After birth, the ovaries of a girl, who later becomes a woman, contain approximately a million germ cells that will become eggs in the future. TO adolescence when it happens puberty, not all of them survive. Those that are ripe carry one of the most important women's functions- the birth of a new life. In this article we will look in detail at what ovulation is and what the signs and symptoms of ovulation are.

What is ovulation?

Ovulation is a phenomenon that represents the release of an egg from the ovary into fallopian tube as a result of rupture of a mature follicle. From the follicle, the egg enters the fallopian tube, where fertilization occurs. If a girl does not ovulate, then it is impossible to get pregnant. Therefore, in the female menstrual cycle there are so-called safe days, days of menstruation and fertile days (days when there is a chance of getting pregnant).

Duration of ovulation

For a better understanding of how ovulation occurs and on what day, you can familiarize yourself with the 30-day cycle chart. At normal cycle Without delays in menstruation and deviations in the female body, the day of ovulation occurs in the middle of the cycle.

Important information! In girls with a 21-day cycle, ovulation can occur before, after and during menstruation. Accordingly, you can get pregnant during the period when ovulation occurs. This chart shows only the approximate day of ovulation. Every woman ovulates at different period cycle. Also, an exception may be a cycle of 30 days. It has been repeatedly found in practice that even women with a 30-day cycle could become pregnant immediately after menstruation, that is, almost at the beginning of the cycle. Therefore, experienced women keep a so-called ovulation calendar and mark the days of possible pregnancy.

Very rarely, ovulation can occur twice in one cycle. In this case, the interval between egg releases is about 2 days. Several eggs (from 10 to 15) begin to awaken in the first half of the cycle. They mature and grow along with the follicle. But only one of them will be released after about 10 days, and a mature egg will come out of it. Such a follicle is called a dominant or Gaafian vesicle. It is the largest in size.

The regularity of ovulation is disrupted in postpartum period, before the onset of menopause, as well as for several months after an abortion. Ovulation is completely absent during pregnancy and after menopause.

Only a few of these eggs are unable to perform their functions. From the time a girl has her first menstruation, an egg is released from the ovary once a month. This moment is called ovulation. Before this, each egg is dormant and located in a separate follicle. There she waits in line to go outside.

Many germ cells die in their infancy, so by the time of puberty there are from 300 to 400 thousand follicles left. IN reproductive age In total, a woman ovulates about 400-500 eggs ready for fertilization.

The importance of ovulation for women planning pregnancy

The probability of pregnancy exists on any day of the cycle, but it is highest during the period of ovulation. At this time, the chance of conception reaches 33%, and in the first days of the cycle it is only about 2%.

Also, the likelihood of getting pregnant decreases sharply after ovulation. This is due to the fact that the mature egg enters the fallopian tube and dies there within 12 to 24 hours. Without ovulation, conception simply cannot occur. The absence of ovulation over several menstrual cycles indicates some problems in the female body. It is necessary to consult a doctor and undergo a course of treatment.

It is for these reasons that it is important for women planning a pregnancy to know when ovulation occurs and the signs and symptoms of ovulation. It is worth noting that it is normal for there to be no ovulation for 1-2 cycles a year. With age, the number of such periods becomes greater. Also, 2 eggs can be released at the same time. In this case, a multiple pregnancy may occur, when each of the released eggs is fertilized.

When does ovulation occur?

A woman's menstrual cycle is divided into 2 periods or phases:

1. Follicular.
2. Luteal.

The length of these periods varies. Thus, the follicular phase lasts from 9 to 21 days, and the luteal phase – 12-16 days. The duration of the second phase is stable, but the first can vary even in the same woman. Its lengthening or shortening is associated with the maturation time of the follicle, which is regulated by complex hormonal processes in the body. That is why the calculation of the onset of ovulation is carried out according to the luteal period.

During the follicular phase, the follicle in which the egg is located matures. At the same time female body prepares carefully for possible fertilization, the following changes occur:

• the endometrium covering the uterus thickens;
• the amount of estrogen increases;
• the epithelium grows in the mammary ducts of the mammary glands;
• the cervix becomes loose and opens slightly.

In a standard 28-day menstrual cycle, the egg is released from the ovary on days 13-15. This moment is ovulation, it occurs between two periods of the cycle. After this, the luteal phase begins, when a corpus luteum appears in place of the ruptured follicle. It is necessary for the production of the hormone progesterone. It, together with estrogen, helps secure the embryo in the uterine cavity. If the egg is not fertilized in this cycle, the corpus luteum dies and the upper layer of the endometrium is shed, which leads to the onset of menstruation. At the same time, a new egg begins to mature in one of the ovaries.

For many women, the cycle can be less than 28 days or, conversely, up to 35 days. This is not any pathology, but simply a feature of the body. As a rule, when short cycle Ovulation occurs earlier, and with prolonged periods - later.

