Many women can predict when they will ovulate by charting their menstrual cycle. If your cycle is not regular, however, it can be more difficult to ascertain when you will ovulate next. Here are a few ways to predict ovulation.
Chart your periods. If your cycle is fairly regular, you can chart it. Start with the first day of your last period. This will be the first day of regular bleeding (don’t count spotting). Consider this Day One. Keep numbering all the way until the first day of your next period. If there are 28 days in your cycle, You’ll likely ovulate on day 13, 14 or 15.
Track changes in cervical mucus. Using clean hands, you’ll need to place a finger inside your vagina and remove a sample of the mucus on or near the cervix. Before ovulation, the mucus will feel dry and sticky. As ovulation nears, it takes on a creamier consistency. Right before ovulation, it will become more slippery and appear like egg white.
Chart your basal body temperature. Using a special BBT thermometer, take your temperature first thing in the morning every day. It is necessary to use the BBT thermometer because it is more precise than a typical thermometer. During ovulation, your temperature will increase by .4 degrees Fahrenheit.
Ovulation predictor kits. Follow the instructions on the test kit to test your urine. The tests measure a hormone called luteinizing hormone (LH). A sharp spike in this hormone indicates that ovulation will occur within 12 to 48 hours.
Physical signs. Some women notice certain physical changes during ovulation. These may include breast tenderness, slight abdominal pain on one side or the other, increased sex drive, spotting or discharge or heightened sense of smell.
Timing intercourse during ovulation is one of the simplest and most cost-effective ways to treat infertility. It does not work for everyone, however. If well-timed intercourse hasn’t helped you to become pregnant, see a fertility specialist. Our extensive fertility testing can help determine the cause of infertility and how to overcome it.