If you're trying to get pregnant, you're probably on the look out for ovulation symptoms, in order to work out what day you'll ovulate.
Once you’ve identified it, you can then have intercourse, and hopefully it results in a pregnancy.
Bear in mind that when you do ovulate, you only have a short window of time to conceive before the egg starts to die.
Therefore, to optimise your chances of conception, it’s important to understand your cycle.
Ovulation Symptoms
Let's start by looking at the important basics of your cycle, as well as the ovulation symptoms you might expect.
Understanding Your Cycle
Understanding your menstrual cycle can be a great deal easier if you know what you're looking for.
You don’t need to be an expert! You can become knowledgable enough to be able to detect ovulation after just one cycle. With such simple, yet wonderful knowledge, you could shorten your journey to becoming pregnant.
From day 1 of your menstrual cycle (when your period begins) until ovulation, this is called the follicular phase.
From ovulation until the end of your period, is called the luteal phase, which usually lasts 12 to 16 days.
The day of ovulation will determine your cycle length, not the first day of your period.
Charting your cycle daily will help you to work out the lengths of your follicular and luteal phases, which is handy information.
What Causes Ovulation In Your Body?
Your ovaries are amazing almond shaped organs. They develop egg-containing follicles in preparation for ovulation. Every cycle, Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) promotes the development of around 5-12 follicles. The most dominant follicle gets released at ovulation.
The growing follicles produce oestrogen. As a result of high oestrogen levels in your blood, Luteinizing Hormone (LH) triggers ovulation in your body.
Ovulation occurs around 12-24 hours after the LH surge, when the mature follicle bursts through the ovarian wall. If sperm is waiting for the egg, or if you have intercourse at this point, you could very well get pregnant.
For 90% of women, cycle length can vary from 23-35 days, with ovulation occurring mid-cycle.
Other factors (e.g. stress) can result in ovulation being delayed, until as late as the third or fourth week. However, the way our care providers calculate pregnancy due dates is by assuming ovulation on day 14 of a 28 day cycle. You can already see a major reason why due dates aren't so accurate!
Not every woman has a 28 day cycle, nor ovulates on day 14. A normal, healthy menstrual cycle should be about 26-32 days in length. Find out more about what a healthy menstrual cycle should look like, and when you might need help to resolve any issues.
Do Women Ovulate Every Month?
Not all women ovulate every month. If an ovary does not produce a mature follicle, ovulation does not occur. This is called an anovulatory menstrual cycle. The endometrium (the lining of your uterus which builds up in preparation for pregnancy) develops as usual, but no egg is released.
A small percentage of women might release two or more eggs within a 24 hour period. It isn’t possible to release more eggs after this time, due to hormonal changes in the body. Once an egg is fertilised, hormones will prevent any future eggs being released, in order to protect and nurture the pregnancy.
10 Ovulation Symptoms
There are several ovulation symptoms you might notice. These include (in no particular order):
Ovulation Symptoms #1: Ovulation Pain or Mittelschmerz
The most uncomfortable ovulation symptom for some women is ovulation pain or mittelschmerz – a German word meaning mid (mittel) pain (schmerz). For these women, ovulation causes a sudden, constant pain in their lower abdomen.
It's important to understand that painful ovulation is not normal. A mild sensation is normal, but pain is not. It could be a sign you have ovarian cysts, adhesions from previous abdominal surgery, or other heath issues. It should be investigated right away, especially if you’re trying to conceive, as pain can be a symptom of a medical problem that can result in infertility.
Find more information about ovulation pain.
Ovulation Symptoms #2: Drop In Basal Body Temperature
In order to notice a drop in your basal body temperature, you need to chart your cycle, taking your temperature every morning upon waking (close to the same time every day).
Charting plays a key role in understanding your cycle, and identifying what your body is doing and what it normally does. If you haven’t been charting your cycle previously, this information won’t be helpful for this cycle. But now is a great time to start. Read our article, Charting Your Cycle For Conception, and in future you will be able to spot a slight temperature drop before you ovulate.
You will need a basal thermometer. These are specifically designed for measuring slighter than normal fluctuations in temperature. They are accurate to +/-0.05 degrees centigrade, measuring to two decimal places. There are several ‘fertility' thermometers on the market these days, but as long as it's a basal thermometer, you're set.
