How to determine pregnancy late ovulation. Why does ovulation come late and what can this mean? Is pregnancy possible if the egg matures late?

When to do an ovulation test?

They are done 5-7 days before its expected start. This is subject to regular menstrual cycle, because otherwise you need to buy more tests and use them approximately 10 days before follicle rupture, that is, almost every day.

With late onset of the luteal phase It is advisable to use the device on days 13-21 of the menstrual cycle. After receiving a positive result, the test will no longer be needed, since it has fulfilled its function.

Is it possible to correct/restore the cycle?

WITH medical point it's easy to do, but it is important to understand why you need to interfere with the menstrual cycle.

If ovulation is late variant of the norm, then there is no need to restore the cycle for the “average value”, since the consequences will be unpredictable.

In cases of persistent hormonal imbalance (increase/decrease in prolactin, progesterone), serious illnesses It is necessary to correct and restore the menstrual cycle. For this there are special drugs inhibitors or analogues of hormones that normalize hormonal status.

For example, among gynecologists it is used popular medicine"Duphaston". It stimulates the onset of the luteal phase and is also an analogue of progesterone.

Sometimes combined oral contraceptives are used. However, if it is a woman, then it is most reasonable. After 2 months, the cycle will recover on its own.

Is it possible to conceive, how does it affect pregnancy?

Late ovulation is not an obstacle for pregnancy and subsequent gestation. However, it is permissible to say so only if it refers to a variant of the norm and is just a consequence of a long menstrual cycle.

Minor hormonal imbalances of a short-term nature also do not pose a danger to conception, but in the case of serious illnesses and significant endocrine disorders pregnancy is unlikely.

For example, at elevated prolactin or insufficient quantities progesterone, fertilization is almost impossible, which indicates the need for medical attention. Each case is individual.

Who is most likely to conceive?

Untimely rupture of the follicle has no effect on gender future child. Here it is impossible to calculate with accuracy and in advance, since such biological parameters depend to a large extent on the partner. It is in a man that the Y chromosome has an X and Y program, unlike the egg.

Scientists have found some connection between the sex of the child and the woman’s ovulation. For example, you need to have sexual intercourse immediately before ovulation, and then 2-3 days before its onset, stop sexual relations.

Happens to the boy everything is exactly the opposite: it is advisable to start sexual intercourse during ovulation.

The key factor here is precise definition luteal phase of the cycle, which will indirectly help influence the gender of the unborn child.

In conclusion, it must be said that late ovulation is not an independent diagnosis, but just a symptom that can be a variant of the norm or pathology. With a long menstrual cycle, late rupture of the follicle is logical and natural. This in no way speaks in favor of a serious illness.

The greatest value on Earth is life, and the main mystery is its origin. Ovulation plays a leading role in this process. In a healthy woman, it happens unnoticed and they think about it only when they begin to plan for the arrival of a baby in the family. During this period, the expectant mother may hear from the doctor the unfamiliar term “late ovulation,” which is alarming, like everything new.

What is this – a normal variant or a pathology? Should you worry? And, most importantly, can late ovulation be an obstacle to motherhood?

Ovulation involves the release of a mature egg into abdominal cavity women. It is impossible to predict in advance exactly what day this will happen. Ovulation occurring in the middle of the menstrual cycle is considered normal. With a period of 28 days between menstruation, ripening occurs approximately on the 14th day. If the cycle lasts 34 days, this should happen on day 17.

We can say that a woman has late ovulation if, with a cycle of 28 days, the egg matures, for example, on the 18th day.

This delay is due to a number of factors. This happens both in absolutely healthy women due to physiological characteristics, and under the influence of diseases and various third-party influences. Late ovulation and menstruation are related. The longer the egg matures, the longer the cycle will be.

The main question troubling a woman who is planning to have a child is whether pregnancy is possible with late ovulation? Given that healthy body and with the help of minor medical correction, motherhood occurs. So pregnancy and late ovulation are not mutually exclusive.

What causes late ovulation?

The delay in egg maturation that occurs during late ovulation depends on many factors. Sometimes it's caused physiological characteristics women and is considered a normal variant.

