Ovulation symptoms
Signs of ovulation vary from
woman to woman, and some women may not have symptoms. The timing of ovulation
also varies. Some women ovulate like clockwork on the same cycle day each
month, while other women may ovulate on different days each month.
Since ovulation is associated
with pregnancy, it is important to pay attention to signs that may indicate
ovulation. Let's learn about ovulation, its symptoms, and how to track it to
get pregnant faster and easier.
Common signs found in most women
- Change in cervical fluid - Cervical fluid that looks like "egg white" is
a sign that you are close to ovulating or are ovulating. Each woman may
experience her own type of cervical fluid, and not all cervical fluids are the
same. Ovulation usually occurs on the day when a woman has the most wet
discharge. There are foods that help improve cervical fluid production, if
that's the problem.
- Change in basal body temperature. In most women, you will find that your basal body
temperature is fairly constant before ovulation. As you approach ovulation, you
may have a slight drop, but after ovulation, it will be followed by a sharp
spike. An increase in temperature is a sign that ovulation has just occurred.
Accurately tracking your basal body temperature over several months can help
you predict when ovulation will occur.
- Change in cervical position or firmness. The cervix goes through many changes when a woman
ovulates. During ovulation, the cervix is soft, high, open, and moist. Most
women will take some time to understand the difference between the way their
cervix normally looks and the changes it undergoes during ovulation.
These 3 main signs of
ovulation can be studied and tracked so you can accurately predict when you are
ovulating. Fertility testing has helped many women use these signs to prevent
or achieve pregnancy.
Secondary symptoms of ovulation
These are secondary symptoms
and may not occur as regularly, if at all, in many women.
- Light spotting
- Slight cramping or pain on one side of the pelvis
- Breast tenderness
- Abdominal bloating
- Increased sex drive
- A heightened sense of smell, taste or vision
Learning to track ovulation and pay attention to your signs can be a challenge for some women at first, but over time, many women easily recognize these common signs and can use them to determine where they are in their cycle. Understanding your ovulation window can help you be in tune with your body and actively participate in what happens each month.