Am I Ovulating?

The ovulation period is very important for women who are trying to conceive. There are many ways to find if you are ovulating, and some of them are discussed here:

Ovulation Calendar

You can keep a calendar of your menstrual cycle to know about the ovulation period. The average menstrual cycle is of 28 days. Count from the first day of a period to the first day of the next one. Each woman has a different cycle, and your own cycle could vary from one month to another. Keep this calendar for a few months and you will understand your ovulating pattern. Ovulation generally starts 10-16 days before the next period begins.

Body Notifications

Most women get signals from their body when they are ovulating. You might have some cramps in your lower abdomen. If you pay close attention, you might know when you are ovulating.

Temperature Charting

Your BBT, or basal body temperature, tells a lot about ovulation. BBT is taken with the help of special thermometers. Take BBT readings first thing in the morning (even before you get out of the bed). BBT changes throughout the menstrual cycle. During the beginning of the cycle, estrogen is dominating. During ovulation, progesterone takes charge and raises the temperature of the body. It is done to make the uterus ready for egg implantation. So the bottom line is: your BBT will become low when ovulation is going to start and when ovulation occurs, it will rise dramatically- somewhere between 0.4 and 1.0 degrees. To chart your BBT accurately, you have to note it down every day for a few months.

Cervix Indications

When the body senses that the ovum has been released in the fallopian tube, it makes some changes so that sperms can easily reach the ovum. This is why the cervix changes its position. During the initial phase of the menstrual cycle, the cervix would be hard, closed, and low. But as you ovulate, your cervix will pull back, open up, and soften a bit. Some women can easily detect these changes, while others have a difficult time knowing. You can check your cervix daily using your fingers and chart your observations. Another sign is that your cervical mucus would become thicker during ovulation.

Ovulation Kits

With these kits, you can accurately know when you are ovulating. They pinpoint your date, and let you know when it is best to conceive a child. When you are ovulating, the luteinizing hormones (or LH) rise in volume. Ovulation kits are used to measure LH in your urine. There are different types of ovulation kits that can be used in the privacy of your home and they are pretty inexpensive, with many tests coming for under a dollar.

This information is provided as a guide and BabyWorks takes no responsibility for any consequences resulting from its use.  it is reccomended that you consult your doctor when trying to get pregnant.