What is ovulation?

Signs and symptoms of ovulation include mittelschmerz, light pelvic pain on one side of the pelvis, spotting, changes in cervical mucus, breast tenderness. Learning about signs and symptoms of ovulation help you predict fertility and find out if and when ovulation happens and when you should have sex to get pregnant. Women trying to get pregnant often become frustrated when they miss their period but have a negative pregnancy test. What most don't realize is that when trying to conceive, the single most important factor is finding out if and when ovulation happens. Ovulation is when the egg is ejected from the ovary. If you miss your period and you know if and when ovulation happened then there are only 2 possibilities. Either you are not pregnant and your period comes 15 or so days later, or you are pregnant and your period does not come 15+ days later.

If you don't know if and when ovulation happened, then you don't know when your period is supposed to come. Women who don't ovulate usually do not get their periods or they have irregular spotting and bleeding. There are several ways to find out if and when you ovulate. Some methods of finding out when you ovulate can be easily done at home, while others require more sophisticated testing. If you have a regular menstrual cycle, a fertility or ovulation calculator and calendar may be helpful. Your "fertility window" consists of the 5-6 fertile days of your menstrual cycle 4-5 days before and the day of ovulation when intercourse is most likely to result in pregnancy. This fertile window starting 5 days before the day of ovulation until the day of ovulation. Your most fertile of these days are the 2 days before plus the day of ovulation.

OPK

Why is the OPK test positive for so long? ... read more »

EWCM Only One Day

I had egg-white cervical mucus (EWCM) for one day, is this the ovulation day? ... read more »

FertilChart BBT Interpretation

The FertilChart guidelines to interpret your charts. ... read more »

Cervical Fluid and Intercourse Timing

When is the best time to try to conceive (TTC)? ... read more »

Testing Inhibin B and Ovarian Reserve

Measuring Inhibin B and ovarian reserve in order to determine if the ovarian reserve is decreased. ... read more »

How to Find Out if You Are Fertile in 12 Steps

Finding out if you are fertile is important so if there is a problem it can be addressed as soon as possible. Here is a quick 12-Step program to assess your fertility. ... read more »

BBT During Pregnancy

Should I continue to take my BBT during pregnancy? ... read more »

One Day to Get Pregnant Each Month

 Is there only one day to get pregnant each month? ... read more »

OPK Negative But Ovulation Symptoms

Even with a negative OPK it's still possible to ovulate, especially if you have ovulation symptoms. ... read more »

How Long Should I BBT Chart Before Seeing a Doctor?

How long should I chart my BBT before seeing a doctor? ... read more »

OPK - What Does a Faint Line Mean?

Contrary to a pregnancy test a faint OPK line is not a positive line. ... read more »

How a Fertility Microscope works

How does the fertility and ovulation microscope work? ... read more »

What Day Does Ovulation Occur?

Does ovulation occur on the day of drop or day of rise of temperature? ... read more »

Fetal Heartbeat

When can the fetal heartbeat first be seen? ... read more »

Ovulation Predictor Kit Test Days

OPKs or ovulation predictor kits are tests that can be used to help you determine if and when you are ovulating. They work by detecting the level of gluteinizing hormone (LH) in your urine. ... read more »

Fertility Microscope FAQs

Fertility Microscope Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) and Instructions ... read more »

Cervix Soft and High After Ovulation

Am I still fertile if my cervix is soft and high after ovulation? ... read more »

Biphastic Curve

Your temperature may go up and stay up above the coverline for 14-16 days after ovulation. That is called a "biphasic curve". ... read more »

Cervical Fluid

What is normal cervical fluid like? ... read more »

Clomid During Pregnancy and Breastfeeding

All about Clomid (Clomiphene) during pregnancy, breastfeeding and trying to conceive (TTC). Is it safe for use? ... read more »

Implantation Timing: When Does Implantation Happen?

It's an interesting early pregnancy question! ... read more »

OPK Ovulation Predictor Calculator

The OPK Ovulation Predictor Calculator calculates when to start testing for the LH surge as well as your expected date of ovulation based on the first day of your last period and your cycle length. ... read more »

Fertility Course Lesson 8: I Want That Coverline

The coverline is a horizontal line drawn after ovulation to help differentiate temperatures before ovulation (low) and temperatures after ovulation (high). ... read more »

Facts About Pregnancy

Pregnancy is a time in life when women feel closer to their spouse and body more than ever before. Here are a few facts about pregnancy for expecting moms. ... read more »

What Can I Expect During My Pregnancy?

Many women wonder what they can expect during pregnancy. This is especially true of first-time mothers. Changes during pregnancy are physical and emotional. ... read more »

How Do I Know When to Get Pregnant?

