How to Track Ovulation
Ovulation takes place around halfway between 2 consecutive menstruations.
After your period, your estrogen starts to rise during the follicular phase, the first half of your cycle. FSH (follicle-stimulating hormone) increases during the follicular phase to tell your ovaries to produce an egg and right before you ovulate you have an LH surge (luteinizing hormone) to tell your ovary to release the egg. Once you have ovulated your progesterone should kick in, rise, then peak. Just after ovulation your hormones peak. This is the time when your energy is the highest, you may feel like doing more things, maybe you’re more social during this time.
Since your hormones are the highest at this time, you are the most fertile which gives you a higher chance of conceiving. If you are actively trying to conceive or actually trying NOT to conceive it’s important to understand when you are ovulating to make sure you are trying at the right time of the month or are ensuring you are definitely using protection at the right time of the month.
Now that you know what ovulation is, and why it is important, how do you track ovulation? Using a period app is definitely not the most accurate way for how to track ovulation. These apps rely on past cycle data to predict when ovulation will occur. This is not accurate or reliable since various things can impact when you ovulate each cycle. Some things that affect ovulation are sleep, stress, traveling, eating and movement.
Source: NIH
Here are 4 key ways to track ovulation accurately:
1. Basal Body Temperature
Basal body temperature or BBT is one of the easiest ways to confirm ovulation. There is a distinct temperature increase after you ovulate due to progesterone increase. To test this out every morning before getting out of bed take your temperature and right it down for a whole month. Of course take into consideration if you have the flu or another illness that caused a fever, but if you didn’t have any illness you will notice a trend throughout the month. The temperature will stay plateaued but on the day you ovulate that temperature will rise a degree at most and will stay at the heightened value for several days. Using this method is a great way to learn how to track ovulation, but remember that the day you ovulate one month will not be the same as the next month.
Source: University of Michigan, 29313033
2. Cervical Fluid
Cervical fluid (also called cervical mucus, or vaginal discharge) is a completely normal part of your menstrual cycle and typically follows a pattern throughout the month. It is influenced by estrogen levels in the body. It’s an important sign to learn about your body because it can help you to learn how to track ovulation as a predictive marker. Cervical fluid’s role is to either prevent or promote sperm from entering the uterus depending on the time of the month. During your menstrual phase (on your period) and the days directly following after, your cervical fluid is usually dry. While we wouldn’t typically think that being on our period would be dry, we’re referring to cervical fluid here not period blood. As estrogen levels start to rise in the follicular phase your cervical fluid changes to a sticky or glue-like consistency then to more of a creamy/lotion consistency. As you approach ovulation you estrogen levels are climbing to their peak. Fertile cervical fluid can be the creamy/lotion-like consistency but the egg white consistency that would stretch between your fingers is what we’re typically looking for. After ovulation if pregnancy does not happen then your cervical fluid can dry up or transition from the glue/lotion consistency to dry as your estrogen levels fall back down during the luteal phase. Things that can affect cervical fluid: birth control pills: reduce amount, antibiotics and certain meds: can change the quality, PCOS or irregular cycles, missing period, hydration: more hydrated, the better quality, and stress.
3. Ovulation Predictor Strips
Ovulation predictor strips are another way to learn how to track ovulation, though this is a predicting method and not a confirming method like checking BBT. These strips work similarly to a pregnancy test, you pee on the stick and watch to see if a dark line appears. If it does this predicts you will ovulate within the next 12-36 hours. The reason these strips help you learn how to track ovulation is by measuring the Luteinizing Hormone (LH) levels. Typically these levels rise right before ovulation. If you have PCOS you may have chronically elevated LH levels, in which case ovulation predictor kits may not be helpful for predicting ovulation (you will consistently get a positive result). You can determine your LH level with a blood test on day 3 of your cycle.
4. Cervical Position
Checking your cervical position can be a great tool to use when learning how to track ovulation. The cervix is the connector between the vaginal canal and the uterus. Its position and consistency changes throughout you recycle and when after intercourse. A rule of thumb for knowing when you are ovulating is the acronym SHOW (soft, high, open, and wet). This is because these conditions make it easier for the sperm to enter the uterus. When you are not ovulating the cervix is usually low, dry, and closed. These conditions occur when you are not ovulating to prevent sperm from entering the uterus. To start implementing this way of how to track ovulation start by washing your hands and getting into a position that feels comfortable for you, then insert your middle or index finger into your vagina and feel around for the cervix and take note of where it is and how it feels. Continue to do this throughout the month and take note of any patterns to get a better idea on when you are ovulating.
Source: 24845657