After ovulation, you will notice your temperature normally rises, and stays that way until your next period. If you become pregnant, your temperature stays higher. This is how some women know when to expect their period, noting a drop in temperature around the time their period is due.
Ovulation Symptoms #3: Cervical Mucus
Observing your cervical mucus several times a day is also important, as this is one of the more reliable ovulation symptoms. Your mucus changes in response to being at fertile or infertile stages of your cycle. It's also a good indicator of when your fertility has returned after having a baby.
Cervical mucus changes with fluctuations in hormones (e.g. oestrogen). Following a period, mucus will typically be dry before becoming sticky, then creamy, then watery, before its most fertile state – clear, slippery and stretchy. Highly fertile mucus looks like raw egg white. This best aids the sperm on its passage to the egg, and provides an alkaline protection from the vagina’s acidic environment.
As you get older, you will have fewer days of egg-white cervical mucus (EWCM). For example, a woman in her 20s might have up to five days of EWCM, whereas women in their late 30s might have one or two days at most.
For more information, look at our Cervical Mucus Observations article.
Ovulation Symptoms #4: Cervical Position
Your cervix gives away some fantastic clues as to when you are fertile. Checking your cervix position is a helpful tool to work out when ovulation is near. You’ll probably need a few cycles to get the hang of it and understand all the variations and changes in your cervix.
Checking the position of your cervix is best done at the same time each day, as it doesn’t remain in one spot all day. Always wash your hands before you check your cervix.
Just like your cervical mucus, the cervix is clever and changes to optimise the chances of conception. When you're not fertile, you'll notice your cervix feels low, hard (like the tip of your nose) and dry. To identify a fertile cervix, remember SHOW: Soft (more like your ear lobe), High, Open and Wet.
Ovulation Symptoms #5 – 10: Other Possible Signs
Here's a list of other possible ovulation symptoms, however they are not as reliable as the above symptoms:
- Breast tenderness and sensitivity
- Increased libido
- Increased energy level
- Heightened sense of vision, smell and taste
- Water retention
- Spotting – mid-cycle spotting is believed to be a result of the sudden drop of oestrogen prior to ovulation. Due to there being no progesterone right away, the lining can leak a small amount of blood until then.
Using Ovulation Prediction Tests
There are some ovulation prediction tests on the market. They can help detect changes in your body that signal ovulation is near. Two of the most common are:
Ovulation Prediction Kits (OPKs)
Ovulation prediction kits can be purchased online, from your pharmacy or supermarket.
An ovulation prediction kit works like a pregnancy test, except it measures your levels of LH, which indicate that you will be ovulating in the next 12-24 hours. Time to go make a baby!
Ovulation Microscopes (Saliva Test)
Ovulation microscopes can also be purchased online and from pharmacies. These handheld mini-microscopes enable you to observe the pattern of a dry saliva sample. When you’re fertile, the saliva appears to be ‘ferning’, a different pattern from when you are infertile.
Ovulation Calculator — Predict Your Most Fertile Days
If you want to work out your most fertile days based on your cycle dates, give our ovulation calculator a try. Simply enter in the last date of your menstrual period, as well as your usual cycle length. It’ll predict your upcoming fertile days, so with other ovulation symptoms to look for, you’ll have some great tools to speed up that path to conception.
Remember…
Sperm can survive inside a woman for about 3-5 days, so having sex before ovulation has even occurred might result in a pregnancy. If you're trying to get pregnant, there is no need to have lots of sex and time things to the very minute you ovulate. This just makes sex functional instead of enjoyable, which will quickly wear out its welcome.
If you chart your cycle and get to know when you normally ovulate, you can enjoy a passionate night with your partner and know that you are giving yourselves a very good chance of pregnancy.
Recommended Reading For All Things Fertility
Below are some books I recommend for those wanting to know more about (or take control of) their own fertility. Many of these books also rate very highly with BellyBelly forum members.
#1: Taking Charge of Your Fertility by Toni Weschler
#2: Plan to Get Pregnant: 10 Steps to Maximum Fertility by Zita West
Zita West has written numerous fertility books and I highly recommend her work. Other books from Zita West include:
- Zita West's Guide To Getting Pregnant
- Fertility and Conception: A Complete Guide to Getting Pregnant
- Zita West's Guide to Fertility and Assisted Conception
#3: Natural Fertility: The Complete Guide to Avoiding or Achieving Conception by Francesca Naish
Connect With Others On The Conception Journey
If you’d like to read others' experiences or even contribute your own, please join us in the BellyBelly Forums — we have a section dedicated to conception.
