If you're actively trying to get pregnant, ovulation is your best friend. It's the time in your menstrual cycle when you have a fresh egg ready for fertilization. This egg sticks around for only a short time, so timing intercourse or insemination around ovulation is key. On the other hand, if you're trying to avoid pregnancy, knowing when you ovulate can let you know when to be extra careful. Ovulation isn't obvious, but it isn't invisible either. With a little investigative work and knowledge about your body, you can take control of your fertility.
Step 1
Use your calendar to chart when your periods begin and when you ovulate. If you have a regular menstrual cycle, ovulation will generally occur two weeks before your next period starts, according to the American Pregnancy Association, or in the middle of your cycle. For some women, this means day 14, but for others it could be day 12 or day 20. The longer you chart your cycle, the more accurately you'll be able to predict when you'll ovulate by simply looking at the calendar.
Step 2
Record your basal body temperature for temperature increases. You temperature spikes one-half to one degree during ovulation, according to the Mayo Clinic. Take your temperature first thing in the morning, before sitting up or even talking. The longer you're awake and the more movement you do, the less accurate your reading will be. Record your temperature daily and look for the small spike. Be sure to use a basal thermometer, as these types of thermometers are sensitive to small temperature changes.
Step 3
Check for cervical mucus. Your body has a regular mucus cycle. You're usually dry a few days before and after menstruation. As you build toward ovulation, your mucus gets more frequent. It starts out cloudy and thick and by the time ovulation hits, it's what's called "egg white cervical mucous." Egg white mucus is clear, watery and stretchy, as it's designed to help sperm swim toward the egg. Many women monitor body temperature and mucus in what's called the "fertility awareness method."
Step 4
Use an over-the-counter ovulation predictor kit or fertility monitor. These tests are in the pregnancy test section of your drug or department store. They detect the hormonal shift that takes place during ovulation. Use the sticks, which work much like a home pregnancy test, or use a fertility monitor. A fertility monitor is a machine that collects samples of your urine on certain days to determine when you're most likely to ovulate.
Step 5
See your doctor for ultrasounds and blood tests that can determine if and when you ovulate. This is especially useful for women with infertility issues. Your doctor can perform these tests on their own or in conjunction with fertility treatments to help determine whether ovulation is occurring and whether viable eggs are present.
Things You'll Need
- Calendar
- Basal body thermometer
- Ovulation predictor kit or fertility monitor
