Familiarity with the ovulation cycle and its symptoms will help you to more accurately determine your ovulation time and identify the right times for fertility. Having sex during this time increases the chances of getting pregnant.
What is ovulation?
It is part of a woman’s menstrual cycle. When a girl is born, her ovaries contain millions of immature eggs. Usually, only one egg is released and released each month.
When an egg is released from the ovary, it can survive 12 to 24 hours. If the egg combines with sperm after being released from the ovary and goes to the uterus, it means it has been fertilized, and pregnancy will occur. But suppose this does not happen, and fertilization does not occur. In that case, the egg will disintegrate, and the lining of the uterus will fall out during menstruation and come out of the vagina in the form of bloody discharge.
Stages of the menstrual cycle
The stage before the egg is released when the ovarian follicles are growing called the follicular stage. The stage after the egg is released called the luteal stage. The duration of the follicular phase in each woman may vary. Still, the length of the luteal phase, which is the time from the release of the egg to the onset of menstruation, is usually fixed for each person, from one period to another, typically from 12 to 16 days. It takes 14 days on average.
The irregularity of a woman’s menstrual cycle is usually because the follicular phase, which is the stage of egg formation, is longer, or the egg is not released. The duration of a menstrual cycle may be between 21 and 35 days.
Some women even experience periods shorter or longer than this time, so ovulation may occur much sooner or later than a certain time. However, in a regular period, depending on the length of the luteal period, ovulation usually occurs 12 to 16 days before starting the next period.
Signs and symptoms of ovulation
Every woman can know approximately the time of ovulation by knowing its signs and monitoring the onset and length of menstruation. The secretion of various hormones controls the growth of follicles and the release of eggs. The secretion of these hormones can cause symptoms in a woman’s body, according to which a person can determine the ovulation time or the end of it. There are a number of common symptoms.
LH surge
As a woman approaches ovulation, her body produces higher estrogen levels, which thickens the uterus lining and provides a better environment for sperm. This high level of estrogen causes a sudden increase in another hormone called LH.
An increase in LH causes the release of a mature egg from the ovary, called the ovulation process. It typically occurs 24 to 48 hours after an increase in LH, so an increase in LH is a good predictor of fertility.
Changes in body temperature
Body temperature rises 0.4-1.0 ° C after egg release. This increase is minimal, but by recording the basal body temperature in one or more menstruation periods, you can more accurately guess the ovulation time in subsequent periods.
Pain
About one in five women have pain during ovulation. The pain may occur just before, during, or after the egg’s release. It usually only takes a few minutes, but it can last longer, possibly up to 24-48 hours, and can be a sharp, cramping, and distinct pain. It is rarely described as severe pain.
Changes in saliva
A woman’s saliva levels vary based on the estrogen in her body. A few days before the egg is released during the menstrual cycle, the hormone estrogen rises and, along with other hormonal changes, can change the amount of saliva.
Increased sexual desire
Your body naturally knows when to increase your body’s desire for sex. The woman’s desire for sex increases just before the egg is released.
Breast tenderness
You may have noticed now that your breasts are sometimes more touch-sensitive. This is the time after the egg is released from your ovary. So by carefully sensing your breasts, you can recognize when your egg has been released.
Vaginal discharge
High estrogen levels, which indicate that the time to release the egg is approaching, lead to an increase in white viscous discharge from the vagina that resembles a raw egg white. Also, due to the secretion of this hormone, the cervix rises, softens, and opens.
How much sex should you have during pregnancy?
Knowing when you are ovulating can help you understand when to have sex, but if you have sex three to four times a week, you will have sex during this period. It is best to have sex at least two or three times a week. Having sex every day increases the chances of fertility.
What is a fertility window?
Six days when ovulation is possible are called the fertility window. During this period, there is a possibility of fertility. Sperm can wait for an egg in the fallopian tubes for a few days after intercourse to be fertilized during fertilization. When the egg enters the fallopian tubes, it can fertilize for up to 24 hours, after which the fertility window closes.
