to fluctuations in basal body temperature.

Irregular ovulation  

Women with irregular ovulation usually also have an irregular menstrual cycle – shorter than 28 days or longer than 34 days. And sometimes the body doesn't release an egg at all, which means some cycles are anovulatory.

Irregular or disrupted ovulation is the cause of 30 to 40% of all cases of infertility.

When you should see a doctor  

If you're trying to conceive and can't work out when you're ovulating, you can ask your doctor for an ovulation test. There are blood tests that measure progesterone levels in the body to determine whether ovulation has taken place.

If you have an irregular cycle or other cycle disturbances, notice signs of ovulation problems or are having difficulty conceiving, do speak to your doctor to discuss the possible options.

Ovulation and contraceptive methods 

Since ovulation is the time when your body reaches peak fertility, it is closely linked to the likelihood of becoming pregnant.

The closer unprotected intercourse is to ovulation, the higher your chances of conceiving. The further away from ovulation intercourse takes place, the lower the likelihood. On the basis of these observations, people have tried to develop a method of contraception.

Which methods are based on tracking ovulation 

Also known as periodic abstinence or the rhythm method, the calendar method relies on working out when ovulation occurs in order to identify the most and least fertile days – as a natural approach to contraception and family planning.

The days of the month are classified as either "fertile" or "safe", depending on how close they are to ovulation and the likelihood of conception. The days before ovulation, the day of ovulation itself and the 24 hours afterwards are considered the fertile window. The remaining days are regarded as infertile and safe for unprotected intercourse.

In reality, though, it isn't that simple. Ovulation can't always be predicted precisely. Sometimes it happens earlier or later, which shifts the fertile window and reduces the method's reliability as a form of contraception. That's why it makes sense to use the calendar method to improve your chances of conceiving if you want a baby – but not as a means of contraception.

Frequently asked questions about ovulation 

Ovulation may seem like a simple process, but in truth it comes with plenty of signs, exceptions and questions that don't always have a clear-cut answer. Here we try to answer the most common questions about ovulation, to make it easier for you to understand yourself. Whether you want to get to know your body better or gain more control over your fertility – we hope you'll find the answers you're looking for in this section.

How do I know I'm ovulating?

The signs of ovulation aren't as obvious as those of menstruation, but they're there if you pay attention to your body. Just before ovulation, cervical mucus becomes clear, stretchier and more slippery – much like egg white.  Basal body temperature also rises by 0.2 – 0.5 ℃, your breasts may become more tender and you may feel mild pain that is more pronounced on one side of the lower abdomen.

If you want to know exactly when you're ovulating, speak to your doctor about an ovulation test.

What does ovulation pain mean and how common is it? 

Ovulation pain, also known as mittelschmerz, is a twinge, mild ache, pulling sensation or discomfort that is more pronounced on one side of the lower abdomen and occurs during ovulation. It's a fairly common symptom that can last from a few minutes to a maximum of 1-2 days and usually resolves on its own.

On how many days around ovulation can I get pregnant? 

The egg released by the ovary only survives in the body for 12 to 24 hours, but sperm can survive in your reproductive tract for up to 5 days. That's why the fertile window isn't just 24 hours long but around 6-7 days: the 4-5 days before ovulation, the day of ovulation itself and the 24 hours afterwards.

What happens if I don't ovulate? 

Without ovulation, the body doesn't release an egg, so fertilisation and the implantation of a pregnancy can't take place. Anovulation can occur occasionally or chronically and may be caused by excessive stress, hormonal imbalances, polycystic ovary syndrome and many other factors. If you aren't getting pregnant or notice problems with ovulation, you should arrange a gynaecological examination as soon as possible.

Can I get pregnant outside the ovulatory phase? 

In theory, no. Without an egg there can be no fertilisation and no pregnancy. In practice, however, sperm can survive in your body for up to 5 days, and ovulation doesn't always happen when you expect it to. The egg may be released earlier or later than estimated. For this reason, the calendar method isn't a reliable form of contraception.

What is the connection between ovulation and basal body temperature? 

After ovulation, basal body temperature rises slightly, by 0.2 – 0.5 ℃, as a result of the change in progesterone levels. If you take your temperature every day and record the readings in your cycle diary, you can review this data at the end of each cycle and may be able to work out when ovulation took place.

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