Women often want to know when to get pregnant, but the answer is not as clear cut as some would like. ... read more »

The Ins and Outs of Pregnancy Cramps

Pregnancy cramps can be scary for a pregnant woman. The cramps may be light and barely noticeable or strong and painful. They can signal a problem in pregnancy or be no cause for concern at all. ... read more »

Why Does Implantation Bleeding Happen?

If a fertilized egg implants in the uterus, implantation bleeding may show up, but why does implantation bleeding happen? ... read more »

When Do I Ovulate - Finding Out When and If You Ovulate

Ovulation is the key factors in fertility and knowing the methods of finding out when and if you ovulate is important to improve fertility. ... read more »

Interactive Pregnancy Wheel

Calculate baby's due date and keep track of pregnancy milestones with this interactive pregnancy wheel. ... read more »

Fertility & Ovulation Calculator and Calendar Predictor

This free ovulation calculator and fertility calendar and ovulation predictor calculates your fertile days, when you ovulate, and helps you improve your fertility and chances of getting pregnant. ... read more »

Tools, Charts, Tips, Advice and More.

Find out how to improve your chances of getting pregnant. Tools, charts, tips, advice and more. ... read more »

What is Lactation Amenorrhea?

Breastfeeding mothers who do not experience a normal menstrual period are considered to have lactation amenorrhea. The condition is considered a natural means of birth control. ... read more »

What Foods Interfere With the Pill?

Birth control pills often deliver estrogen to the body in doses high enough to stop ovulation. Some foods also contain estrogen. This brings up the question of foods that could interfere with birth control pills and the effectiveness of those pills. ... read more »

Does Ovulation Change While Breastfeeding?

Your ovulation cycles will change while breastfeeding. The pituitary gland releases prolactin when you breastfeed. Prolactin stimulates milk production. ... read more »

When to Work on Your Fertility

Fertility is at the heart of reproduction, conception, pregnancy and parenthood, but many couples do not give fertility a passing thought until something goes wrong in the process. It is then that couples want to know when to work on fertility. ... read more »

Antioxidant Use May Not Increase Fertility

Research has not provided any high quality evidence that using antioxidants improves a woman's chances for becoming pregnant, according to a new systematic review published in the The Cochrane Library. ... read more »

Fertility May be Linked to Circadian Rhythm

According to a new research study, circadian rhythm may have a lot to do with menstrual and fertility cycles. ... read more »

Will I Get Pregnant if I Have Sex During My Period?

You would think with the body expelling the uterine lining during your menstrual cycle that sex during menstruation should be the safest time to go unprotected, but that is not the case. ... read more »

Effect of Sporadic Anovulation on Ovulatory Hormone Levels

Researchers from the Eunice Shriver Kennedy National Institute of Child Health and Human Development recently published a study on hormone levels in women experiencing anovulation. The study was published in the journal Human Reproduction. ... read more »

Phyto-oestrogens, Ovulation and PCOS

The study shows an all-natural treatment works just as well as prescription clomiphene citrate at inducing ovulation and other positive changes to support conception in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). ... read more »

Fertility Medications: Cycloset and Parlodel (Bromocriptine)

A doctor may prescribe Bromocriptine to help women who have an ovulation problem caused by a benign tumor in the pituitary gland, located in the brain just behind the nose. Doctors refer to this condition as pituitary adenoma. ... read more »

Big Breakfast May Aid Fertility for Some Women

Eating a big breakfast can boost fertility in women with PCOS, according to a new study published in Clinical Science. ... read more »

How Soon After Birth Does Fertility Return?

There is no definitive answer to this question. Some women ovulatewithin a few weeks of giving birth and other women don't ovulate formore than one year. ... read more »

Follistim While Pregnant and Breastfeeding

All about Follistim during pregnancy, breastfeeding and trying to conceive (TTC). Is it safe for use? ... read more »

Is Breastfeeding Preventing Me from Getting Pregnant?

Some women experience lactation amenorrhea while breastfeeding. Amenorrhea is the cessation of your monthly period. Hormones associated with breastfeeding affect reproductive cycles. ... read more »

Can Long-Term Use of Birth Control Pills Cause Infertility?

 The birth control pill has been around for decades and despite clinical study and assurance from the prescribing physician, women continue to hear negative rumors about possible side effects of taking the pill. ... read more »

Do I Ovulate When on the Pill?

How do birth control pills work? The way most birth control pills work is by preventing ovulation. ... read more »

Can I Get Pregnant Before I Have My First Postpartum Period?

You can get pregnant before you have your first postpartum period. ... read more »

The Path To Pregnancy - A Daily Guide To Conception

Your path to pregnancy begins with the very first day of your menstrual period and ends with the delivery of the baby, about 40 weeks late. ... read more »

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