Signs of Ovulation

The different signs of ovulation are as follows:

• Counting days
• Basal Body Temperature and BBT Charting
• Cervical Mucus and Fertility
• Non-fertile CM
• Basal Body Temperature
• Cervical Mucous Monitoring

Counting days
The initial day of a woman's period is 14 days after ovulation. The number of days between ovulation and the start of the next period is quite consistent among the women. The number of days between the start of the period and the next ovulation changes between women. It also varies for month to month for the same women. Counting days of the cycle is the easiest and least technical of all the methods for finding ovulation. This works well for a predictor of the next ovulation in women where cycles are very regular. If the women have a regular cycle, then this method can work for her. If there is a perfect 30-day cycle, they will ovulate on day 16. Day 1 is the first day of the next period.

Basal Body Temperature and BBT Charting
This is based on the principle that the body increases in temperature, due to hormonal changes and directly after ovulation takes place. In the initial part of the cycle, estrogen is the dominant hormone in the body. Estrogen, in the pre-ovulatory or follicular phase of the cycle assists in facilitating the production of an egg in the ovaries. After ovulation, the release of the egg and the short window of peak fertility there is a dramatic raise of the hormone progesterone. From ovulation to the end of the cycle, progesterone warms up the body.

Cervical Mucus and Fertility
Cervical mucus is produced by the lining of a woman's cervix and cervical canal. From cycle day 1, the early part of the pre-ovulatory phase, many women generally experience a time of dryness or limited CM. As the cycle continues, the cervical mucus rises and is generally cloudy and sticky. Before and during ovulation, cervical mucus is abundant and becomes clear and slippery and stretches out like egg white between the fingers.

Non-Fertile CM
There is a feeling of dryness and no visible mucus. More mucus will collect – cloudy, yellow or white in color and sticky to the touch. As the ovulation approaches, the cervical mucus increases. Initially, there has to be a moistness or stickiness to the mucus and white or cream-colored appearance. When ovulation is done, the quantity of mucus increases and CM will look like "egg white". This is sometimes clear or semitransparent and the texture becomes slippery or stretchable. If CM stretches like egg white, then it can be concluded that fertility is existent.

Basal Body Temperature
This test measures a change in temperature that takes place after ovulation. Thus, it cannot be predicted when ovulation can occur in a given cycle. By looking at records from a few cycles the test can reveal a pattern from which ovulation can be thought of. The optimum method to record and control body temperature is using a chart. This is a good visual basis for determining ovulation.

• Ensure that day one on the chart is the first day of menstruation.
• Each morning, before getting out of bed or going to a bathroom, the woman has to take her temperature. A regular thermometer has to be used. However, special basal body thermometers have to be available at the pharmacy if the woman desires to utilize one. The same thermometer has to be used every time.
• Making note of some lack of sleep, drinking alcohol, fever, illness or emotional stress. This is also useful to delineate the condition of any mucous or discharge.

Cervical Mucous Monitoring
Different method for determining when ovulation occurred is through the cervical mucous monitoring test. This is the only means that does not require retrospecting on the past few cycles to analyze. This is based on examining the mucous that is normally secreted from the cervix so that it is determined where the woman is in the cycle.