The most common causes of late ovulation:

Increased physical and psychological stress. It is advisable to avoid them during pregnancy planning.
Infectious diseases of the reproductive organs.
Hormonal changes in the body.
Abuse of funds emergency contraception in the past.
Underweight in women. Lack of adipose tissue negatively affects estrogen production, which provokes late ovulation.
Increased strength loads, playing sports in combination with taking steroids.
Spontaneous and recent births.

How to recognize a deviation?

If a woman suspects a cycle disorder, she should visit a doctor and get diagnosed. There are various techniques determination of ovulation. Some can be used at home, while others are carried out in a medical facility.

The simplest method for calculating the maturation of an egg is to determine the basal temperature.

Measurements are taken with a mercury thermometer immediately after waking up. This must be done rectally without getting out of bed. The obtained data is recorded to create a graph. Immediately before ovulation, the basal temperature drops sharply, and the next day it increases.

To obtain reliable information, measurements are carried out over a long period of time (3 months or more).

The next method is an ultrasound of the pelvic organs, which allows you to see the maturation of the follicle and ovulation. Diagnosis requires several ultrasound examinations carried out at intervals of 2-3 days.

You can also use home tests to determine ovulation. They are available at most major pharmacies. The principle of the test is based on the determination of luteinizing hormone in the urine, which appears a few days before ovulation.

Of the listed methods, the most accurate results are obtained by examination by a gynecologist with an ultrasound scan.

However, one-time observations cannot reliably judge the presence of late ovulation. Therefore, any method must be used over several menstrual cycles.

The relationship between pregnancy and late ovulation

To understand whether late ovulation is an obstacle to pregnancy, it is necessary to establish its causes. If this phenomenon is caused by health problems, then planning a child may be delayed, since they rarely go away on their own.

In most cases, treatment prescribed by a doctor helps establish regular cycle and offensive long-awaited pregnancy.

Even ovulation does not occur in the middle of the cycle, this does not mean a violation. It is important that it occurs approximately 2 weeks before menstruation. When these deadlines are shifted in one direction or another, it is worth thinking about. Problems with conceiving a baby arise if the duration of the second half of the cycle is always shorter than the first.

Pregnancy with late ovulation can occur almost before menstruation. Therefore, the terms determined by ultrasound and obstetrics may differ. This must be taken into account in order to calmly respond to the alleged developmental delay of the fetus.

HCG during late ovulation is lower than it should be at the corresponding obstetric period (counting from the first day of the last menstruation). There is no need to worry about this, but after pregnancy is detected, it is advisable to observe its growth over time.

In the future, to the expectant mother you need to notify the doctor antenatal clinic about the characteristics of your menstrual cycle.

How to correct the cycle?

One of the drugs used to regulate the cycle is Duphaston.

The prescription of Duphaston for late ovulation is currently controversial. He has many opponents. For example, the product has not been produced in the UK since 2008. However, in many countries, late ovulation and Duphaston go hand in hand. It is prescribed to stimulate menstruation and regulate the cycle.

But the drug is still not recommended for those who want to get pregnant in as soon as possible. This is due to the need to use the product on a schedule. Even a single mistake in the timing of administration or dosage can lead to an effect opposite to the desired one. That is, instead of the long-awaited pregnancy, menstruation will come.

Some medical experts (Institute medical research and education of Essen in Germany) argue that the use of the drug Duphaston to eliminate late ovulation is not only not justified, but can also lead to its complete absence, delaying the onset of motherhood.

Sometimes the prescription of the drug is not confirmed by the results of the analysis, but is based only on the assumption of a lack of progesterone in the blood. If you have doubts about the competence of the doctor recommending Duphaston, you should consult other specialists on this issue. Easier to pass additional examination than to eliminate the consequences of illiterate and inept intervention in the body.

Except drug treatment and following the recommendations of the attending physician, the woman herself can take measures to conceive as quickly as possible.

