What happens during ovulation? There are many women who ask this question when they start to learn about their reproductive health. Ovulation is an important part of the menstrual cycle when you’re trying to get pregnant. It’s a natural process but there are many people who don’t know about it completely. So, it’s very important to know how it works, when it happens, and more.
Dr. Rita Bakshi, a Senior IVF Specialist and Gynaecologist at RISAA IVF, has helped many women and couples to understand their fertility. Today, in this blog, we will tell you everything about what happens during ovulation, how it affects fertility, and why it’s important to understand when you are trying to get pregnant.
What is ovulation?
Ovulation is a natural part of a woman’s monthly cycle. It is the time when one of the ovaries releases a mature egg. This usually happens once in every cycle and this is about halfway between two periods. After the egg is released, it travels down the fallopian tube where it can meet with a sperm and start the process of pregnancy.
Ovulation is guided by hormones in the body, especially luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). These hormones help the egg to grow and then signal the body when it’s time for the egg to be released. If the egg is not fertilized within 12 to 24 hours then it dissolves and the body moves toward the next cycle.
So, it’s very important to understand what happens during ovulation for couples who are trying to conceive. It helps to tell you the most fertile days and gives you a better chance of planning for pregnancy in a natural way.
Symptoms of Ovulation
What happens during ovulation? Ovulation can cause some changes in your body. These signs can help you to know when you’re most likely to get pregnant. However, it’s important to know that the symptoms may be different for every woman. Here are some common signs that may be seen in your body:
- Change in Vaginal Discharge: You may see clear, stretchy, and slippery discharge, which is similar to raw egg white. This helps the sperm to move more easily toward the egg.
- Mild Pain or Cramp: There are some women who feel a slight pain or ache on one side of the lower belly. This is called mittelschmerz and this happens when the egg is released.
- Increased Sex Drive: You might feel more interested in intimacy around the time of ovulation and this is a natural way in which your body supports fertility.
- Slight Rise in Body Temperature: Your body temperature may go up just a little after ovulation. This change is small but can be tracked over time with a thermometer.
- Breast Tenderness: There are some women who feel sore or sensitive breasts because of changing hormone levels.
- Light Spotting: A few women may also notice a tiny bit of spotting or light bleeding during ovulation and this is normal.
- Bloating or Feeling Full: Hormonal shifts can make you feel slightly bloated around this time.
Signs Ovulation is Over
After ovulation, your body shows some small signs that tell you that your fertile days are over. These signs can help you to understand your cycle in a better way.
Here are some common signs that shows that ovulation is over:
- Drop in Cervical Mucus: The clear, slippery discharge you may have seen during ovulation has become sticky or dry.
- Change in Body Temperature: Your basal body temperature (BBT) usually rises slightly after ovulation and stays higher until your next period.
- Softer Cervix: The cervix becomes lower, firmer, and more closed when your ovulation ends.
- Mild Cramps Go Away: If you have slight ovulation pain or cramps, they often stop afterward.
- Breast Tenderness: There are some women who may notice sore breasts after ovulation. This can happen due to hormone changes.
- Less Interest in Sex: You may feel a lower sex drive once your fertile days are over.
How Long Does Ovulation Last?
Ovulation is the process when the ovary releases an egg. This usually lasts for about 12 to 24 hours. But what happens during ovulation? This is the short time when the egg is ready to be fertilized by sperm. Ovulation itself doesn’t last very long but your fertile window (the days when pregnancy is most likely) is a bit wider. This is about 5 to 6 days because sperm can live in the body for a few days before ovulation happens.
So, tracking your cycle regularly can help you to know when you’re ovulating. This can be helpful for those who are trying to get pregnant.
What Happens After Ovulation?
After ovulation, the egg travels from the ovary into the fallopian tube. If sperm is present then this is the time when fertilization can happen. If the egg is not fertilized then it will break down and the body will absorb it.
During this time, your body also starts making more of a hormone called progesterone. This hormone helps to thicken the lining of the uterus to prepare for a pregnancy. If pregnancy doesn’t happen then progesterone levels drop and your body will start to shed the lining. After this, it leads to your next period.
This phase after ovulation is called the luteal phase and it usually lasts about 12 to 14 days. It’s an important part of your menstrual cycle whether or not fertilization takes place.
How Many Days after your Period do you Ovulate?
Ovulation usually happens around 10 to 16 days before your next period starts. For most women who have a regular 28-day cycle, ovulation happens about 14 days after the first day of their last period.
However, there are some women who may ovulate earlier or later depending on how long their cycle is. For example, if your cycle is shorter, ovulation might happen as early as day 10. And if it’s longer then it could happen closer to day 18 or even later.
Why Ovulation Matters for Fertility?
What happens during ovulation is an important part to understand when getting pregnant. It’s the time when an egg is released from the ovary and is ready to be fertilized by a sperm. Ovulation is important because without this, there’s no egg and pregnancy can’t happen naturally.
So, it’s important to understand that ovulation helps couples to know the best time to try for a baby. The days around ovulation are known as the fertile window and this is when the chances of getting pregnant are highest. If there are issues with ovulation like it’s not happening regularly or at all then it can lead to fertility problems and make it difficult to conceive.
If you’re planning a pregnancy then you can use an Ovulation calculator. It can help you to know when your body is most ready. Additionally, if you see that something is not looking right then you can talk to a doctor and share your problems.
Signs of Ovulation Pregnancy
Some early signs of pregnancy may start to appear if a sperm successfully meets and fertilizes the egg after ovulation. These signs can feel similar to regular premenstrual symptoms, so it can be confusing to tell the difference between them at first. However, there are some common signs that may tell that pregnancy after ovulation is happening:
- Mild cramping or spotting (also called implantation bleeding)
- Breast tenderness or swelling
- Feeling more tired than usual
- A slight rise in body temperature
- Increased need to pee more often than normal.
- Mood swings or emotional changes due to higher hormone levels.
These signs don’t tell you that you’re pregnant. However, the only way to be sure is to take a pregnancy test after your missed period. If you’re trying to conceive and notice these symptoms then it’s a good idea to consult your doctor.
Closing Line
What happens during ovulation is an important role to understand a woman’s fertility and to know about the best time to try for a baby. In this blog, we have explained ovulation, its signs, how long it lasts, and how to track it. It’s important to know this to take better control of your fertility journey and also helps to increase your chances of getting pregnant naturally.
At RISAA IVF, Dr. Rita Bakshi (Senior IVF Specialist and Gynaecologist) has helped many women to understand their ovulation cycles and supported them with expert fertility care. If you have questions or are facing any fertility concerns, don’t hesitate to reach out. Call 95555 44421/22/23 or email doctor@risaaivf.com for trusted guidance and support.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
How to know when a girl is ovulating?
She may notice clear, stretchy discharge, slight belly cramps, or feel more active and interested in intimacy.
What does a woman feel when ovulating?
She might feel light cramps, have sore breasts, feel bloated, or notice a mood change.
How do you tell if you are ovulating?
Watch for body changes like stretchy discharge, mild pain, or use an ovulation test kit.
What are the 7 signs of ovulation?
Clear discharge, slight pain, breast soreness, higher sex drive, spotting, mood change, and a small rise in body temperature.
Ovulation symptoms mood?
Some women feel more emotional, excited, or sensitive during ovulation due to hormone changes.