Symptoms Of Ovulation

Symptoms of ovulation are experienced by many women without them even knowing. On a monthly basis we may feel a twinge on one side of our stomach, or slightly crampy on a certain day. We may feel bloated or even a bit 'muzzy'. The fact is that if you actually kept a diary for let's say - 12 months, you may find that these feelings or symptoms happen at around the same time every month.

Certain feelings, moods, or pain we experience may actually be signs and symptoms of ovulation. It's only when you start looking for information about ovulation, that you realise exactly what's going on inside your body!

The main symptoms of ovulation

These are some signs that you may notice happening, but not actually realise that they're common signs that ovulation is about to occur.

• Cervical mucus changes and what's known as EWCM, that's egg white cervical mucus. At other times of the month it may be creamy, sticky or not there at all, but when you're ready to ovulate it will become almost like raw egg white, clear and stretchy.
• Abdominal pain or crampy feelings (also known as mittelschmerz) it could be across the whole of your lower tummy, or it may be just on one side, and that could be the ovary that will release the egg.
• Feeling nauseous could be a sign of ovulation.
• Need to keep popping to the loo? Some women report the need for frequent urination when ovulating.
• Increased libido, that feeling that you just can't get enough of your partner! This could be natures way of telling you to have sex because you're about to ovulate!
• Tender breasts, this sometimes happens slightly before or just after ovulation.
• Feeling bloated? Another sign that ovulation may be approaching.

Not all women will get the above symptoms of ovulation, some may get one or two, or others may even get all of them. You just need to learn to 'notice' them!

Symptoms of ovulation that you may not be aware of

These signs and symptoms of ovulation above are ones that you may notice, but there are some that you may have no idea are happening!

• Temperature change, although this may not be noticeable to you. Using a basal body thermometer, track your temperature as soon as you wake in the morning. As soon as your temperature rises you know that you have ovulated. Your temperature will normally stay up after ovulation. This can be difficult if you are ill as your temperature may be raised anyway. The amount your temperature will rise will also be very slight, just a few tenths of a degree. You can learn more about basal body temperature charting here.
• Change of cervical position, around the time of ovulation your cervix will become higher, softer and more open, ready to receive sperm rather than battle against it. You can check changes in your cervix, but it is something that you will have to monitor for a while, so you get to know the different feels of your cervix. Some women just don't like the thought of doing this.

• Now for one that many people have never heard of - Saliva ferning. If you have a microscope then keep an eye on your saliva, as ovulation approaches and your body's LH level rises, your saliva when viewed through a microscope will take on the pattern that frost makes on glass window pane! You might have to know exactly what you're looking for with this one though. Most women claim it's too hard to distinguish the pattern.

The one sure way to track ovulation

There is one sure way to track ovulation and that is with an ovulation predictor kit. These are strips which you will either dip in a cup of urine, or hold in your urine stream. They can be expensive though.

Remember that with any methods of ovulation detecting, even though the signs of ovulation may be there, it doesn't always mean that an egg has been released. This is especially true for women who suffer with PCOS

Related pages:

When do I ovulate

Fertile days to conceive

Return from symptoms of ovulation to the getting pregnant page.

Or visit the New baby and beyond homepage.

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