Understanding Ovulation

by Pattie Hughes | More from this Blogger

26 Dec 2006 08:57 PM

You've probably never thought much about the process of ovulation, until you started trying to get pregnant. When you decide it's time to try for a baby, you will need to understand the ovulation process. This will help enhance your chances of successful conception.

The area of the brain known as the hypothalamus is responsible for ovulation. Ovulation is triggered by two hormones that are secreted by the pituitary gland. These are follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH). The hormones stimulate the production of an egg in one of the two ovaries.

The egg is then released from the ovary. The egg travels through the fallopian tube toward the uterus. If it meets a healthy sperm along the way, conception can occur. There is only a small window for conception. The egg will begin to deteriorate within twenty four hours after ovulation. Timing intercourse around ovulation is very important for successful conception.

Ovulation occurs fourteen days prior to the end of the menstrual cycle. To figure out on which day of your cycle this will occur, you need to know the length of your cycle. You should be tracking your cycles if you want to conceive. Figure out the length of your cycle and subtract fourteen days. If you have a twenty eight day cycle, you should ovulate on day fourteen. If your cycle is thirty days, you should ovulate on day sixteen.

Some women have other symptoms of ovulation. These symptoms can help you determine if you are ovulating. Common symptoms of ovulation include: pain on one side of the lower abdomen and changes in cervical mucous. The mucous thins out and there is more mucous present. This happens to help facilitate the sperm's journey to the egg. The absence of these symptoms doesn't mean you are not ovulating. Some women have no symptoms at all.

There are some ways you can detect ovulation at home. One is to keep a basal body temperature chart. You will need a basal body temperature thermometer. Charts for tracking ovulation are included with most of the BBT thermometers on the market. There is a slight spike in your body temperature just prior to ovulation. You will need to track this for a few months to gain a benefit from this method.

Ovulation predictor kits can help you track ovulation. You can purchase these at any drug store. The kits detect luteinizing hormone (LH) in your urine. The benefit of this method over basal body temperature is that kits can detect ovulation about twenty four hours in advance. You can test your urine once or twice each day until you detect the LH surge. It's important to follow the manufacturer's directions exactly for best results.

Related Articles:

When to Seek Help Getting Pregnant

Methods for Detecting Ovulation

Finding the Right Infertility Specialist

Learn more about Pattie Hughes

Pattie Hughes is a freelance writer and mother of four young children. She and her husband have been married since 1992. Pattie holds a degree in Elementary Education from Florida Atlantic University.

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