To get pregnant faster, you need to:

be active sex life with a permanent partner;
observe the work and rest schedule, do not overwork;
avoid increased psycho-emotional stress;
adhere to a healthy diet;
eliminate smoking and minimize alcohol consumption;

Replies

Any woman knows what ovulation is and how important this phenomenon is for the process of conceiving a baby. With a regular menstrual cycle, the release of an egg into the abdominal cavity often occurs unnoticed by the woman herself, which is the norm. Therefore, often healthy women don’t worry about ovulation, knowing that everything happens as it should.

Women usually begin to think about the topic of timely ovulation during the period of planning a child. And this is correct, because how fast conception will be depends on what period of the menstrual cycle ovulation occurs.

Sometimes, hearing the term “late ovulation” from a doctor, women planning to become mothers begin to panic. It seems to them that this may interfere with conception. Are late ovulation and pregnancy really incompatible?

What is “late ovulation”?

Before tormenting yourself with worries, it’s worth understanding what late ovulation means and why it happens. Normally, the period when a mature egg is released falls in the middle of the menstrual cycle.

Usually, the duration of the menstrual cycle is always the same, therefore, ovulation occurs every time at the same time in the cycle. So, for example, with an ideal cycle lasting 28 days, ovulation should be expected on the 14th day after the start of menstruation. If it occurs later, say, on the 19th day, it can be considered late.

If a woman’s cycle lasts, for example, 34 days (and is regular and stable), then in her case ovulation on days 17-18 is the norm.

In general, doctors say that the interval between ovulation and the next menstruation should be at least 11-12 days. Everything that fits into these frameworks can be considered normal, since a shift in ovulation by one or two days is quite acceptable.

What about pregnancy?

Consistently late ovulation is actually very rare. If it occurs in a woman’s life, it is a serious pathology that really interferes with getting pregnant and can cause infertility. But this is not a hopeless situation. Experienced specialists in the field reproductive medicine are able to help a woman who finds herself in such a situation.

But, often, late ovulation occurs at a certain period in a woman’s life and is not an ailment that accompanies her throughout her life. Many healthy girls and women who have a regular menstrual cycle face this problem. In this case, late ovulation does not mean at all that conception can now remain just a dream.

In women who have been diagnosed with delayed ovulation, the chance of getting pregnant easily is, of course, slightly reduced, since it becomes more difficult to calculate this time.

But the probability of pregnancy itself is as high as with timely ovulation. In this case, conception occurs absolutely normally, pregnancy proceeds as usual, and there are no developmental abnormalities in the born baby.

Since late ovulation itself is quite rare, when faced with it, it is important to identify the reason why it occurred. Most of the factors that lead to delayed ovulation can be corrected, making conception more likely.

The reasons for late ovulation can be both physical and psychological:

infections of the female reproductive system;
hormonal imbalance;
stress and overexertion;
menstrual irregularities;
abortion or miscarriage;
childbirth;
the period before the onset of menopause.

You can also identify signs of late ovulation at home. There are several ways to do this:

monitoring basal temperature;
ovulation test;
monitoring your well-being.

Women who regularly measure their rectal temperature will notice delayed ovulation quite easily. But this method is practically useless for those who do not conduct such observations.

An ovulation test can give a reliable answer, but not always. Its result may be false, if there is gynecological diseases, taking certain medications, etc. It is also important to do the test exactly at right time, which is difficult to calculate.

Some women experience mild discomfort during ovulation, pulling sensations lower abdomen, dizziness and similar symptoms. Focusing on your physical condition, such women can determine when ovulation occurred. But this condition does not always indicate ovulation. These could be signs of some disease, pregnancy, etc.

In general, the effectiveness of methods that determine the signs of late ovulation at home is quite low. To get a more accurate picture, it is better to go to the hospital. Studies that will help identify signs of delayed ovulation:

gynecological examination;
folliculometry (ultrasound monitoring);
analysis of pituitary hormone levels.

It is advisable to conduct studies over several menstrual cycles, this will enable the doctor to more accurately see the signs of late ovulation. All these methods that help detect signs of ovulation failure are most effective to use immediately at the time when you plan to conceive a baby.

Is it necessary to undergo treatment?

