Ovulation – what is it and how can you tell when you’re ovulating?

Trying for a baby? Understanding ovulation – when your body releases an egg for fertilisation – can help you get pregnant. Here’s what you need to know.

What does ovulation mean? {#overview}

What can it tell me? {#key-information}

What are the signs of ovulation?

What happens during ovulation?

Can you have periods if you’re not ovulating?

I need help getting pregnant – when is my best chance? 

When to see a doctor {#when-to-see-a-doctor}

Key takeaways {#takeaways}

## What does ovulation mean? {#overview}
Ovulation happens as part of your monthly menstrual cycle. It's when 1 of your ovaries releases an egg and if this egg is fertilised by sperm, you can become pregnant. 

Once your periods start during puberty, you’ll usually release an egg (ovulate) about once a month until you reach the menopause – when your periods stop and you’re no longer able to get pregnant.

Understanding more about ovulation, and the signs to look out for, can be helpful if you’re trying for a baby. Read on to learn more.

## What can it tell me? {#key-information}
You’re most fertile around the time that you ovulate, so knowing when it happens can help you work out the days in a month when you’re most likely to get pregnant. If you’re trying for a baby, it means you can plan to have sex around this time.

On the other hand, it’s also important to know when you’re ovulating if you’re using [natural family planning](https://www.livehealthily.com/getting-pregnant/natural-family-planning) (fertility awareness) to try to avoid getting pregnant, rather than hormonal or barrier methods of [contraception](https://www.livehealthily.com/contraception/summary).


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## What are the signs of ovulation?
An average menstrual cycle is often said to last 28 days, but this can range from 21- 40 days, with day 1 being the first day of your period. Ovulation usually happens around the middle of your cycle, and if you’ve got a 28 day cycle, it will occur 10 to 16 days before the start of your next period.

Having said this, everyone’s cycle is different and yours may be longer or shorter, which can mean you have a different ovulation, or fertility ‘window’.

If you have a regular cycle, you can use an online ovulation calculator to work out your window based on the date of your last period and your usual cycle length.

There are also other signs that can help you pinpoint your ovulation window, including:

- __changes in body temperature__ – your resting, or ‘basal’, body temperature rises slightly during ovulation. You can use a basal body thermometer to record your temperature each morning, before you do any activity, for several months, to help you identify a pattern. The 2 or 3 days before your temperature rises are usually when you’re at your most fertile
- __changes in cervical mucus__ (the fluid produced from the neck of your womb, or cervix) – everyone’s different, but you may notice a change in your [vaginal discharge](/womens-sexual-health/vaginal-discharge-whats-normal-and-whats-not) around ovulation. It’s often clearer, wetter and more slippery than usual, and is sometimes described as being like stretchy egg white
- __changes in hormone levels__ – an ovulation kit can measure your hormone levels. It’s similar to a home pregnancy test: you usually pee on a test strip and wait for the result. But bear in mind that these kits are designed to show when you’re meant to ovulate – they don’t actually influence ovulation 

Some people also get ovulation symptoms, such as [sore breasts](/breast-health/breastpaincyclical), mild [tummy pain](/periods/ovulation-pain), [bloating](/bloating-flatulence/summary) or an [increased sex drive](/healthy-sex-life/how-to-increase-your-sex-drive). But these can be caused by lots of things, and aren’t reliable ways of working out when you’re ovulating.

![Symptoms of ovulation include changes in basal body temperature and tummy pain](//images.ctfassets.net/iqo3fk8od6t9/7HdC8nqdsXUY5njdQEoQSh/c9d014d1b2c49afc01e24af293f39d81/Basal_body_temperature.png)


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## What happens during ovulation?

Your reproductive system has 2 small sacs called ovaries, which contain all your eggs. Once a month, around the middle of your [menstrual cycle](/periods/what-is-the-menstrual-cycle), an egg is released from 1 of your ovaries. It then travels down into 1 of your 2 fallopian tubes, where it can be fertilised if it comes into contact with sperm. 

