Ovulation Symptoms: A Monthly Reminder of Your Most Fertile Days
Ovulation is one of the prominent phases that exhibits the release of an egg or ovum during the fourteenth day of the menstrual cycle.
The process is driven by hormonal fluctuations, especially peak Estrogen levels and LH surge that enables the ovary to release a mature egg.
Ovulation shows some monthly symptoms that can help women distinguish the most fertile days from the other days.
However, not every woman exhibits the same symptoms. Some may not even have any symptoms.
Since ovulation is tied to the successful rates of conceiving or preventing pregnancy, having a close look at ovulation symptoms is necessary.
This informative article aims to elaborate on the characteristics of ovulation symptoms before, during, and after the release of an egg to increase the chances of conceiving.
What are the signs of ovulation
The major signs of ovulation are as follows:
Light spotting or discharge
As mentioned earlier, ovulation is the release of a mature egg by rupturing the follicles.
Follicles, the protective layer surrounding the developing oocyte or egg, shed a small amount of blood when mature and ruptured.
As the blood ages, it turns into a dark red or brown discharge.
Changes in body temperature
Women sensitive to the heat of ovarian changes can feel a slight rise in their body temperature around the corner of ovulation.
Further, according to Temperature Journal, the core body temperature in the post-ovulatory luteal phase is 0.3? to 0.7? higher than the pre-ovulatory follicular phase.
Moreover, women are more fertile two to three days before the core body temperature rises.
Changes in mucus
Hormonal changes during ovulation can be observed to detect the time of highest fertility in women or prevent pregnancy.
A brief chart to differentiate between fertile and non-fertile cervical mucus is as follows:
| Aspect | Appearance | Sensation |
|---|---|---|
| Lowest fertility | Nothing observed | Dry, rough, itchy, or no sensation |
| Low fertility | No observation | Damp sensation |
| Intermediate fertility | Thick, creamy, whitish, or yellowing, elastic and sticky mucus | Damp |
| High fertility | Watery, elastic, reddish, or transparent mucus | Wet, smooth, and slippery |
Cervical firmness changes
Like other changes under the influence of hormonal fluctuations, the cervix also exhibits changes in its firmness during ovulation.
Women can recognize fertile days by observing their cervix.
A woman is fertile if the cervix is open, high, soft, and straight, under estrogenic effect.
According to the Obstetrics and Gynecology, Estrogen is essential for the ripening or softening of the cervix.
Further, as per Cochrane Library, Estrogen can increase the release of local hormones, such as Prostaglandin, thus increasing the ripening of the cervix.
However, a woman is less fertile if the cervix is closed, low, firm, and lying against the vaginal wall under the influence of Progesterone.
Increased sex drive
According to the University of Rochester, during the various phases of the menstrual cycle, the body produces Estrogen and Progesterone, and their levels can change sex drive.
Many people experience a higher sex drive when Estrogen is at its peak at the end of the follicular cycle or during ovulation.
Heightened sense of taste, smell, and sight
According to Journal Nutrients, the menstrual cycle has a greater impact on emotion processing, such as vision, olfaction, audition, coordination, and other cognitive functions.
However, the study on women’s sense of smell and vision is conflicting and needs more research to conclude.
Breast tenderness
Hormonal fluctuation during ovulation may result in sore nipples and breast tenderness.
It may cause discomfort and pain in many women.
Abdominal bloating
The rise in the levels of Estrogen during ovulation can cause symptoms such as abdominal bloating.
It mainly happens due to increased water retention.
Further, a hormonal imbalance with high Estrogen in comparison to Progesterone levels can also exacerbate the symptoms.
Changes in appetite
According to a 1989 study, when the food intake was observed in women during one complete menstrual cycle, the energy intake was least during the ovulatory phase.
The culprit of low appetite and food intake supposedly coincides with the peak levels of Estrogen during ovulation.
Thus, it is consistent with animal research that Estrogen is an appetite-suppressing hormone.
Headaches
According to the National Migraine Center, almost 50% to 60% of women notice a link between menstrual cycle and Migraine.
Migraines during the menstrual cycle, also called menstrual Migraines, are often triggered by peaking in the Estrogen and Progesterone levels.
It can disappear once the hormonal levels get normalized.
Breast pain
Breast pain accompanied by the menstrual cycle is often called cyclic Mastalgia.
The pain in the breast happens due to hormonal fluctuation and is highly associated with breast swelling and tenderness.
The breast pain intensifies before menstruation and substantially decreases after bleeding.
Abdominal cramps
Some women may also face pelvic or abdominal pain during the ovulatory period.
It happens due to the rupture of the ovarian follicles, which results in light shedding of blood during ovulation.
The pain in the lower abdominal or pelvic region is often mild or moderate and can disappear once the hormonal level gets normalized.
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The symptoms shown after ovulation include:
- Breast tenderness
- Bloating
- Changes in nipples, such as soreness
- Changes in appetite
- Fatigues
- Body aches
- Mood swings
- Change in body temperature
How long do ovulation symptoms last
Ovulation occurs 14 days before menstruation and on the 14th day of the menstrual cycle.
It lasts for 24 hours each month. Once the egg is released, it can die between 12 and 24 hours without fertilization.
Further, in the absence of fertilization, the egg with uterine lining sheds, resulting in menstruation.
Do you still get ovulation symptoms when pregnant
The answer is no.
Once conceived, the body’s environment changes due to the production of hormones to prevent the shedding of the uterine lining and the development of the fetus.
Thus, the body stops ovulating until the delivery of the baby.
During this duration, the woman neither gets ovulation symptoms nor bleeds.
Conclusion
Ovulation is one of the phases of the menstrual cycle that exhibits the release of an egg or ovum during the fourteenth day of the menstrual cycle.
There are some ovulation symptoms by which women can distinguish the most fertile days from the rest of the menstrual cycle.
The various ovulation symptoms include light spotting or discharges, changes in body temperature, cervical mucus, and cervix.
Further, women’s body shows some other ovulation symptoms, such as increased sex drive, breast pain, abdominal bloating and pain, and changes in appetite.
These ovulation symptoms occur 14 days before the mensuration and for 24 hours.
Once conceived, women release hormones that help them to stop ovulation and shedding of the uterine lining.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the signs and symptoms of ovulation?
There are various signs and symptoms of ovulation, such as light spotting or discharges, changes in body temperature, cervical mucus, and cervix. Further, other symptoms include increased sex drive, breast tenderness and pain, abdominal bloating and pain, and changes in appetite.
What are the effects of ovulation on your body?
Before and during ovulation, the hormonal level, such as Estrogen and Leutenizing Hormone, increases which helps release a mature egg from the ovary. The body shows some ovulation symptoms, such as changes in body temperature, mucus, cervix, and light spotting.
What are the seven signs of ovulation?
The seven signs of ovulation include changes in body temperature, cervical mucus, and cervix firmness. Further, women can notice a light spotting or discharge during ovulation, increased sex drive, breast tenderness and pain, and cramps.
What are ovulation symptoms?
The various ovulation symptoms include changes in the cervical mucus and cervix during fertile days and a slight rise in body temperature. Women may also notice spotting or discharge during ovulation and observe an increase in sex drive. Further, some other symptoms are bloating and breast and abdominal pain.
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