For those of you who have your period arrive like clockwork, finding out when you ovulate is usually as easy as checking the calendar and counting dates. If you are not one of these women and you experience irregular cycles then there are symptoms of ovulation that you can watch for that will give you an indication of when you are most fertile.
Charting Your Cycle
Even though you may be irregular, by actually keeping track of your cycle and marking down when you do get your period you will find that it gives you a better idea of how long your actual cycle lasts. Women who have a 28 day cycle will probably ovulate around day 14 (counting down from the 1st day of the start of your period) however if you have a 40 day cycle then you may find that your ovulation happens on day 26.
Basal Body Temperature Charting
Another great way that will help you to know what the symptoms of ovulation are is to do basal body temperature charting (BBT). Though it requires you to be consistent in taking your temperature first thing in the morning, if you are diligent you will find that with daily tracking your body temperature will fluctuate by up to 4 degrees signaling the start of ovulation. From personal experience I only did this for one month after trying for over a year before I got pregnant which goes to show you that it does work!
Cervical Fluid Changes
While most women experience vaginal discharge through out their menstrual cycle, when your vaginal secretions start to look slightly clear and have the slippery texture similar to raw egg whites then this is the best indicator that you are ovulating. When your vaginal mucus is of this consistency it helps move sperm up the cervix making it all the better for those swimmers to meet up with your egg to fertilize!
Mid-Cycle Cramping
Another symptom of ovulation to watch for is painful cramps. The technical term is called ‘mittelschmerz’ a German term that means “middle pain” hence mid-cycle cramping. Though some women may experience this every month, the majority of women will only have it every third or fourth month (hallelujah!) as it will usually appear on the same side each time.
Because the window of opportunity is small to become pregnant once the egg is released and ovulation has peaked (around 24-48 hrs) then by knowing your symptoms of ovulation will increase your odds of having a positive pregnancy test!
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