5 Most Common Signs of Ovulation

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5 Most Obvious Signs of Ovulation

If you are not keen on taking your temperature daily to figure out when you will be ovulating, do not worry as there are other options. In fact, some women just know when they are ovulating because of changes to their body. And if you would like to track ovulation with your basal body temperature, that is still a very valid method. Just take your temperature first thing in the morning for the entire month. When you are about to ovulate, you will notice a very obvious temperature spike after you ovulate. You may also notice these five obvious signs of ovulation.

1. Sexual desire –Just as many animals go on heat, most women experience increased sexual desire during ovulation. Evolutionary-speaking, it makes good sense because this is the time of your cycle when you are most fertile. Actually, it is the only time in your cycle when you can get pregnant.

2. Cramping – Some women experience light cramping during ovulation. It may feel similar to light period cramping but there is no blood to follow. It will also likely only be on one side as your body will release a mature egg from only one ovary each month. This phenomenon is called mittelshmerz, and it does not happen to everyone. So, if you do not experience cramping, do not worry as you may still be ovulating. If you do experience mittelshmerz though, ovulation will be obvious to you.

3. Breast tenderness- If your breasts begin feeling tender towards the middle of your cycle, you are probably ovulating. Many women who are not tracking their cycles confuse this with the onset of their menstrual period, especially if it comes along with mittelsmertz, but it can be a sure sign of ovulation when it happens about two weeks after your period. Also, during ovulation, breast tenderness will not be followed by bleeding as it would during your period.

4. Cervical mucus – Even if you are not paying attention to your cycle, you will probably notice an obvious increase in discharge when you ovulate. This discharge is your cervical mucus preparing for conception. When you are about to ovulate, your cervical mucus will increase and it will become the same consistency as egg whites. Before ovulation, you may notice some cervical mucus, but it will be thicker and possibly sticky. During ovulation, the cervical mucus is closer to the consistency of semen, which helps the sperm make their way to the egg.

5. Desire to “look pretty” – Although you clearly look pretty every day of the month, women are more likely to wear makeup, style their hair and wear nicer clothes when they are ovulating. Some women have also been known to be more flirtatious during ovulation. So, if you notice yourself wanting to make more of an effort on your appearance, you may be ovulating. Sit back and think about the other signs and whether you are experiencing those as well.

Author: Dr Zeenobiyah McGowan Ph.D., an expert on women’s health and helping couples conceive naturally. Dr McGowan is a mother of one beautiful girl. She is an editor for Ovulationcalendar.com, also founded Impact Humanity, a charity which helps under privileged children get the basic necessities like food and education in Kenya.

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