This Belly Belly really help me a lot, with each tips im very interested with. Encourage me more that getting pregnant at my age is not impossible. Thanks for this page.
“My Story”
for 10 years I was told that I could not conceive naturally.
After 5 years of fertility treatment I had a beautiful boy.
Then we tried again for 2 years with fertility treatment, to have another son and he is now 3 years old.
At 43 – what chances did I have to fall pregnant naturally!!!!
= “O”
God’s timing is perfect – I am 30 weeks pregnant now without any treatment or planning. Expecting my 3rd son in January.
God does wonders – without you even planning for it!
Don’t give up – Anything is possible in God’s eyes!
Good luck and God Bless! xxx Brenda
What were your timings of intercourse for a boy
I really needed to read this
I have one daughter that is 6, have had 2 miscarriages, tried 2 IUI attempts, and just feel getting pregnant again isn’t possible for me at 38.
But God can and does do the impossible – thank you for the reminder and testimony.
These stories inspire me I have had a miscarriage a year ago next month after doing insemination…But learned it was my thyroid that was to blame, now my levels are perfect and have been ovulating like clock work, so needless to say I am on it now and we have performed another go at it this morning…Staying very positive and believing things happen when they are meant to! God/The universe knows best and can make miracles and blessing happens… 🙂
Thank you ladies for giving me hope! <3
I have 2 daughter’s and they ten years apart, i was 14 when i had the 1st one. Now my baby girl 13 and asking me? Why not try for a boy really I say i also went thru alote to have my second child but at the end of the day. The lord will no.
Hello all getting pregnant or planning a pregnancy can be difficult. Just enjoy the sex & do it often & it will happen. I have a beautiful baby girl at 46 started my second family & loving it. My advice is to love to love it & do it do it!
I’m 45,starting my second family.You a source of encouragement to me.
I’m 44 planning my second family were do I begin
What kind of treatment did you use. If you don’t mind me asking. congratulations on the new baby boy.
Brenda what treatment we’re you using I am 30 yrs I have a 5yr old baby Girl but now I am strugling to concieve
Wow. I’m desperate to fall pregnant but without any luck. I’m 43 and I’m constantly trying to plan sex around my ovulation time but I can never work out my ovulation dates correctly.
Hi there,
I am Linin and I am 29years old. I am planing to get pregnant, but it fails many times. My husband is not an acolholic but he has parties, meeting and drinks very often. In addition, he smokes also. And me , I used to use fiber capsule for losing weight for a box and my period was effected. Then I quited. After quitting for a month, I and my husband plan for a baby, but it seems 4 months already and doesn’t work. Is there any advices for this matter? I really wanna get preganant. My period is regularly 28days on circle and I stop using any medicines and try to eat good also.So far I used to get an abortion of baby died in my warm 4 years ago. Please help 🙁
Hello. We were successful on our second attempt. We did a lot of reading and I am sure you have to however I would like to share our planning with you and I pray that it helps.
First, we had sex every alternate day, as ovulation period is very short so it’s good to be sure that sperms are in the body at all times during the ovulation time. Sperms live in the body for upto 4-5 days.
Secondly, which we feel was important was a good rest before intercourse. Helps the mind focus as well as increases sperm motility which is also vital. Sperms ability to swim as further as possible.
Thirdly, no use of lubricants or sprays that delay ejaculation.
Lastly, healthy eating. Loads of fruits and nuts and less of junk. Also loads of water.
I hope this helps. All the best.
Hey when did you find out you where pregnant ? Or how long long did it take you to find out ?
hi, after my first baby 3yrs ago, i have been trying to conceive again but no result yet but i noticed lately that i start feeling sick immediately after ovulating and i will get fat but immediately after mensuration i will be very fine, initially i will treat malaria not until i noticed that it happens every other month and even now as i am sending this mail. please what should i do
Hi chi, I am experiencing the same thing every month. My husband and I have been trying to get pregnant for six months now. Did u get any answers?
I want to get pregnant but I have a hard time figuring out when I’m fertile.I have a period trackerthat tells me when I’m suppose to be fertile but I’m not sure if that’s accurate.Please help
Good day. I am 39 of age and yet to be pregnant. Please I need your advise on how to go about it since for the past conception has been very difficult for me.
