Women who are trying to conceive need to know exact the exact point of ovulation. To make the most of the fertility window which is the five days leading to ovulation and the day of ovulation. There are signs women can use to recognize when ovulation is about to happen. Here are six of the most obvious ones.
One of the signs that ovulation is imminent is a heightened sense of smell. For many women, smell becomes more sensitive during the latter half of their normal menstrual cycle. This is typically a sign of ovulation. The reason this happens is that the body is primed to be drawn to the male pheromone androstenone.
Ovulation is on the horizon when a woman’s breasts become more sensitive. Telltale signs include tingling, tenderness or mild soreness. This happens prior to ovulation because of the flood of hormones which enter the body just before and after ovulation.
Spotting or a slight brown discharge is not uncommon before and during ovulation. This happens when the follicle which has been protecting the developing egg, matures and ruptures to release the egg. The rupture causes a small amount of bleeding. As the blood ages, it turns brown, which is why the discharge may be red to brown. Spotting or discharge is not a cause for concern.
Libido changes are another common sign that ovulation is about to happen. Many women notice that their sex drive increase or that they become aroused more easily.
Ovulation can sometimes cause mild pelvic or abdominal pain, typically on one side or the other. Pain can last anywhere from a few minutes to 48 hours and may be accompanied by light spotting. An over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medication should ease the pain, but pain that persists should be brought to a medical professional’s attention.
As well as watching out for these signs, women can also monitor ovulation by measuring basal body temperature, which dips slightly on the run up to ovulation. Keeping a menstrual chart for several months will help understand the ovulation pattern. A third technique for predicting ovulation is with an over-the-counter ovulation predictor kit. This type of device measures levels of luteinizing hormone (LH) in the urine. LH concentration increases around ovulation, indicating the fertility window.