At the same time, the lining of your womb (uterus) gets thicker. If your released egg is fertilised in the fallopian tubes, it continues down to your womb and fixes (implants) into the thickened lining – and [pregnancy ](/pregnancy-guide/summary)begins. 

However, if the egg isn’t fertilised, your womb sheds its thickened lining, and this and the unfertilised egg leave your body through your vagina as your [period](/periods/summary). 

This is why missing a period is one of the most important [signs of pregnancy](/pregnancy-guide/pregnancy-signs-and-symptoms).

Read more about [how many eggs a woman has throughout her lifetime](/getting-pregnant/women-eggs). 


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## Can you have periods if you’re not ovulating?

Not releasing an egg during your menstrual cycle is known as anovulation. Technically, you need to ovulate to have a period: your period is what happens when your body recognises that an egg hasn’t been fertilised.

However, it’s possible to still have a bleed if no egg is released. This is called anovulatory bleeding. When your bleeding is irregular, it's called [abnormal or dysfunctional uterine bleeding (AUB](/womens-sexual-problems/abnormal-uterine-bleeding)). It’s caused by an imbalance in 1 or more hormones.

You should see a doctor if you notice any unusual bleeding or if you’re concerned about anovulation.


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## I need help getting pregnant – when is my best chance? 

After an egg is released, it only survives for 12 to 24 hours if it isn’t fertilised. However, sperm can live inside you for up to 5 days after you have sex.

This means you could have sex up to 5 days before you ovulate and still get pregnant, if the sperm and egg meet within 24 hours of the egg’s release. 
However, it’s thought that the best chance of pregnancy is when the sperm and egg meet within 4 to 6 hours of ovulation.

To increase your chances of getting pregnant, you can:

- make sure you have sex around the time you’re ovulating
- have sex at least every 2 to 3 days, making sure your partner’s sperm enters your vagina
- follow a healthy lifestyle, including [cutting back on alcohol](/drinking-alcohol/alcohol-how-much-is-too-much), [avoiding smoking](/stop-smoking/summary) and maintaining a [healthy weight](/losing-weight/summary)

Read more about [how to increase your chances of getting pregnant](/getting-pregnant/improve-chances-getting-pregnant).

## When to see a doctor {#when-to-see-a-doctor}
You should see your doctor if you’ve been trying to get pregnant for more than a year. See them sooner if you're 35 or over or have another health condition that may be affecting your fertility. They can offer advice and check for any issues with ovulation or other areas of your fertility. Problems with ovulation are one of the most common causes of [infertility](/getting-pregnant/infertility). 

You should also see a doctor if you have:

- [irregular periods](https://www.livehealthily.com/health-library/symptoms/periods-irregular), unusual bleeding or if your periods are very light or stop and there’s no obvious reason (such as the [menopause](/menopause/summary))
- severe [period pain](/periods/painful-periods), very [heavy periods](/periods/heavy-periods), lower tummy or back pain that gets worse during your periods, or pain during sex or when you pee or poo
- [obesity](/losing-weight/obesity) or [anorexia](/eating-disorders/anorexia-nervosa) – these may have an impact on your ability to get pregnant
- problems with excess facial or body hair, or acne
- any underlying medical problems that could be affecting ovulation, such as [thyroid problems](/thyroid-disease/summary) or medication for other conditions



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## Key takeaways {#takeaways}
- ovulation is part of your monthly menstrual cycle, when an egg is released from 1 of your ovaries 
- knowing when you’re ovulating can help you increase your chances of getting pregnant, as this is your most fertile time
- if you have a regular 28-day cycle, you’ll ovulate around 10 to 16 days before your period starts – but everyone has a different ovulation ‘window’
- other signs of ovulation include a rise in body temperature and a change in vaginal discharge
- see a doctor if you have any concerns about your periods or fertility 



Former contributor

Dr Roger Henderson

Healthily's medical team

Healthily's medical Team

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References

Lynette Eyb

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