Since the occurrence of late ovulation is most often caused by certain factors, in this case there is no treatment for ovulation itself. WITH medical care you can correct the onset of ovulation, that is, make it happen at the right time. To do this, you need to see the signs and establish the cause of this situation.

For example, if the failure occurred due to a miscarriage, then you should just wait a few months and everything should recover on its own. If the reason is more complex, for example, the presence infectious disease, then you need to undergo a certain course of treatment, after which ovulation will return to normal, etc.

Treatment is usually required when problems with ovulation cause infertility. Some women may notice signs that they are not ovulating at all. This also makes conception impossible. In such serious situations, gynecologists prescribe ovulation stimulation. After such treatment, there is a chance that the woman will be able to become a mother and bear a healthy baby.

Activities to promote recovery

Women who are having trouble ovulating should follow certain rules that will help you recover faster:

Listen to the gynecologist and follow all his recommendations.
Avoid stressful situations.
Eat well healthy food(no diets).
Stop smoking and overuse alcohol.
Move more, breathe fresh air.
Live an active sex life with one partner (do not use protection).

The main thing to remember is that the most important thing is not what the signs of a problem indicate, but how much effort a woman is willing to make to get rid of it. Delayed ovulation is not a death sentence. You can influence the situation, you just need to have a little patience and, perhaps, very soon the dream of a tiny man will come true.

Timely release of the egg - important stage menstrual cycle. If ovulation is late, in some cases this can complicate the process of conceiving a baby, and if it is regularly “late”, it can serve as a sign of health problems.

When people talk about the menstrual cycle, they usually mean its “ideal” value – 28 days. In this case, ovulation occurs exactly in the middle - on the 14th day, and menstruation comes on the 29th day of the cycle. If the body is affected by any factors - stress, travel, illness - then the release of the egg may be delayed. Late ovulation with a 28-day cycle will be observed on days 16-17 or even later.

With a 30 day cycle normal indicators, naturally shift, and the release of the egg occurs around day 16, which is considered timely. It can be called late if it occurs on the 21st day of the cycle or just before your period.

If the cycle lasts 34 days, ovulation should normally occur on the 20th day. It will be later if it happens on the 23rd day or even later.

Special mention should be made about recovery after hormonal contraceptives. Ovulation after stopping OCs may be delayed or not happen at all. Typically, recovery takes approximately three cycles. To understand why this happens, you need to know how oral contraceptives work. They suppress the activity of the ovaries, and after they are discontinued, it takes time for the work to improve. If ovulation does not improve within three months after stopping the OC, you should consult a doctor for advice; additional treatment may be required.

Why is there such a delay? What are the reasons for late ovulation? We have already found out that sometimes an egg can mature on the 21st day of the cycle. This situation can also arise in a completely healthy woman due to the individual characteristics of her body.

However, most often late ovulation occurs due to the presence chronic diseases or various influences, often of a psychological nature.

Normally, ovulation occurs in the middle of the cycle.

Normal duration of the first and second phases

To better understand the nature of the cycle, you need to understand a little how it works. The menstrual cycle is divided into two phases. They may have different names - follicular and luteal, estrogen and progesterone, and even the banal first and second. Each phase is characterized by its own processes and symptoms. The first phase does not have a strict time frame; its duration can be different in each cycle, since it is influenced by everything - stress, diet, illness, a glass of wine with dinner, travel, lack of sleep or overwork. The same first phase is a sign of a calm, harmonious life.

But the second phase has specific instructions - normally it always lasts 13-14 days. The corpus luteum, which produces the hormone progesterone, lives exactly this long after ovulation. He supports elevated temperature body, necessary for the development of a fertilized egg. After its implantation, the body receives a signal about pregnancy, and the placenta takes care of the temperature for the next few months. If pregnancy does not take place, the corpus luteum dies, the temperature drops and menstruation begins.