Please reply.
Hi Priscilla,
I’m also 39 and have yet to get pregnant. What have you been trying? I’m reading blogs and your story mirrors mine the most.
Hi I am also 39 and been ttc but having problems. I gave one 16 yr old daughter, but since then I have had 2 mc…. Waiting to be refered to gyn fir tests. I hope you both get your wish… Fingers crossed for all of us..
I would love to have a baby with my husband. But I’ve been attending the nurse, my doctor & hospital as they say I’m low ovulating. I’ve been getting blood took three times now at different stages of the month to see if I am ovulating. Honestly can some one tell me what to do? I don’t feel a like a normal woman. There’s nothing more in this world that I want than to have a family with my husband. It’s really getting me upset. Help me out ladies
I have a regular 32 day cycle. I always have my period on the 31st of every month. I am TTC and this month it is already the 20th of the month and I do Not think I’ve ovulated! I’ve been tracking my BBT and no rise in temp yet. But boobs are a little achy and I have like a mild cramping in my lwer abdomen. Mainly left side. I have little to no vaginal discharge. What’s going on??
My question is after the 4-6 days mensuration.when will ovulation start .
Secondly is it true that 2day after mensuration you can conceive with baby boy?
Hi I’m 21 and me and my boyfriend been together for awhile now and we are trying to conceive our first child and it’s so hard. I calculate my period and we try on the days it says I’m ovalationing and still nothing..and its really making me upset because I just want this baby…
Hi, I am 24 yes old and I am trying for baby but I am waiting still (my PRL is 37.2 in blood test) my weight is 70 kg and height is 5.4” please advice me what to do and my period is very painful.
I have pain on my ovaries both side and I dont know why me and my husband is trying to get pregnant I need to know
Have a read of this article, Audra: http://www.bellybelly.com.au/conception/ovulation-pain/
Hi, my name is Luciana and I had sex a day after my period and two days after the sex I began to fell tenderness of the Brest , headache, dizzy, appitet for food, sex and pain around my lower pelvis and cramb around my waist please I don’t know if its pregnancy or ovulation
Hi everyone. I have been on Visanne for almost a year. I was very lucky to not experience any of the symptoms described to be expected from this medication. I had a headache for 2 days, very minor but that was it. I have not had any spotting or bleeding since i have been on Visanne. I have noticed my hair falls out a lot more than I have ever experienced, is there a fix for this? And my doctors keep recommending me to have a child to take away the endometriosis, knowing it will return. Has anyone experienced the hair loss or anyone who has has children, did the endometriosis go away and then come back years later, and how bad?
At age 16, my endometriosis was so bad, that my Dr told my family that the only cure would be pregnancy. At 16, both my mother & grandmother prayed for me to get pregnant just to get rid of my pain. It wasnt till age 19 did i get pregnant, and had my girl at age 20. I have only had problems ever since. Every girl related problem, I have had, including cervical cancer. I miscarried twins in Aug 2008, and unfortunately have not been blessed with any babies after. I have 1 healthy 18 year old, and desperately would love another. Its in Gods hands now.
I had twins last year but lost them. I ve had three miscarriages after then. I missed my period in oct n was taking it for pregnancy only to ee it again on d 4th of Nov. What is wrong with my circle. I want n wish to take in as I can. What do I do? Meanwhile, I am on folic acid n vit E, c
can you have period whilst you are pregnant
Some people do experience this, yes, but it’s not common.
Good day, I had my period in May and it lasted for 4 days, the next day I had unprotected sex then after 1 week I started feeling strong pain on my right side of the abdomen but the was no blood or spotting, after 2 weeks I had unprotected sex again then after 3 days I felt tired and sleepy and bloated for a week then I bought a pregnancy test it was positive. Could I have gotten pregnant the first time I had unprotected sex or the second time?
It depends on the length of ur circle, you would have conceived most likely the second time
Ok so I noticed that this morning I have very very wet and clear discharge from my vagina and it’s not stretchy yet but very very wet and clear. I have also noticed that I feel dizzy and that I have a mild pain coming from my right hand side of my abdomen area very low around the ovaries area. Have been trying to conceive for 2.5 years now and this is the first time that I am actually able to notice changes occurring in my body to be getting ready for ovulation. Should my partner and I be making love today, tonight and tomorrow and tomorrow night and Monday to TTC?
