Ovulation Symptoms: Know Yours

Shawn | Jan 7, 2011 |

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For women who wish to become pregnant, understanding exactly what ovulation is and when it happens is paramount. A woman can only become pregnant while she is ovulating. This typically happens once a month when the ovary releases its eggs. Experts believe that the best possible chance for conception occurs twelve hours prior to ovulation. This allows the male's sperm enough time prior to fertilizing the egg inside the uterus.

There are a few general ovulation symptoms to look for when trying to take advantage of this time when trying to conceive. Every woman is different, however, and some may exhibit more than these ovulation symptoms while some many not experience any at all. Be sure to make the most of intercourse to get pregnant.

First, a woman should look at her menstrual cycle. Women who experience a regular twenty eight day cycle usually find they exhibit ovulation symptoms at the same time each month. If a woman's cycle is regular it makes it much easier to know her fertile window each month. If a woman does not have a regular schedule, or a longer or shorter cycle, she can still look for signs that she is ovulating. It is highly recommended by fertility experts to keep an ovulation diary for a period of three to six months. Record any noticeable symptoms and watch for any emerging patterns. Something as simple as craving chocolate could be an ovulation symptom in some women.

One common symptom in many women is suffering from cramps. This is a normal sign of ovulation and should not be cause for any concern. When the female body ovulates, the developing follicles stretch the ovary which then releases the egg. It is believed to be this additional fluid that leads to cramps during ovulation and a feeling of discomfort along the pelvic line. Many women liken the feeling to menstrual cramps, but much more mild. Usually this sensation can be felt about two weeks into the woman's cycle and will last anywhere from just a few moments to a couple of days. Some women can even tell which side of the body they are ovulation on because of the location of the pain or discomfort. This is a big help when tracking their ovulation and menstrual cycle.

Another method to monitor ovulation is by keeping track of the body's basal temperature. The basal temperature is when the body is at rest; so many women take theirs before getting out of bed in the morning, so it is at the same time every day for continuity and the best chance for accurate results. Many women will see a slight increase in their basal temperature immediately following ovulation. Although this method will not be able to predict exactly when ovulation will occur, it can be beneficial to keep a chart over the course of a few months. If there is a pattern to the change in body temperature, it can help a woman figure out when she is most fertile. When doing a chart or record keeping, day one should be the first day of menstruation. Also note any behavior changes, periods of insomnia, restlessness, illness or stress. Another common but often times overlooked ovulation symptom is a change in the woman's cervical mucous or vaginal discharge. Many women find that right before ovulation occurs they get an increase of discharge and it will get much thicker. It can often times change color as well from a clear to a yellow or creamy white. In the majority of women, there will be very little or no discharge during infertile periods. This can also be beneficial to chart as well.

There are many online tools including ovulation calendars or calculators that can assist couples work out when is their best time for conception to occur. On most sites, a simple input of the last menstrual cycle dates and the length of the woman's cycle is all that is needed. The information gained is much more accurate when the cycle is fairly regular, but it can be used in conjunction with home records, charts and diaries of ovulation symptoms in order to figure out the best time to have intercourse. After establishing when ovulation will occur, try to have intercourse every day for the three days before ovulating, the day of ovulation and the two days after ovulation occurs. This will give the best possible chance of conceiving a baby. There may be other fertile days during a woman's menstrual cycle, but the day of ovulation and the days surrounding it are easily the most fertile.

If a woman is able to take the time to watch for signs and ovulation symptoms, she can become attuned much better to her body and its miraculous subtle changes. Even if she may not suffer from cramps that she can notice, there are still many other ways in which to track the other symptoms to help her achieve her mission of becoming pregnant. Other options like in vitro fertilization (IVF), however, ivf cost definitely should be explored.