Did I Ovulate or Not? 7 Signs Ovulation is Over

What is ovulation, and why should you care?

Ovulation is part of a woman or AFAB (assigned female at birth) person’s menstrual cycle and is an integral part of being able to conceive, as conception can only happen in this window of time. Because of this, it’s essential to know when you’re ovulating and your symptoms around ovulation, if you plan on becoming pregnant, for your reproductive health management, and for your general menstrual health.

What is ovulation?

Ovulation describes the process of the body releasing an egg from the ovaries. The hypothalamus (the part of the brain responsible for keeping our hormones in check) releases gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH). From there, just before ovulation, there is a spike in hormones such as estrogen, LH (Luteinizing Hormone), and FSH (Follicle-Stimulating Hormone). LH and FSH are hormones released from the pituitary gland (a pea-sized gland found in the brain responsible for regulating growth, metabolism, and reproductive hormones), whereas estrogen is released from the ovaries themselves. These three hormones work together to aid in the release of the egg. The egg then travels out of the ovary, down the fallopian tubes, and towards the uterus where, if fertilization has occurred, it will embed itself into the lining of the uterus to develop into a fetus. A woman releases only one egg, which lives for around 24 hours before dying off if it is unfertilized. This dying off triggers the rest of the menstrual cycle, through to the period, and the ovulation cycle begins again.

When does ovulation happen?

How long is ovulation? Usually, ovulation will happen in the middle of the menstrual cycle, and there is a five-day period called the “fertile window” where people are most likely to be able to conceive with ovulation happening here. Why is the fertile window so long when the egg only lasts about one day? That’s because sperm lifespan is around five days. This means that if a person and their partner have sex within this five-day window, they have the highest chance of getting pregnant. If you aren’t trying to become pregnant, then always use contraception.

Does everyone have ovulation?

Whilst all AFAB people should ovulate, there are some reasons why they may, in fact, not ovulate. If they do not ovulate this means that they cannot be pregnant. Problems with ovulation- called anovulation – can account for roughly 40% of female infertility. The causes of anovulation come from a range of sources.

Aging and diminished ovarian reserve

In the general AFAB population, the biological childbearing age is between 15 and 49, and once we get to around 51, then we experience menopause. AFAB people are also born with all of their egg supply, so if they’re approaching menopause, it’s possible they may not have the follicles required for a pregnancy.

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, or PCOS, is a condition caused by hormone imbalances. The ovaries create excess hormones called androgens, resulting in irregular hormone cycles, irregular or absent ovulation, and difficulties getting pregnant. Despite its name, people with PCOS may or may not have cysts on their ovaries. Those with PCOS may experience other conditions, such as acne, excessive facial or bodily hair growth, excessive hair loss from the head, high blood pressure, or diabetes. PCOS is not incurable, and there is help to rebalance hormones and support ovarian health, such as hormonal treatments, lifestyle adjustments such as eating a healthy diet and regular physical activity, and PCOS supplements.

Primary Ovarian Insufficiency

Primary Ovarian Insufficiency (or POI) is a term used to describe when a woman’s ovaries stop working normally before she reaches the age of 40. It is possible that this is a long-term condition or that people with the condition may have difficulties getting pregnant due to irregular or absent ovulation.

Tobacco use

Smoking can reduce fertility as it can affect hormone production in both men and women. It can also damage the DNA of sperm. Once pregnant, tobacco can also negatively affect the health of the fetus.

Other lifestyle factors

Anovulation can happen in the very early stages of reproductive development, but it can also occur if someone has a very low BMI caused by excessive exercise or an eating disorder. If you are struggling with these issues or feel that something else in your lifestyle, such as stress or other mental health problems, is affecting your fertility, please reach out to your healthcare provider or fertility professional, such as the Mira Hormone Health Clinic for Fertility, for support and advice.

Signs of ovulation

Ovulation is a process orchestrated by hormones, and those hormones also cause physical changes that you can monitor at home. By tracking these bodily changes, people can familiarize themselves with their signs of ovulation, possibly using them with other ways to track ovulation.

