Ovulation: what is it and how to calculate

First of all, the question of what ovulation is and how it happens is worried about women who planning a pregnancy... However, this information will not be superfluous for any representative of the fair sex, because it is very important for us, girls, to know all aspects of our body.

What is ovulation in women

Nature has endowed a woman with a unique ability to bear children. From the moment of birth, a huge number of eggs "live" in her ovaries. However, many of them die even before they are ready for sexual activity, never waiting in the wings. Others begin to ripen one at a time each month and leave the ovary in anticipation of fertilization - this is called ovulation. As a rule, it occurs 14 days before the start of "menstruation" and lasts only 24 hours.

This process can be compared to a "mini-explosion" - a follicle bursts in one of the ovaries and an egg cell ready for fertilization comes out. This phenomenon can happen at any time of the ovulatory day.

It is very rare, but it happens that ovulation occurs in one month twice, with an interval of about two days. Therefore, girls who want to get pregnant need to catch this "bonus". Those who use the method of contraception, when calculating the onset of "X-day", should take this fact into account.

Ovulation symptoms

The time of the onset of the ovulatory period can be recognized by certain signs:

• there are short-term pains in the lower abdomen, as a rule, from the side of the ovary from which the egg comes out;
• the amount of vaginal discharge increases, they become watery and have the color of an egg white;
• engorgement of the mammary glands occurs;
• the basal body temperature rises;
• increased sexual attraction to the opposite sex.

It is worth noting that all of the above symptoms are individual for each woman. Some of us may feel all the signs at once, while others may not show anything.

When does ovulation occur

Usually ovulation occurs every 21-35 days. It starts around the same time if the woman has a regular cycle.

However, it happens that some malfunctions occur in the body, then the egg leaves the ovary a couple of days earlier or later, and these phenomena are called early and late ovulation. This happens for the following reasons:

• irregular menstrual cycle;
• hormonal disorders;
• constant stress;
• various gynecological diseases;
• postpartum recovery period;
• transferred abortion;
• reaching the age of 40, when the body begins to prepare for menopause.

The ovulation process lasts only one day. We can say that it ends as soon as the egg comes out. If during this time her fertilization does not occur, then two weeks later the woman will begin "critical days".

How to calculate ovulation

Each girl can independently calculate the date of her ovulation, there is nothing complicated about it. The only and main condition is that the menstrual cycle must be regular.

Calendar method

Before you start focusing on the results of this method, you must regularly mark the dates of the beginning and end of your menstruation for six months, or even better a year. Then the results will be the most accurate.

For example, your cycle is 28 days. In order to find out the estimated date of ovulation, you need to add 28 days to the first day of your last "menstruation", and then count back 14 days from the received date. If the cycle lasts 30 days, then add this number accordingly.

Today there are a large number of Internet services and applications that help to automatically carry out these calculations, so you can safely use them. They indicate the ovulatory period and ovulation itself, as well as safe days.

Basal temperature chart

Using this method, it is possible to accurately determine the presence of ovulation, since at this time the basal temperature increases by 0.25-0.5 degrees. Usually, the average values ​​are 36.3-36.5 degrees, and at the time of its onset, they increase to 37.1-37.3 and remain at this level until the onset of menstruation or pregnancy.

It is very important to take all measurements correctly:

• in the morning at the same time, while the sleep should be long - at least 6 hours;
• use the same mercury thermometer;
• take temperature measurements for at least 5 minutes;
• it is forbidden to make sudden movements and get out of bed before the end of the measurement.

To get the most accurate results, you need to make a daily schedule for 3-4 months. You also need to take into account many factors: illness, medication and alcohol intake, sexual intercourse that took place the day before. All of them must be noted in your notes.

This schedule, like the calendar, can be maintained and filled out online.

Of course, a certain error in the calculations cannot be ruled out. To minimize it, you should use more accurate methods for identifying your ovulatory period. For example, folliculometry, but we'll talk about this a little later.

Ovulation test

Another way to calculate the day of ovulation is special tests. They are similar to those performed to determine pregnancy.

Their principle of action is as follows: 24-36 hours before the rupture of the follicle, luteinizing hormone appears in the urine, and test strips help to identify its presence.

In the pharmacy, you can find diagnostic systems from different manufacturers, however, they have the same sensitivity, so choose any option that suits you.

Before using them, it is very important to consider some factors and follow certain rules:

• the reliability of the test decreases while taking any hormonal agents, both internal and external;
• the result is distorted when a large amount of liquid is consumed, since the concentration of the desired hormone in the urine decreases;
• urine is taken only after 4 hours of abstaining from going to the toilet;
• to obtain accurate results, it is recommended to do them every 12 hours and strictly follow the instructions. Be sure to use all 5 test strips in the box.

