How to Determine When You Are Ovulating
Knowing when you are ovulating helps in planning pregnancies or in preventing unwanted pregnancies. It also can be beneficial to know your cycle better to help in planning activities or special events. Several useful methods can help you determine when ovulation occurs.
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Instructions
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Use a calendar to check when your next period is due. Count back 12 to 16 days, which will give you the likely time frame of your ovulation period. While this method is easy and usually accurate, your body's cycle may change due to reasons such as diet or stress, making the calendar method less accurate.
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Monitor changes in your cervical mucus. During ovulation, the mucus texture will resemble egg whites and the amount will increase. This is due to extra estrogen present in your system necessary for heightened fertility.
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Use a thermometer to monitor your body temperature. Ovulation usually shows as a sharp rise in temperature due to the increase in hormones related to the egg's release. You will be most fertile two to three days before or two days after the temperature spike. Chart your daily body temperatures for a few months to find a noticeable pattern for more accuracy.
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Pay attention to bodily changes. Some women experience lower abdominal discomfort or tender breasts around the time of ovulation. The sensation may be mild or severe and could last a few moments or up to several hours.
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Buy an ovulation predictor kit. The kit will instruct you to test your urine every day to determine when you are ovulating. An assortment of kits are available for purchase from drug stores or supermarkets.
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Tips & Warnings
Menstrual cycles are not always regular so using ovulation information as method of birth control can be unreliable and result in an accidental pregnancy.
