What Every Woman Should Know: Detecting Ovulation

Early on we are conditioned in school, by peers, and by our family to know that sex leads to pregnancy, and something must be done to keep pregnancy from happening. So, the reverse must be true, right? If we don't do anything about it and just have sex, pregnancy will happen? Not quite so. Less than 25% of women who are otherwise healthy and are not preventing pregnancy will actually conceive in any given month, with the majority of women taking 4-12 months to conceive a baby. In reality, there were quite a few things left out of your Jr High Sex Ed class, one of the most fascinating of which is the biological mechanisms associated with ovulation.

Ovulation starts months ahead of time, as an ovum matures within the ovary. Luteinizing hormone surges around the middle of your cycle, causing the egg to be released, and it travels down the fallopian tube to meet up with sperm, and create a baby. There are three main ways to detect luteinizing hormone surges and ovulation on your own, and time intercourse appropriately for the desired outcome.

The most notable ovulation detection indicator is your cervical mucus, found when you wipe or in your undies. Noting the consistency and color of the discharge in your undies is a good practice. You will find that towards the middle of your cycle it become copious, clear, and 'egg white' in consistency. This is 'fertile' mucus and is the most sure sign of ovulation.

The second indication of ovulation is seen by taking your temperature daily at the same time each day, before you get up in the morning. A person's average temperature (yours may be different) is 98.6, but then around ovulation it will raise up half to a whole degree and then drop back down after ovulation has occurred.

The third method of detecting ovulation is by using an ovulation predictor kit, or LH strips as they are sometimes called. These, like pregnancy tests, detect hormone present in the urine, specifically luteinizing hormone. Every morning on days 10-20 of your cycle (on average), you will pee in a cup and dip the test in. It is important to do this with the first urine of the morning (called first morning urine) so that you have consistent results. When the test kit shows a strong (dark) positive, you can expect ovulation in 24-72 hours.

Using these tips, you will feel more confident in the journey of starting a family or you will be able to have a better understanding of the workings of your own body.