Possible reasons

From this we can deduce two forms of late ovulation. In the first case, the first phase is extended and the development of follicles in the ovary slows down. In this case, there is late ovulation and a delay in menstruation, which is not associated with pregnancy - the timing of the cycle has simply shifted. In the second case, ovulation occurs before menstruation; the second, progesterone phase of the cycle is too shortened. The reasons for such phenomena will be different:

excess estrogen in the first phase. To help with conception, drugs with progesterone are prescribed in the second phase;
increased concentrations of luteinizing hormone and androgens. LH “bursts” the egg and is also responsible for the production of a certain amount male hormones in the ovaries. However, when increased concentration it slows down or even completely stops ovulation;
lack of estrogen in the first phase. This can be determined by the slow development of follicles, which leads to “lateness”.

Such violations may be one-time in nature and caused by various external reasons:

stress, prolonged or excessive psychological and physical stress;
change in climate or time zone;
abortion;
reception hormonal drugs and emergency contraceptives;
infectious diseases.

It may also be due to changing hormonal balance after the birth of a child, during lactation or before the onset of menopause. In addition, one should consider the possibility that late egg release may simply be an individual trait.

Is it easy to get pregnant?

Late ovulation and pregnancy are not at all mutually exclusive, unless the delay was caused by gynecological problems. In the case when after ovulation, even if it happened later than usual, approximately 12-14 days pass before the start of menstruation, pregnancy can occur without problems.

If there is a short second phase, the answer to the question of whether it is possible to get pregnant with late ovulation becomes more ambiguous. In this case, you may need the help of a doctor who will prescribe a course suitable drugs to normalize the cycle. In addition, pregnancy with late ovulation may require a maintenance course of hormonal medications that will compensate for the lack of progesterone.

Obstetrician-gynecologist, doctor of the highest category, candidate of medical sciences, comments:
— If ovulation is late, but pregnancy has occurred, you should consult a doctor for monitoring regarding pregnancy.
If ovulation is late and pregnancy does not occur for more than 6-12 months, you should consult a doctor to identify other factors that interfere with pregnancy (inferiority of the first or second phase of the cycle, pipe factor, etc.). The examination will be scheduled based on the preliminary diagnosis. At a minimum - ultrasound, examination and assessment of the hormonal profile. Will be excluded if necessary concomitant pathology(for example, diseases thyroid gland etc.).

When to take the test

If pregnancy occurs as a result of late ovulation, there are several things to remember: important points.

When to take a pregnancy test? First of all, it depends on the length of the cycle. If, with a 21-day cycle, ovulation normally occurs on days 8-10, then the test can be done around day 23 or 24 of the cycle. If ovulation is late at this time, the result will be negative; in this case, the test can be done no earlier than day 25-26. If the cycle lasts 35 days, pregnancy after late ovulation can be “caught” no earlier than 39-40 days.

If the test does not show a second line the first time, do not worry: the procedure can be repeated after a few days. Perhaps the concentration of hCG was still insufficient, since tests from different companies have different sensitivity to this hormone.

If pregnancy has occurred, the woman must inform the gynecologist about the specifics of her menstrual cycle so that the doctor can correctly calculate the due date. Since conception occurred later than generally accepted norms, the size of the fetus will be smaller.

It is very important to immediately inform the doctor that the pregnancy occurred due to late ovulation, otherwise he may suspect a frozen pregnancy or slow fetal development. This is due to the fact that the obstetric gestational age and the actual one visible on ultrasound will differ, because it is usually calculated from the date of the last menstruation, with ovulation “by default” in the middle of the cycle. With late ovulation, the gestational age will actually be shorter, so the “lagged” indicators actually correspond to the norm

The hCG level will also differ from what it should be at the current obstetric stage. There is no need to worry too much about this, but it is better to monitor the dynamics of this indicator for some time

Thus, late ovulation does not interfere with pregnancy, but when the test shows it, you should carefully monitor the health and development of the baby.

How to recognize it

Ovulation, as a rule, is manifested by a set of certain symptoms, which are stronger or weaker in many women:

increased libido;
change in the nature of cervical mucus;
change in the position of the cervix.