It is necessary to start carrying out such tests about 11-13 days before the next menstruation, but provided that the woman's cycle is regular and is 28 days. If this figure is higher, then make the diagnosis 17 days in advance.

In a situation where the cycle is not regular, this method will not work, because it will be difficult to calculate the required period for testing.

Rather, this method will only be the calculation of ovulation by ultrasound.

Discharge during ovulation

The onset of the ovulatory period and ovulation itself can also be recognized by the characteristic vaginal discharge.

In the first stage of the menstrual cycle, thick mucus closes the entrance to the cervix, it can be compared to a kind of "plug" that performs a protective function. This is called the "dry" period. When ovulation begins, it becomes thin and stringy and comes out in the form of copious secretions - the "fertile" period. Then the mucus thickens again.

In appearance, these secretions resemble egg white, but it happens that a woman notices minor bloody, even brown "marks" on her underwear. And this is an absolutely natural phenomenon that occurs due to the rupture of the follicle when a mature egg leaves it. It can last for about 48 hours.

However, one should not completely rely on this feature alone. Each organism is individual and the same processes described in books on medicine, in practice, occur in completely different ways.

Pain during ovulation

Some women experience ovulation painfully and the sources for this may be the following:

• the contraction of the fallopian tubes increases, because they are trying to have time to capture a ripe egg;
• the very process of "explosion" of the follicle sometimes provokes spasms;
• the egg grows during maturation and stretches the follicle, due to this, some discomfort occurs in the ovary;
• in the presence of various gynecological diseases, the pain syndrome increases, for example, if there are adhesions of the small pelvis.

In the event of significant pain symptoms in the middle of the cycle, it is very important to see a doctor. He will help to exclude other causes that can provoke them, and will recommend the necessary treatment, for example, taking medications - no-shpa, spazmalgon.

Taking a warm bath can help relieve discomfort. You can add herbs to the water, or essential oils.

Also, during this period, it is better to exclude fatty and spicy foods, legumes, white cabbage, strong coffee and tea from your diet, since these products increase intestinal motility, which in turn aggravates pain.

Ovulation and conception

As you know, conceiving a child is simply impossible without ovulation. But do not confuse these concepts with each other, because these are two completely different processes.

Consider how everything happens inside the female body. At the time of ovulation, the egg leaves the follicle and enters the fallopian tube, through which it moves until it enters the body of the uterus. During this journey, which takes only 24 hours, she must meet with the sperm for conception to occur. If fertilization has happened, then the egg, having entered the uterus, is introduced into its wall and pregnancy occurs. If their meeting did not happen or something did not work out, then menstruation begins, through which the egg is removed from the body.

When planning a pregnancy, it should be borne in mind that the life cycle of sperm is 5 days. Therefore, conception can occur even if intercourse was a few days before ovulation.

The most favorable period for fertilization of the egg is the day of ovulation itself, as well as 5 days before it and 3-4 days after, since there is an error in accurately determining this moment and we must not forget about the likelihood of two ovulations in one cycle.

However, modern medicine does not stand still, and therefore an accurate method has appeared for determining the days of the cycle corresponding to ovulation - this is folliculometry or ultrasound diagnostics of the ovaries. With its help, you can determine the most suitable time for conception.

Lack of ovulation

During the year, the female body "rests" several times, which means that the egg does not mature, and menstruation still takes place. This process is considered completely normal and natural and is called anovulation.

But it happens that some kind of malfunction occurs in the body and ovulation does not occur completely, then we can talk about a disorder of the menstrual cycle. The reasons may be:

• diseases associated with disorders of the hormonal system;
• taking certain medications;
• the first months after the cancellation of oral contraceptives;
• constant stress, excessive physical activity;
• low body weight in a woman (less than 42 kg with an average height).

All of these causes of "improper" ovulation can be easily eliminated or corrected with appropriate treatments. Therefore, it is very important to monitor your health and seek help from a specialist in time.

Stimulation of ovulation

When numerous attempts by a woman to become pregnant remain unsuccessful, it becomes necessary to stimulate ovulation.

You can resort to these procedures only if the couple cannot conceive a child naturally for a period exceeding 1 year.

Before stimulation, both partners must undergo all the necessary medical examinations so as not to unnecessarily endanger the woman's health.

There are various methods of stimulation: medication, vitamin therapy, folk remedies.

Hormonal drugs and injections are prescribed and used only for appropriate medical indications and under the strict supervision of a physician and ultrasound diagnostics.

The main "female" vitamins that help the egg to mature are vitamin E, iodine and folic acid.

"Natural" stimulation occurs due to the intake of decoctions and infusions of various herbs: sage, upland uterus and red brush leaves. A decoction of rose petals contains a large amount of vitamin E, which has a beneficial effect on the ability to conceive a child. This method is considered the safest, if, of course, all these drinks are prepared in the correct proportions.