How many times is it possible to ovulate during the menstrual cycle?
Some people ovulate more than once during the menstrual cycle. Some people may even ovulate two to three times during the menstrual cycle. The release of more than one egg a month can occur naturally or in people who plan to become pregnant with assisted reproductive technologies. In either case, the chances of twin pregnancies increase if both eggs are fertilized.
What is the result of irregular ovulation?
Suppose you have been following your ovulation process and concluded that it is irregular or that ovulation does not occur in your body. In that case, you should talk to a gynecologist.
Factors such as diet or stress can affect the order of it, but more serious causes, such as polycystic ovary syndrome or amenorrhea, can disrupt or stop the process altogether. This irregularity or cessation of ovulation and hormonal disorders of the body can lead to excessive facial and body hair, acne, and even infertility.
Chance of getting pregnant each month
The chance of getting pregnant every month depends on the woman’s age. The younger a woman is, the more likely she is to become pregnant.
A woman who is 25 years old or even younger has a 20 to 25 percent chance of getting pregnant in each ovulation cycle. At the age of 30, this probability reaches 15, and at the age of 35, it reaches 10%. Women are advised to see a gynecologist if they are under 35 and fail to conceive after trying to get pregnant. This time is reduced to six months for people over 35.
How does a doctor determine ovulation?
See a gynecologist if you think you are ovulating irregularly or not at all. You may have fertility problems, and it is important to solve potential problems because some infertility problems worsen over time.
The most common method your doctor will check is to measure your blood progesterone level. The hormone progesterone increases after the egg is released from your ovary. If you do not ovulate, your progesterone results will be abnormally low. This test is usually done on the 21st day of your cycle.
Your doctor will probably do another blood test during the fertility test, which can determine why you are not likely to ovulate. He also tests your FSH and AMH levels along with the hormones estrogen, prolactin, androgens, and thyroid.
Your doctor will also do a vaginal ultrasound. An ultrasound lets your doctor see if follicles are forming in the ovary. After ovulation, an ultrasound can detect if a broken follicle has opened and released an egg.
The bottom line
Paying attention to the signs of ovulation and recording the basal body temperature, secretions, menstruation time, and the length of its period help a woman determine the duration of her luteal phase.
Knowing the length of the luteal phase, which is the period from the release of the egg to the onset of menstruation, helps her know when to wait for her period to begin and accurately identify her fertile times; she has a high chance of conceiving. She can also know exactly when to expect a positive pregnancy test.
Additional questions
- What makes a woman more fertile?
Eating more protein from plant sources rather than animal sources may improve fertility levels in women. Replacing low-fat dairy products with high-fat varieties may help improve fertility and increase your chances of getting pregnant.
- How long does it take for the sperm to reach the egg?
Once the sperm enters the reproductive system, reaching the egg takes about 30 to 45 minutes. For this purpose, it is important to have a healthy sperm with the right moves to reach the egg and fertilize it. Once a healthy sperm enters a woman’s body, it can live for 2 to 5 days.
3. What is the cause of egg failure in the ovary?
Normally, ovarian follicles contain egg cells that are released during ovulation. In polycystic ovary syndrome, abnormal hormone levels prevent follicles from growing and maturing to release egg cells. Instead, these immature follicles accumulate in the ovaries.
4. How long can sperm survive?
Ejaculated sperm can survive in the female genital tract for several days. Fertilization is possible if the sperm survives (up to five days).
5. How many drops of sperm are needed to get pregnant?
Only one sperm is needed to fertilize an egg. However, for every sperm that reaches an egg, millions do not. On average, men release nearly 100 million sperm with each ejaculation.
References
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/23439-ovulation
https://www.yourfertility.org.au/everyone/timing
https://www.healthline.com/health/womens-health/what-is-ovulation