My sister and I went on a walk the other day and started talking about ovulation…well sort of. I recently started trying to get pregnant again and have been surprised by how confusing ovulation still feels, even after going through a previous pregnancy. Ovulation is an essential topic that is rarely discussed further in sex ed beyond “ it is the discharge of ova or ovules from the ovary”. Great, but what now?
I know the basics ie: “look for cervical mucus the consistency of egg whites” and “there are only a couple days a month you can actually get pregnant” but beyond that, my knowledge feels pretty general. So, my sister and I decided to do a little research into the important (and confusing) world of ovulation.
“I was so struck by how much has to go right in order to get pregnant.”
Here are some of the key takeaways:
Window to get pregnant is smaller than you might think
It’s important to get to know your fertile window. An egg lives between 12 - 24 hours, sperm can live in the fallopian tube for up to 5 days.
There are multiple ways to track ovulation including: Cervical Mucus, Basal Body Temperature, Ovulation Testing Strips, and Apps.
Cervical Mucus Tracking - Consistencies of Cervical Mucus
Dry - slightly damp, no cervical fluid
Sticky - crumbly, rubbery, gummy
Creamy - lotiony or milky
Slippery - clear, sticky, stretchy (think egg whites)
**Make sure to clean your hands before checking!
Basal Body Temperature Tracking
A small increase in your temp can signal ovulation
Done first thing in the morning, ideally at the same time every day and immediately after you wake up
Can potentially be used to predict pregnancy if temperature stays elevated 18+ days post-ovulation
Ask with any method of birth control check with your doctor
Results may be affected to those who recently gave birth, stopped taking birth control pills / hormonal contraceptives, are breastfeeding, or experiencing menopause
Ovulation Strips
Depending on the type you either pee directly on or dip a stick into pee to test
Can help you identify when your fertile window is high and at its peak (ovulation typically occurs 12-48 after a “peak” reading)
May help identify how long your fertile window typically lasts and when in you cycle
If you have PCOS testing strips may be inaccurate
Apps
Apps are a helpful but not necessarily an accurate tool for tracking ovulation
I currently use Ovia and find that my fertile window predicted by the app is almost always wrong so I typically ignore that part
I like using the app to track sex, symptoms, and cervical mucus
Some people can feel mild symptoms when ovulating like dull cramps
It’s possible to have a cycle where you don’t ovulate and still get your period
Both my sister and I have experienced irregular cycles at various times in our lives and that adds a whole other level of uncertainty. Bottom line, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed but also empowering to understand what is happening in your body. I’m definitely trying to learn as much I can and allow myself the space for whatever comes up along the way.
RESOURCES:
https://americanpregnancy.org/getting-pregnant/understanding-ovulation/
https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/basal-body-temperature/about/pac-20393026
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