Changes in Cervical Mucus

The hormones that affect a person’s menstrual cycle are also responsible for making the cervix produce mucus. This mucus often comes out of the vagina as a form of discharge. Depending on the stage of the menstrual cycle, the discharge will be different. Around ovulation, it will be like egg whites and is often described as wet or slippery. Once ovulation passes, discharge becomes white or yellowish and can dry up two to three days before a period, before the period begins again.

Basal Body Temperature (BBT) changes

BBT is the body temperature recorded when a body is at rest. A person’s BBT changes depending on the stage of the menstrual cycle they are in. BBT measurements need to be done daily as the basal body temperature has an increase of 0.5 to 1 degrees Fahrenheit just after ovulation. If you are using this method, then a BBT thermometer like the Mira Care BBT thermometer is essential so you can track the tiny changes in temperature.

Mittelschmerz (Ovulation pain)

As if the menstrual cycle weren’t enough of a pain (pun intended), around 40% of people who ovulate will experience Mittelschmerz, aka ovulation pain or ovulation cramps. This kind of pain coincides with the rupture of the follicle, releasing an egg. It is benign but can need controlling if it creates an above-average amount of pain. If you are concerned about the pain you experience, then reach out to a healthcare professional.

Changes in libido

Hormones are an integral part of the menstrual cycle, and also in affecting people’s libido. Estrogen is one such hormone, and wouldn’t you know it there is a large spike in it just as ovulation begins! If you’re around the middle of your cycle and you’re feeling these changes it might be due to ovulation, although it’s good to double-check with methods listed below.

Breast tenderness

Hormones also can cause pain and breast tenderness as a normal part of the menstrual cycle. It affects roughly two in three women and is benign. If you are concerned, consult a health-care professional.

Cervical Position changes

Yes, really, your cervix can move. During ovulation it is somewhat higher up in the body than at other parts of people’s cycle. You can check the position yourself by sitting on the toilet or squatting and inserting a finger into your vagina- always wash your hands before doing so.

How to track ovulation

There are many tools and methods for tracking fertility and ovulation with their own pros and cons and at various price points. It is possible to find ways of tracking ovulation whatever your needs.

Ovulation predictor kits

Ovulation detector kits are trackers that detect the rise in LH, which happens just before ovulation starts. There are a lot of different forms, including digital kits, so you can find the form you prefer to use.

The pros of these kits are that they can be obtained over the counter, aren’t invasive, and can be highly sensitive to LH.

The cons of using these kits is that they sometimes produce false positives, especially if there are excessive amounts of LH being released or there are other issues with ovulation. If you’re using these tests and worried about your results, reach out to a healthcare professional.

Fertility monitors

Fertility monitors are digital devices that allow people to track their ovulation. Basic monitors inform people if they are ovulating or not. Others, such as the Mira Hormone Monitor, are able to store this information so people can see trends and patterns in hormone levels over time. These results can be exported for people to bring to their doctor or healthcare provider. 

The main positive of these devices is that studies have shown these devices to be generally accurate in predicting ovulation. The Mira Hormone monitor for example, has proven to have 99% lab-grade accuracy in detecting ovulation.

The cons of these kits are there is more of a financial implication with these tests as you are buying both the device and continuously buying the strips that they need to use.

Calendar method

Sometimes called the rhythm method, it is a form of family planning used to track a person’s menstrual cycle and, thus, when they’ll ovulate. Some people use this method as a form of contraception, whilst others use it to help them predict when they are most likely to conceive. They can either do this the old-fashioned way by literally marking their period on a physical calendar, or there are a myriad of apps on the market that allow them to do the same thing.

The pros of this method are that it is inexpensive and can help people chart their body’s natural cycle. The method relies on the fact that most of the time, the human body is quite regimented when it releases the hormones that induce ovulation.

The cons of this method are that if someone is using it for contraception, there is a roughly 24% chance of accidental pregnancies, so whilst it is natural and inexpensive, it is not always accurate. A recent study of 89,388 cycles comparing the calendar method with Mira shows that the Mira Fertility Plus Wand is 6 times more accurate at predicting ovulation.

Conclusions

Ovulation is an important part of the menstrual cycle that facilitates pregnancy. Problems with ovulation can result in problems with fertility and can be frustrating if you do not understand the cause. For anyone seeking advice with fertility, the best person to speak to would be a healthcare professional as they will be able to give you personalized advice and support for your specific situation.