Ovulation 101

Even for those of us most familiar with our bodies’ quirks and natural rhythms, it seems there is always more to learn. Take the famed menstrual cycle, a stalwart companion of those with uteruses, from puberty until menopause. While menstruation itself—that flashy gal in red—tends to steal the attention, she represents but one stage of our monthly revolution. Anyone with a monthly cycle would do well to better understand the different stages it entails—for overall health, improved contraceptive efforts, a better shot at getting pregnant, and the rest of it. Self-knowledge is power, after all.

What, exactly, is ovulation?

In short, ovulation is the part of the menstrual cycle when a mature egg is released from the ovary into one of your fallopian tubes—a process that plays a major role in pregnancy. Once the egg is released, it may or may not be fertilized by determined sperm. 

If it is fertilized, the egg may travel to your uterus and implant itself, where it will develop into a pregnancy. If unfertilized, the egg disintegrates and the uterine lining is then shed when you get your period.

At what point in the menstrual cycle does ovulation happen?

Day 1 of your menstrual cycle is the first day of your period. Simple enough, right? With the arrival of your period, the follicular phase begins—the phase in which an egg matures and is later released during ovulation. 

For those with a super regular 28-day menstrual cycle, ovulation typically (but not always) happens halfway through, on day 14, roughly 24-36 hours after your body releases a surge of luteinizing hormone (LH). But for many of us, who, for countless reasons, go through cycles that are less than predictable each month, the exact date of ovulation can be less obvious.

After you’ve ovulated somewhere around mid-cycle (btw ovulation itself only lasts 12-24 hours), you enter what’s known as the luteal phase. If pregnancy occurs during this phase, hormones will stop your uterine lining from shedding—otherwise, your period starts around day 28 of your cycle (or whatever’s normal for you). And thus, a new cycle begins, and the whole thing happens again.

Understanding your “fertile window”

There are roughly 6 days in your menstrual cycle during which pregnancy is possible. This “fertile window” typically includes the 5 days leading up to ovulation and the day of ovulation itself, though the timing of the window can vary, since we're all unique like that. 

Fun fact 1: sperm can chill out for several days in your fallopian tubes post sex, still ready and willing to fertilize an egg once it’s released. 

Fun fact 2: once your egg is in your fallopian tubes, it typically lives for 12-24 hours before it can no longer be fertilized. The aforementioned 6-day “fertile window” takes all of this into account, but to be extra comprehensive about it—just in case the egg and/or sperm in question are extra hardy—you might count the 2-3 days post ovulation as part of your fertile window, for a grand total of 8-9 days per month where those trying to conceive should get busy and those not wanting to conceive should be extra sure to use a reliable form of birth control. That being said, the most fertile days of all are the 2 days leading up to ovulation and the day of ovulation itself.

How to tell if you’re ovulating

Whether you’re trying to get pregnant, trying to avoid pregnancy, and/or you’re trying to have a stronger understanding of your reproductive and overall physical health, learning to identify your ovulatory phase (or lack thereof), can go a long way toward shedding light on a natural bodily function too often obscured by a lack of basic info.

While not everyone experiences symptoms when ovulating, common ones you might notice include:

- light bleeding or spotting

- breast tenderness (may be quite similar to how they feel before/during menstruation)

- a higher sex drive (that’s that biological imperative talking)

- ovary pain, AKA mittelschmerz, which can feel like discomfort/pain on one side of the abdomen

In addition to noticing if and when these symptoms occur, consider the following more precise ways of determining if/when you’re ovulating (try more than one method at the same time for greater accuracy):

- Track your cycle. While ovulation typically happens around day 14 of a 28-day cycle, cycles as short as 21 days or as long as 35 days can be considered “normal.” Using a handy online template, or a period tracking app, you can easily track your cycle over multiple months to learn its average length. You can also mark down when menstruation occurs, and any symptoms you may experience throughout your cycle—every one a potential clue to when you ovulate. To learn more about cycle tracking, read up on the Fertility Awareness Method (FAM), or read Toni Weschler’s classic Taking Charge of your Fertility.

- Take your temperature. Your temperature rises slightly for a few days after ovulation has occurred—by about 0.5 to 1.3°F or 0.3 to 0.7°C. You may be able to detect this change by taking your basal body temperature (BBT) or resting temperature every morning before you get out of bed. Many practitioners of FAM couple cycle-tracking with daily BBT readings for a fuller picture.

- Notice your vaginal discharge. Typically, you’ll see more vaginal discharge around the time you ovulate. The discharge also tends to be more clear, slippery, and sometimes described as akin to “stretchy egg whites.” This wet, slippery discharge is what makes it easier for sperm to swim up the vagina and into the uterus to meet an egg.

- Buy an OTC tracking aid. While the most accurate way to confirm ovulation is with an ultrasound or hormonal blood test, you have DIY options. Ovulation predictor kits and fertility monitors are generally available at pharmacies. The former detects the presence of LH in your urine, which usually means you’ll ovulate soon, while the latter tracks both estrogen and LH to help identify your fertile window. Some monitors claim to detect 4 or more fertile days each month with 99% accuracy.

When ovulation is irregular

If you’ve chosen your preferred method of tracking your ovulation from month to month, you may eventually come to the realization that you’re either not ovulating with any regard to a regular schedule, or, you’re not ovulating at all. For starters, if you’re not getting your period, you’re likely not ovulating. Factors like stress or diet can of course affect your exact time of ovulation/menstruation from cycle to cycle, or cause you to skip ovulation one month, so when tracking your cycle, always observe for 4-6 months before drawing any conclusions. It’s also worth noting that it can take several months for your cycle to return to normal if you’ve recently come off the pill.

While some people simply have a longer first half of their cycle, and therefore ovulate further into their cycle than 14 days, it’s a good idea to talk to your gynecologist if you suspect ovulation is irregular or absent, because there are also certain health conditions, like polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) or thyroid disorders, that can affect disrupt ovulation. 

There’s a special kind of empowerment that comes with really getting to know your body and it’s intricate cycles. Once you’re tuned in, you can hear so much more of what it’s telling you, even when cues are on the subtle side. Enjoy the process of learning yourself inside and out—chances are it’ll be rewarding in ways you never even anticipated. <3