Ovulation

Do you know that you can actually know when your ovaries release the egg? You only have to be a bit more aware of the signals that your body sends.

There are many observable, though subtle, changes in the body before and during ovulation. Let us have a closer look at these.

The cervix secretes mucus,and that may change in appearance as per the phases of the menstrual cycle. You may have noticed that sometimes the mucus is clear and slippery, and other times it is profuse and thick.

Around the time of ovulation, mucus becomes clear, slick and slippery, and is of the consistency of egg white. This is the best sign that ovulation is getting close.

During the first part of your menstrual cycle, the cervical mucus would be white in colour, dry and thick. As you progress through the menstrual cycle, the mucus may be more wet, its volume may increase, it may be more stretchy and feel thin. At the time of ovulation, the cervical mucus becomes abundant, it may look like raw egg white and stretch between your fingers without breaking. These characteristics of the cervical mucus may disappear post-ovulation. The mucus may become increasingly dry for the rest of the days in the menstrual cycle.

Many women experience abdominal pain during ovulation pain. This is also called as Mittelschmerz or "midcycle pain". The pain is experienced in lower abdominal and pelvic region; it appears suddenly and usually subsides within hours. The pain can be on either side depending on which ovary is releasing the egg.

Basal body temperature is the temperature of your body during rest. It should be recorded every morning, just after awakening. Taking the temperature after brushing teeth or drinking tea may give a false reading and should be avoided. The measurement should be plotted against a graph. The curve comes in shape of a valley between two mountains. Low temperature is observed during actual menstruation, subsequently it rises. At the middle of the cycle, there is fall in temperature followed by a rise. This rise indicates ovulation has occurred.

A woman can increase the chances of becoming pregnant by being aware of the changes that indicate ovulation. These changes indicate the fertile period in a menstrual cycle when the changes of conceiving are highest, and indicate the infertile period where the chances of conceiving are lowest. A little careful planning is all you need to conceive successfully!