Additionally, some women may feel light nagging pain from one of the ovaries, called ovulatory, or observe slight bleeding on the day the egg is released. All these symptoms are purely individual in nature and are not mandatory. There is no need to explain what the displacement of these signs means - if they are always felt, then their “lateness” will be a symptom of delayed ovulation.

Basal temperature chart

The simplest method that any woman can use is. And although the majority modern doctors consider the method outdated and do not trust it, it still has many fans. Measurements are taken rectally using mercury thermometer immediately after waking up. The result must be recorded daily to create a graph.

Clear signs of late egg release can be seen when keeping a basal temperature chart. The graph will clearly show that the ovulatory surge does not occur at the scheduled time - in the middle of the cycle - but somewhat later. For BTT readings to be reliable, it should be monitored for at least 3 months.

The day before the release of the egg, a decrease in basal temperature is observed, and the next day it rises to 37 and above. To find out exactly what day the egg will be released, you need to take measurements long time(at least three months). Using the compiled graphs, you can clearly see the decrease and increase in indicators. The latter will indicate the onset of late ovulation.

Readings are taken immediately after waking up, in a state of complete rest, without getting out of bed. Temperature can be taken rectally, vaginally or orally. The first option is the most accurate, the last is the least.

Folliculometry

Another way to identify delayed ovulation is to conduct an ultrasound cycle with an interval of 2-3 days (). This will allow you to monitor the development of the follicles and notice the release of the egg.

Ovulation tests

You can also use homemade ones, which need to be repeated several times until the test shows positive result. On the eve of ovulation, luteinizing hormone will be released and can be detected in the blood and urine. To wait for the day when the test shows the coveted second line, you need to use it daily during the period of expected ovulation. That is, starting from about day 12 of the cycle (if it is regular).

If the cycle is irregular, then you need the most short cycle for last six months(for example, 25 days) and subtract 16 days. It turns out that with such a cycle you need to start using the test from the 9th day of the MC.

For more reliable result the test must be done at the same time. Moreover, unlike a pregnancy test, an ovulation test is not done in the early morning, but in the period from 10 to 20 hours. , This method quite effective, but the tests are not cheap, and you will need quite a lot of them.

Important! All methods are uninformative when used once. To obtain reliable information, observations must be repeated over a period of 3-6 months - the longer, the more accurate the picture.

Ovulation before menstruation

Some women ask if ovulation can happen before their period. Yes, in some cases it can. But most often this indicates that the woman has serious hormonal imbalances.

After all, if the egg was released 5-7 days before menstruation, then the second phase of the cycle - luteal - is too short. In such a short period of time (less than 10 days), the endometrium will not be able to reach maturity, it will be too thin, and the fertilized egg will not be able to attach to the wall of the uterus. Conception becomes problematic.

Normally, if the follicle bursts late, the entire cycle is lengthened. And your period will come later - at least 10 days after the release of the egg. Late ovulation and delayed menstruation are interrelated concepts. However, a delay does not indicate pregnancy.

After discontinuation of COCs

Considering that many modern women use oral contraceptives as protection against unwanted conception; they are concerned about whether pregnancy is possible after stopping them. If after stopping taking OK, tests more than a year did not show the coveted second page, this is a reason to undergo a thorough gynecological examination.

The fact is that it should arrive on time after a few months. This time is necessary for the body to fully restore its reproductive function.

After all, oral contraceptives contain sex hormones that inhibit the following natural processes in the body:

do not allow the egg to mature;
reduce the number of cuts fallopian tubes, along which the fertilized egg must move;
contribute to an increase in the amount of cervical mucus, which interferes with the full passage of sperm.

Sometimes, immediately after stopping ovulation, ovulation does not occur immediately or it happens late. It happens that the body full recovery reproductive function it may take more than a year.

This is due to the following factors:

age after 30 years;
instability of the immune system;
presence of concomitant chronic diseases;
long-term use.

Gynecologists believe that each year of taking OCs is equal to three months of the recovery period.

