Ovulation

Understanding what ovulation is, what are the symptoms that announce it, when does it occur and how is this process linked with pregnancy is essential for any woman who wants to know her body better, whether she tries to get pregnant or not.

What is ovulation?

It is the process during which one ovary releases one mature egg in order to get fertilized. This happens after the follicle in which the ovule grew is ruptured and the lining of the uterus got thicker in order to ensure a protective cushion for the potential zygote. The release of ovule and pregnancy are strongly linked as without the released egg there can be no fertilization therefore no embryo developing inside the womb.

After the mature egg is eliminated from the follicle, it travels through the fallopian tube and in the end it reaches the uterus. Unless it meets the partner's sperm, no fertilization takes place therefore the unfertilized egg is eliminated together with the lining of the uterus during the menstrual cycle. Because pregnancy can only occur after ovulation, this period and the days before and after it are considered the most fertile of the month.

What are the common symptoms?

This process often causes cramps and bleeding, but these symptoms may also occur before and after the release of the ovule. When the egg descends in the fallopian tube, it causes an increased pressure and tenses the muscles, leading to lower abdominal pain and cramping. Although ovule release and menstruation are two different processes, they have some common symptoms, such as breast tenderness and changes in the vaginal discharge.

While menstruation is defined by the elimination of high blood and mucus amounts, the fertile period also marks some changes in the aspect of the cervical mucus. This becomes clearer than usually, slippery and typically colored like raw eggs whites. Together with this vaginal discharge, some women experience spotting, which seems to be caused by the rupture of the follicle from which the egg is eliminated.

As said before, the second phase of the cycle, which starts after the ovule is released, can also be accompanied by breast soreness. Just like the other signs, this one can be an important clue for women who rely on recognizing the symptoms for predicting their most fertile period and increasing their chances of getting pregnant.

How long does it last?

Unfortunately no one can give a precise answer as the length of this process really depends on the woman's health and internal mechanisms. Typically, the first phase of the cycle lasts around 16 days, but it may vary from 7 to 40 days as well. The last stage begins when the egg is released and lasts until the menstrual cycle. The duration of this second phase varies between 12 and 16 days.

Of these two stages (the first one called follicular phase and the second one called the luteal phase), the later is associated with the highest fertility and also with higher levels of certain hormones, which make the egg release possible. From these hormones, the estrogens and the lutenizing hormone (LH) are the most important and they are used as reference by most ovulation predictor kits.

What about the testing kits?

Like the name suggests it, these kits are used for predicting ovulation, just like pregnancy tests are taken to confirm or refute pregnancy. Although different, these two types of tests have a pretty similar functioning principle, as both of them deliver a positive or negative result based on the presence or absence of certain hormones in the corporal fluids. While kits for ovulation use urine and saliva, those for pregnancy analyze the composition of urine or blood.

The functioning principle is very simple: the predictor kit contains five to seven sticks on which small amounts of urine or saliva must be placed. When urine is used, the test should be taken around 2 pm, while for saliva the best moment is after waking up, before drinking or eating anything. The first kits detect the presence of the lutenizing hormone while the second ones analyze the aspect of saliva after it dries and crystallizes on the sticks.

Both these tests require around 15 minutes for displaying a result and their accuracy is very high, around 98%. Although their prices vary depending on the producers, they're usually pretty affordable, costing between 20$ and 70$. So the release of ovule can be predicted based on the common symptoms or using this type of kits, both methods being efficient when used properly.

More on Ovulation...

I am sure you have a lot of questions pertaining to ovulation. That is exactly why this section is provided that links you to various topics related to this. If you need information on signs and symptoms you will find some very exhaustive articles in here. If your need is something as specific as predictor kits, we have got that covered as well. Check them out and let us know if you would like us to talk on some subject that relates to your pregnancy and is not covered here.