What is Ovulation?
- The key to getting pregnant!!!
Ovulation is the key process in which a mature egg is released from the ovaries in a woman during the menstruation cycle each month.
A new baby girl is born with around 1-2 million eggs stored in her newly-formed ovaries. Throughout her fertile years the ovaries will release a total of only three to four hundred eggs. A girl’s first period, and the beginning of menstruation, usually occurs between the ages of 10 and 14.
Regardless of the length of your monthly cycle, ovulation usually happens 12 to 16 days before your next period starts. Ovulation lasts between 12 and 24 hours. That’s how long the egg released by the ovaries. For example, if a woman has a 28 day cycle, she is most likely to ovulate half way with her fertile window being days 10-15. If the cycle is regularly 30 days she will normally ovulate between day 16 and day 18 of her cycle
It is also quite normal to have shorter or longer cycles which last anything between 23 and 35 days. You can try working out your fertile times using our ovulation calculator below.
But then what happens after ovulating?
If the egg becomes fertilised by a sperm during your fertile window, it will attach itself into the uterus lining (endometrium) and begin to grow into a baby. If it is not fertilised, the egg will be rejected by the body, along with some of the endometrium and will show as your next period, and then the cycle begins again.
Signs of Ovulation
You can start to notice some physical signs that you’re fertile about five days before you ovulate. They include:
- Changes to your cervical mucus- You’re at your most fertile when your mucus becomes clear, slippery, and stretchy like raw egg white as opposed to it being thick and sticky. It helps the sperm on its way up through your uterus.
- Increased body temperature
- Belly ache/cramps- this could be mild or a bit painful. Some even feel ovulation pain go up their butt! Yes that’s right
- Tender breasts
- Feeling more sexy than usual -You may notice a peak in sexual desire.
- You may notice some slight spotting
You don’t need to be anxious when trying to get pregnant, as the stress can take its toll on your chances of conceiving. Relax and have fun while trying 🙂