Is it necessary to treat

A one-time delay in ovulation associated with external causes does not require intervention or serious treatment. It is enough to normalize your lifestyle and the cycle will also return to normal. A number of gynecological diseases can become more serious causes of delayed ovulation. In this case, it is necessary medical assistance. Such pathologies include:

diseases in which the level of estrogen in the blood increases (endometriosis, some types of breast cancer, endometrial hyperplasia);
diseases characterized by increased levels of male hormones (polycystic ovary syndrome, pathologies of the adrenal cortex);
low-grade inflammation of the uterus or fallopian tubes, ovarian cyst, genital tract infections (chlamydia, trichomonas, ureaplasma).

Often late ovulation can be the only sign of these processes.

In addition to all of the above, late ovulation can be a symptom of various endocrine pathologies hypothalamus, pituitary gland, adrenal glands, ovaries. In addition, it is often found in obesity or underweight because adipose tissue actively participates in the functioning of the hormonal system.

Late ovulation is not a death sentence or an obstacle to conceiving the desired baby, but you should make sure that this is a random phenomenon or individual feature body, and not a manifestation of a serious illness.

A woman's fertility - the ability to conceive and give birth to a child - depends on the function of the ovaries. Maturation and release of the egg (oocyte) from the follicle - key factor ability to bear children.

In some cases, difficulties with conception or even a diagnosis of “infertility” married couple associated with a disruption in the functioning of the ovaries, when the egg is not released on time. There is even such a concept in gynecology as “late ovulation,” when the oocyte matures later than expected. But can delayed oocyte release actually prevent conception?

What is late ovulation

In healthy women, the so-called. The ovulatory peak occurs in the middle of the menstrual cycle (MC). During the first phase of the cycle, a follicle matures in the ovary, containing an egg, which then comes out and moves along the fallopian tube to the uterus to meet the sperm there. With an average 28-day MC, this process occurs 13-14 days after the first day of the last menstruation.

Late ovulation is one that occurs later than the expected ovulatory peak, correlated with cycle length. For example, if its duration is 28 days, then ovulation will be late if the oocyte is released on the 16th day or later.

But late ovulation in itself is not an obstacle to conception. If there are no other factors preventing fertilization and implantation of the embryo into the endometrium of the uterus, then the delayed release of the oocyte will not prevent the woman from becoming a mother.

It is necessary to correlate the duration of the menstrual cycle and the moment of the ovulatory peak. For example, if for a woman it is not 28, but 33-34 days, then the ovulatory peak will be normal on the 19th day, and not on the 15-16th, as with a 28-day MC.

But if menstruation occurs once every 33 days, and the release of the oocyte occurs after 21 days, then this will already be considered late.

From this video you can learn everything about the ovulation process - from follicle maturation to formation corpus luteum:

How to recognize a deviation - the main signs

The onset of the ovulatory peak in healthy women does not manifest itself in any way. IN in rare cases When a woman carefully observes her body over many cycles, she may notice some signs in herself. Delayed ovulation in itself is not considered a pathology, and it is impossible to feel it in any special way.

In other words, if a woman can identify the signs of ovulation occurring on time, then the symptoms of delayed oocyte release will be the same.

For example, this could be brownish vaginal discharge, a pulling sensation in the lower abdomen, increased sexual desire, mood changes and other changes. Late ovulation will manifest itself in this case in the same way as timely ovulation.

What leads to this condition - an overview of the main reasons

The shift in the timing of egg release to the second phase of MC is due to various factors.

As a rule, hormonal changes stand in penultimate place, and come to the fore:

stress, anxiety, anxiety - nervous system influences hormonal background and therefore on ovarian function;
sudden climate change - for example, flying on vacation to a country with a hot or cold climate;
various diseases - even acute respiratory viral infections, colds or flu sometimes contribute to a delay;
cancellation of appointment hormonal contraceptives- one of the common reasons why the ovaries re-adjust to active work and for 2-3 cycles they can work “inappropriately”.

The body's reaction to the listed factors is a protective evolutionary mechanism designed to prevent poor-quality conception and the birth of offspring with various defects.

In rare cases, delayed release of the egg is associated with features hormonal function. Luteinizing (LH) and follicle-stimulating (FSH) hormones, which are produced in the anterior pituitary gland, are responsible for the maturation of the oocyte.