Yes, yes, yes…make love all week. ..especially if you think you will be ovulating.
For healthy sperm, have sex every other day
Been trying to get pregnant for 6 months now. I usually have ovulation cramps for about 3 days, I only had it for a few hours this month. Does it mean that I could be pregnant or I shouldn’t get my hopes up just yet. HELP!!!!!!!!
hi ladies . i am 28 .somebody help me here. my hubby needs a baby so much.we have been trying for the last three years with failure.i am afraid my mother in law may start putting pressure on me to give her grand kids. can someone tell me the best thing to do.
i am scared he might run back to his ex girlfriend’s arms since she has his kid.
Wishing you all the best guys …God will be with you and what you want from him he will provide you
I am 43 and I have been trying to conceive for 6 years but in vain. My partner and I we are both 43years old his sperm count is normal.We have sex once in 2 or 1 a week because of stress.
hi I tried having sex on my ovulation day. I have missed my periods and yet the home pregnancy test say that I’m negative. I have two daughters and I want a son. I’m devasted. help me I’m desperate
hi my last period was on 20th april to 24th april i want to know my most fertile days to conceive a baby boy.
taashi
try for a baby boy on the day you know you are ovulating. boys sperm are faster, but die off quicker whereas girl sperm is slower but last longer. i tried for a boy WHEN i was ovulating, had a boy. i tried for a girl 2 DAYS before i started ovulating, i had a girl.
Hi, i’m recovering from athletic amenhorrea now and lost my period quite a while ago; i’m 34 now. do you think i cam restore period naturally and what are early recovery signs? thx
I my last period was April 27 and now I have being having serious pain under my belly and my west .I want to know if is pregnancy or not
hi i’ve been trying to conceive for 2years and I have irregular periods that last 7-8 days,
and my husband wants a baby sooo much please help
I’ve been trying to get pregnant for the past 3months, I don’t even know if I ovulate ..I have a cycle of 29 or 30..I don’t feel the slippery cervical mucus too…all I see I whitish fluids. ..at times with odour please help me
Hello ladies they had to remove my left tube what can help me after trying for 2 years now
hi there. I’m very desperate. me and m husband r trying for 8months nw.I hav a regular period and l eat healthy.sometimes I’ve missed m periods but then there’s nothing.we’re getting tired but I really wnt a baba.plz help!
I think that it should help if u guys have sex every 2 days.then u may be able to get pregnant in one month or less….
Hi,
I had got pregnant with twins using clomid, after trying to conceive for consecutive 7 months. But the pregnancy had pretermed at 27 weeks. now I am 32 yrs old and my menustral cycle is every 25 days lasts 3 days. So, please send me your comment and or experience if can I get pregnant again.
I’m 45 and I and my husband are trying to get pregnant.I was pregnant in April this year but miscarried and I had d & c in June .I bled for two weeks after d&c .Can I be pregnant again? What can I do?
Yes its still possible
I have been trying to conceive over 5 years even now still nothing as ever happened I don’t know why or maybe is because of the abortion I have done in the past
Hi I had an abortion in my past I wonder the same gender I went to a fertility clinic to find out both tunes was block due to endomentries I had surgery done to open one side they said one side assistance clear but still no luck
why is it that some questions asked here are not answered?
Have been TTC pls is it OK if I av sex every 2days?
That is fine! As long as it’s not a chore – keep the love, connection and fun too 🙂
Hi I’m 27 yrs old been trying for 2yrs with my husband I have a block tube on one side and I have periods regularly and when I take opk test they come up negative any suggestions help please
Hey, please reply back as soon as possible, my husband and I are planning to have a baby but I see my period like every two to three months and I really font know how to check my ovulation date… Pls help me and tell me if u think that it is possible for me to get pregnant fast if we have sex every 2 days for one month….I wanted to get prey before we celebrate our anniversary next year…. Help with advice pls….
PCOS is one common issue which causes irregular cycles, but you really need to get a referral to a reproductive/women’s specialist to find out why you have this hormonal imbalance. Acupuncture is also very good for cycle regulation.
See more about PCOS here: http://www.bellybelly.com.au/conception/poly-cystic-ovarian-syndrome-pcos/.
Thank u
Great
I have cramping & white mucus coming out is I’m ovulating because I’m trying to have a baby the period tracker says that I’m fertile at the moment so should I try now