UNDERSTANDING OVULATION

Ovulation and trying to conceive

  

 

The average menstrual cycle is of 28-32 days. The menstrual cycle has three phases. Each phase has it's own importance towards completing the reproductive cycle.                                      

•       Menstruation                              
•       Follicular phase
•       Ovulation phase 
•       Luteal phase                      
  

What is OVULATION ?

In each menstrual cycle, in the mid of it, the ovary (one of it) releases the mature egg from the follicle. During follicular phase, the brain gets the signals of increased estrogen due to the developing follicles. This activity is recognised by hypothalamus, and it starts to release GnRH (gonadotrophin releasing hormone). This hormone assist pituiary gland to increase the production of LH (luteinizing hormone) and FSH (follicle-stimulating hormone).

The increased amount of LH and FSH, makes the ovulation happened. The egg can live in the female body for 12-24 hours.

The average length of phase vary person to person. Women’s with regular cycle usually ovulate around  day 13 to16 of their monthly cycles, whereas, women with irregular cycles have to track the ovulation in order to get pregnant. Because irregular cycles or missed period causes trouble in ovulation, late ovulation or no ovulation.

 

Difficulties for people with medical conditions to track ovulation.

 

Women who have medical conditions like PCOS, endometriosis, hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism or diabetes, have a very challenging time tracking ovulation. The hormonal imbalance and few hormonal medicines can show certain signs of ovulation.

 

Signs of ovulation:

 

There are several signs and symptoms that can help a woman understand she is ovulating. Some of them are: 

•      Cervical mucus and cervical position
•      Basal body temperature
•      Ovulation prediction kit
•      Ovulation acne 
•      Pelvic pain 

 

The signs and symptoms may vary from person to person.

 

1.    Cervical mucus and cervical position:

While you are tracking for your ovulation, one of the thing you will track is your CM (cervical mucus) and cervical position. For that, you will have to track the changes in your CM after menstruation is ended. The CM has stages like dry, sticky, creamy, clear or thin (stretchy). Around the time of your ovulation, you will see that the CM has become more like stretchy and clear or REWCM (raw egg white cervical mucus). Because actually, your body is preparing for sperm to reach egg easily and making environment favourable for sperm. Some women have blood spots too while they notice their EWCM, this is a sign that ovulation has occured. It is normal to have blood spots with ECWM when you have a medical conditions like PCOS or endometriosis. 

When you reached this time of cycle, it is when your body is preparing to ovulate or is already ovulating. It’s when you can try for baby.

 The cervical position can be determined by putting your fingers in your vagina and knowing the texture of your cervix. Around the time of your ovulation, your cervix is more like lips (feels open and soft) and is upwards. While all the time, when there is no ovulation, it will be little downwards and feels like tip of your nose (close and pointed).

 

2.  Basal body temperature 

Many women use BBT charting or basal body temperature for their cycles to know the rise and drop in their basal body temperatures and the peak can tell them when did they actually ovulated. Because during the ovulation, basal body temperature rises. This way, they can know which days are their super fertile days.

There are specialized temperature kits available to let you know about your basal body temperature. It has helped ladies to know their cycles much better, tracking ovulations and getting pregnant.

 3.    Ovulation prediction kits

There are many brands in the market for OPK’S (ovulation predicting kit). Digital OPK’S are thought to be more accurate.  

What exactly these OPK’S do?

These OPK'S, through your urine, detects the LH surge (luteinizing hormone), which increases around the time of ovulation in the body. Getting the positive test means you are going to ovulate in next 24-36 hours. Women who are on any ovulation medicines, these OPK'S sometimes can show false positive too. Woman should start tracking ovulation by OPK'S from the ninth day of their cycle so they will not miss it and can have better understanding for timing intercourse.

So, three days before predicted ovulation day and the day of predicted ovulation, is when you have the higher chances to get pregnant.

 

4.    Ovulation acne 

Some women have ovulation acne. This can be a sign you can use to know that you are near to ovulate. What happens around the ovulation, with certain medical conditions, the androgen levels also spikes. One of which is testosterone. Testosterone increases the sebum production, which causes pores to clog and then acne. The ovulation acne usually happens around the chin, lip and jaw lines.

 

5.    Pelvic pain

Some ladies have pelvic pain during or after their ovulation. To some, it feels like mild cramping and goes in few hours and for the others, it can be sharp pelvic pain and stays for a day or two. For some, it only happens at one side of the pelvic area, that is usually the side of the ovary which has released the egg. While for the others, pain happens to both sides of their pelvic area. However, one side pain can be sharper than the other.

 If someone have really sharp pelvic pain, and they know it’s not something like ovulation or period pain, they should seek an immediate medical help.

 

Couples trying to conceive – the myths and facts about getting pregnant 

If you are trying to conceive, it is very important to know and remember few things;

• A woman can only get pregnant the day she ovulate.
• She cannot conceive on any day of her cycle.
• A male sperm can live up to 3-5 days in a female body, if the conditions are favourable for the sperm and sperm are healthy too.
• The fertile window i.e. three days before ovulation and the day of ovulation, is when you have highest chances to conceive. Couples should try intercourse when the woman is in her fertile window.

 There are a lot of food which helps in ovulation. These includes avacadoes, lentils, oysters, salmon, green vegetables, eggs, berries and protien. Drinking plenty of water is very necessary. If this problem persist, see your gynaecologist because in some cases, they prescribe medicines for inducing ovulation. Keeping the track of your BMI plus keeping your self physically active is very helpful too. If you are trying to conceive, start taking prenatal vitamins from today. Folate has a prime importance in the process of ovulation. Never loose hope and don't put a lot of pressure on yourself as stress reduces the chances by disturbing the hormones.

“If you start to think the problem is ‘out there,’ stop yourself. That thought is the problem.”

~ Stephan covey