The lack of one of them in the first phase of MC often leads to delayed maturation of the follicle. Increased level Androgens in the blood can also cause a shift in the timing of oocyte release.

Important! A chronic shift in the timing of ovulation later than usual is extremely rare occurrence. If this happened during only one cycle, this is not a reason for research and diagnosis.

Nature cares about balance in everything, and after one “special” cycle, it usually normalizes natural processes in reproductive system. In the next MC, the oocyte is released on time if the hormonal system is working normally.

Late ovulation and conception

Late ovulation itself is not a pathology, but a feature of the menstrual cycle. If the egg has matured and left the follicle, then the period of “preparation” for this process does not in any way affect its ability to conceive.

If a woman is healthy and does not have other pathologies of the internal genital organs (adhesions, obstruction of the fallopian tubes, endometrial dysplasia), then a delayed ovulatory peak will not prevent her from conceiving and bearing a healthy child.

It is important that the concentration of the necessary hormones remains sufficiently high during the ovulatory peak and at the time of formation of the corpus luteum. This is necessary so that the egg can not only connect with the sperm, but also attach to the uterus.

If the ovulatory peak occurs no later than two weeks before your expected period, this is not considered a problem. But sometimes the oocyte is released almost before the onset of menstruation. This theoretically will not interfere with her fertilization, but makes it impossible for the embryo to implant into the uterus.

The fact is that before menstruation in women, the level of progesterone, the hormone responsible for preparing the endometrium for the attachment of a fertilized egg, decreases.

If she meets a sperm and attaches to the uterine mucosa, then the concentration of progesterone remains at the same level to help the fertilized egg develop. But if the egg is released at a time when there is no longer enough progesterone, the likelihood of unsuccessful conception or miscarriage increases.

How to correct your cycle

If ovulation is delayed, it is not the cycle that needs to be adjusted, but the hormone levels during its first and second phases. It depends on them whether the couple will be able to conceive a child this time. First of all, you need to consult a doctor or independently determine the fact of the delay. Again, one cannot judge a deviation if the delayed oocyte release was only during one MC.

To establish a stable shift of the ovulatory peak into the second phase of the cycle, you need to:

Do home test strips regularly for at least three cycles.
Measure basal temperature(BT) in the rectum every day for three months to chart and observe BT peaks that are not typical for a normal cycle.
Regularly carry out folliculometry using ultrasound from a specialist who will assess the time of follicle maturation and determine the reasons for the delay.

If it is determined that ovulation has indeed acquired a tendency to be late, the doctor, based on the research results, has the right to prescribe hormonal therapy.

For this purpose, two drugs are used today - Duphaston and Utrozhestan, which artificially regulate the level of progesterone and estrogen in the blood and promote normal maturation of follicles. Take them according to an individual regimen prescribed by your doctor.

Preventive measures

Each woman's menstrual cycle is unique and depends on many factors - the amount of hormones, age and characteristics of the body as a whole. Not all healthy women meet the standards and norms adopted by gynecologists.

Therefore, to normalize MC and regulate natural processes in hormonal system it is important to monitor her overall health, ensuring required quantity vitamins and microelements. Vitamin E (tocopherol) is considered important for reproductive function, as well as folic acid– there should be enough of them in a woman’s diet.

Bad habits – alcohol abuse, smoking, poor nutrition– should be excluded. It is advisable to avoid stress and anxiety, physical and emotional overload. A positive attitude is very important, which helps to calm down and normalize hormonal function.

Conclusion

Late ovulation is a relative concept in gynecology. With normal hormonal function, the release of an oocyte from the follicle later than the expected period is considered a feature and not a pathology.

Theoretically, an egg, whenever it leaves the ovary, can be fertilized by a sperm. But successful conception will only happen when the embryo attaches to the wall of the uterus.

It happens that a late ovulatory peak indicates a violation of hormonal function, when the moment of the ovulatory peak and the readiness of the endometrium for implantation do not coincide. In this case, the woman needs to see a doctor and adjust her cycle with hormonal medications.