Ovulation & Your Peak Fertile Window: How To Tell If You’re Ovulating
Why It’s So Important
Ovulation, and having a regular menstrual cycle is not just about baby making. Ovulation, and the delicate hormonal cascade which supports ovulation is required for:
Bone Health
Mental and emotional health
Cardiovascular health
Immune function
Having healthy cycles is more than just about procreation, it has systemic benefits for a woman.
Just like testosterone isn't just about fertilising eggs and clearly has many other benefits for men, women also need their own endogenous supply of oestrogen, progesterone and other sex hormones.
It is important to firstly establish if you are ovulating each month. Not every woman ovulates every month of her reproductive life. It is possible to experience a bleed without having ovulated. Sometimes when we experience a painless period (when it usually is painful), it can be indicative that you haven’t ovulated that month. These are called 'anovulatory bleeds'. Generally skipping ovulation throughout the month can be triggered by multiple issues such as stress, under-nourishment or hormonal dysfunction. If you are taking hormonal birth control you do not ovulate if taking the medications according to instruction (that’s how it works as an effective method of birth control).
The following information is designed to help you gain a better understanding of your menstrual cycle and whether you ovulate. It is not intended as pre-conception or contraception health advice.
The common belief historically, was that ovulation happens on approximately day 14 of a new cycle for you if you have a 28-day cycle (day one of a new bleed marks ‘day one of a new cycle’). However, the day of ovulation is the most variable day in your menstrual cycle. Using day 14 as a general estimate without reading the body’s other signs and symptoms, can present some problems.
You will generally only ovulate for a short window of time before the egg starts degrading (between 12-24 hours) and the fertile period is limited to around 6 days. However, it is known that healthy sperm can live in the vagina for up to 7 days post ejaculation (so if you are not planning on a pregnancy this is important to be aware of).
In order to evaluate whether you are ovulating there are several methods, including:
Pathology testing for progesterone - best tested on day 21 of your cycle (but only if you have a 28-day cycle).
If your cycle is longer/shorter, choosing the day to test can be a bit trickier. Generally, you should test progesterone one week before your period is due. This 'day 21', or 7 days after ovulation, is the point in your cycle where progesterone is peaking.
Maybe Baby is a product which acts as a reusable ovulation checker. It provides a mini-microscope which shows a fern-like pattern within a saliva sample to indicate that you have ovulated.
Disposal Ovulation Tests generally detects the Luteinising Hormone (LH) surge before ovulation.
Basal Body Temperature Charting
If done correctly, charting your temperature can provide a lot of information about your cycle and how shifts in health directly impacts menstruation. You will need to do some preparation before you take the first step. Firstly, you will need an ovulation-specific thermometer from the chemist (they typically cost around $30). Secondly, you will need a way to mark the results (paper-based chart tracker or mobile app).
For consistency and accuracy, you need to take your temperature every morning, immediately after you wake up but before you start moving (preferably at the same time of day and before you get out of bed). It's best to have all of your requirements next to your bed. If writing on paper you will need your chart, a pen and thermometer next to your bed. An alternative is keeping a menstrual chart tracker app (with or without a specialised thermometer) on your smart phone. For best results keep the phone on aeroplane overnight until you get out of bed. These apps include:
Flo https://flo.health/
Clue https://helloclue.com/
Kindara https://www.kindara.com/
Groove http://www.readytogroove.com/
Daysy https://daysy.com.au/
Ovia https://www.oviahealth.com/
Tempdrop https://www.tempdrop.com/
Glow https://glowing.com/apps#glow
Natural Cycles https://app.naturalcycles.com/intro
The Centre for Menstrual Cycle and Ovulation Research http://www.cemcor.ubc.ca/resources/daily-menstrual-cycle-diary
Temperature Charting: If you would like to use a paper-based chart, feel free to download and print this one. Start on the first day of your proper bleed (not any days leading up with spotting). Use a pencil to mark a dot on the chart in the appropriate spot after you take your temperature. Temperatures around this point in the cycle should be around 36.3oC. The first day when there is a minor dip in temperature before rising gradually, is generally when you have ovulated. Ovulation can be checked by the following three-day temperatures which are at least 0.1 oC higher than the previous six readings. If there is no rise in temperature, no ovulation has occurred.
Cervical Mucus
A woman’s body will generally start making cervical mucus when enough oestrogen has been synthesised to support fertility.
In a healthy menstrual cycle, a woman will experience shifts in cervical mucus at the time of each cycle.
To self-check wash your hands before going to the toilet. Prior to urinating, use two fingers and check the mouth of the vagina. Over time you will become accustomed to the general shifts in secretions (and mark them in menstrual chart).
Cervical Mucus Types
There are several types of cervical mucus typical amongst women and all of these types can be a sign of how the body’s hormones are shifting throughout the cycle. Changes in the viscosity of the mucus can either impair or promote easy sperm access to an egg for conception.
Post period there is generally reduced quantity of mucus and it may be sticky (although not always).
Thick white mucus (similar to older style glues or cream). This cervical mucus is thicker and may block sperm’s travel through it.
Thinner, wet & clear mucus – this is fertile mucus. It is thin and sperm can swim through it (generally this type facilitates conception). This can last about 2-3 days.
Thinner, stretchy, egg white-consistency mucus. Women may experience a sensation of being wetter than usual. This is peak-fertile mucus. At this time in the cycle ovulation is likely.
Your fertile window is 5 days prior to ovulation to 1 day after ovulation has occurred.
There are some hormone profiles which increase the amount of cervical mucus present. Sometimes, after charting you can also begin to detect slight changes in colour as well. If this is the case and you want to learn more about your personal menstrual cycle you can receive personal coaching from a trained healthcare practitioner.
Are you finding this stressful?
Stop charting and seek advice!
To find out more about whether you may be experiencing hormonal dysregulation or gut dysfunction book your free 15 minute discovery call here. If you are ready for change then book in your initial consultation here.
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The information provided on the Nurture Point Pty Ltd blog and greater website is for educational and information purposes. The information provided within the blogs, or anywhere else on this site is not, nor is it intended to be, a substitute for professional advice or care. Please seek the advice of a qualified health care professional in the event something you have read here raises questions or concerns regarding your health. We offer personalised Naturopathic consultations as an online service. We offer nutrition care, herbal medicine and lifestyle advice. If you wish, feel free to book in a time here.
