7 Signs of Ovulation: Ovulation Symptoms to Observe 

Ovulation is an important phase of the feminine reproductive system and during this phase, any one of the ovaries ends up releasing an egg. Ideally, it should happen two weeks prior to your menstrual cycle and if you’re trying to conceive, knowing the obvious 7 signs of ovulation will make things easy for you. That’s because once you start ovulating, the next 24 hours is the best time to have intercourse as the egg won’t live longer than 24 hours.

So, when does ovulation begin and what fertility signs indicate that now is the best time for your body to make a baby? Intrigued to learn more about your reproductive health so that you can know when ovulation occurs? Then you have come to the right place and we will tell you all about the symptoms of ovulation and how to predict ovulation.

Key Signs and Symptoms of Ovulation

When you ovulate, your body has its way of communicating it to you. So, to track ovulation, you must have some idea about the kinds of symptoms you should expect. Here’s what fertility specialists say about the common signs of ovulation and 7 days after ovulation symptoms that you are likely to experience every month.

1. Alterations in cervical fluid

Trying to get pregnant won’t be challenging if you are mindful of the changes occurring in your cervical fluid. Cervical fluid is like the white portion of an egg and when ovulation nears, it turns more transparent and stretchy, resembling the egg white. While not all women have the same kind of cervical fluid, ovulation usually happens on that day when the cervical mucus release is the highest. So, if you are wetter on a certain day, this could be a hint.

[Note: To test the quality of the cervical mucus, wash your finger and insert it into the vagina. Take out some mucus and if it is stretchy, sticky, and slippery, you are fertile at the moment. If your body does not produce as much cervical fluid as it should, there are excellent products to improve the production of cervical fluid].

2. Alterations in basal body temperature

Does your basal body temperature decline slightly when your ovulation date approaches? This is among the ovulation symptoms and if you observe minutely, you will notice that the temp. also increases drastically after ovulation. This sudden spike in the basal body temp. is an indicator that you just had your ovulation. So, gynecologists advise to track the basal body temperature for a few months before ovulation.

3. Breast tenderness/ soreness

The menstrual cycle ovulation period is also characterized by sore nipples or tender breasts, and these are other ovulation signs. While some women say the breast soreness is before ovulation, for others it can be right after ovulation. Breast tenderness also occurs when you are on your period and the reason behind it is hormonal changes. During this phase, you can wear a bra that isn’t too tight to lessen the pain.

4. Pain in the abdomen

Other than breast tenderness ovulation, you may also have to deal with extremely normal ovulation pain. This pain happens in the lower abdomen, and it will be like a sharp pain that will disappear within a few seconds or minutes. If the pain is persistent, you can take some anti-inflammatory medicine. If the pain remains, it can be related to an ovarian cyst or endometriosis.

5. Headaches and nausea

Ovulation does not make you sick and it won’t stop you from following your daily routine. However, on the day of ovulation, you may feel nauseous and have a headache. These are among the side effects of ovulation and are triggered due to changes in the levels of progesterone and estrogen. Although many girls of childbearing age face these two issues, these are not severe symptoms and they do not require any medication.

6. Light discharge or spotting

A small amount of brown discharge or spotting can be caused by ovulation because of a surge in hormone levels. This symptom occurs if the follicle surrounding and protecting the developing egg (oocyte) matures and ruptures, thus resulting in mild bleeding. It is not a matter of concern as the spotting won’t persist. But, if the spotting is recurrent, you should book an appointment with a physician to rule out the chances of infections and ectopic pregnancy.

7. More libido

The urge to have sex and sexual satisfaction is more in women on the day of their ovulation and the day after ovulation. It is simply Mother Nature’s trick to encourage procreation. Research has revealed an interesting fact about enhanced libido during pregnancy: Women who regularly have sex are more likely to experience a boost in their libido than single women.

Ovulation Cycle Tracking

Tracking your ovulation is crucial if you have been struggling to get pregnant. But how to detect ovulation accurately?

Many women rely on ovulation predictor kits so that they don’t miss their 12-24-hour window and increase their chances of conceiving. These kits measure the levels of LH (luteinizing hormone) in the urine. Hence, if the predictor shows a positive result, you can take it as a clue that you will ovulate within 24- 36 hours.

Know more: What is ovulation days

The Final Thought

We may conclude by saying that the symptoms of ovulation vary from one person to another. However, the above-mentioned 7 signs of ovulation are the most common ones that most women experience.

Another thing that you should keep in mind is that its timing may also differ. While some people ovulate on the same day of their menstrual cycle every month after month, others ovulate on different dates each month. And by now you have already understood how intimately ovulation is connected to your pregnancy. So, we hope you pay attention to the signs by maintaining an ovulation calendar and make sure you consult a doctor if you have irregular ovulation. There are amazing reproductive technologies designed to benefit women who do not ovulate regularly.