To calculate it in these cases, you need to know that ovulation usually occurs on a certain day of each cycle. This occurs approximately 14 days before the start of menstruation, there may be minor changes for 1-2 days. What day it will be depends on the length of the cycle. That is, if a woman’s cycle is 32 days, then ovulation will occur on day 18 (32-14=18).

If the menstrual cycle is irregular, it is impossible to calculate ovulation in this way. For this you will need special methods. To determine the day of ovulation, it is important to keep a menstrual calendar, which indicates the beginning and end of the cycle. In this way, you can track all changes in it and calculate the favorable period for conception.

The menstrual cycle is affected by:

There are such concepts as early or late ovulation. The first occurs a few days before the middle of the cycle, and the second, respectively, closer to the end menstrual cycle.

On the frequency and duration of ovulation, as well as on general hormonal background Some factors influence:

• the lifestyle a woman leads;
• taking medications;
• nutrition;
• environmental situation;
• psychological state of a woman.

It is also worth noting that the release of the egg does not always occur alternately in each of the ovaries. One of them is the main one, and ovulation can occur in it for several cycles in a row.

How many days does ovulation last?

It is impossible to calculate how long ovulation lasts. Its duration can be determined only by the lifespan of the egg, during which fertilization is possible. Conventionally, this time interval is 16-48 hours. During this period, there is a high probability of fertilization of the egg, and, consequently, pregnancy.

The ovulation process is like a small surge in the ovaries. It can occur at any time and cannot be predicted. The release of a mature egg indicates that ovulation has already occurred; this process lasts approximately 15 minutes. In this case, a hole appears on the wall of the follicle, similar to a wound, through which the cell passes small size. After this, the egg waits for fertilization in the fallopian tube.

The egg released from the ovary is captured by the villi of the fallopian tube, which, through contractions of the uterus, carry it towards the sperm. If fertilization does not occur, the egg dies.

This interval is individual for each woman. Tenacious sperm can wait quite a long time for an egg (about 72 hours), so you can add a few days before and after ovulation to this time. This period will be the most favorable for pregnancy. It is also called fertile.

If the egg and sperm meet, fertilization occurs. Thus, the moment of ovulation and conception differ in time.

Signs of ovulation

There are some signs of ovulation that only a gynecologist or a special test can determine. These include:

1. Ultrasound to monitor the growth of the follicle and the moment of its rupture, which indicates the onset of ovulation. The most accurate diagnostic method for determining the moment of ovulation. The first ultrasound examination is carried out after the end of menstruation, approximately on the 5-7th day of the cycle. After this, repeat ultrasounds are performed every 2-3 days to monitor changes in endometrial thickness. This helps to accurately predict the onset of ovulation. As a rule, the method is used when there is a failure in the cycle, when ovulation does not occur for a long time.
2. Determination of the level of LH (luteinizing hormone) in urine over time. This hormone is responsible for stimulating the female body and releasing a mature egg. This method is simpler and can be done independently at home using ovulation tests, which are sold in pharmacies. They are done twice a day, starting 5-6 days before calculated ovulation, strictly following the instructions. The operating principle of the test is based on the fact that large number LH is always present in a woman’s urine, but 24-36 hours before the release of a mature egg, that is, the onset of ovulation, its content increases sharply.
3. Blood test for pituitary hormones (LH). The principle of operation is the same as that of the ovulation test.
4. A sharp increase in progesterone levels in the blood. It is checked in the second phase of the cycle, approximately a week before the start of menstruation.

When determining ovulation using ultrasound, at least 3 procedures will be required, but it is worth it. At the very beginning of the cycle, several follicles of approximately the same size will be visible. Over time, one of them will begin to increase, which means it is in it that ovulation will occur. Its size from 1 mm gradually reaches 20 mm. It is after reaching the highest value that the doctor concludes that ovulation has occurred.

In a few days you need to do an ultrasound again. If the follicle is not observed, it means that it has burst, and accordingly, ovulation has already passed.

Symptoms of ovulation

Symptoms of ovulation are individual and differ for all women, but there are some general changes in the body:

• Pulling pain in the lower abdomen or tingling. Moreover discomfort arise from the side where the egg has matured. Even small ones may appear spotting. Painful sensations can last from several minutes to several days.
• Change vaginal discharge. Their number increases, they become more liquid, similar to egg white.
• Increased sexual desire. It is associated with the body’s readiness for fertilization at the hormonal level.
• Increased sensitivity, nervous irritability. It is also associated with an increase in hormonal levels.
• Increased flatulence and bloating, which is also due to changes in hormonal levels.
• Exacerbation taste buds and sense of smell.
• A decrease in basal temperature on the day of ovulation and an increase the next day.

Ovulation is pretty not an easy process, which occurs monthly in the body of girls and women. How to feel ovulation and be able to determine the time of its onset will be useful for every woman, because it is this short time period that is considered the most successful for conceiving a baby. Well, if, on the contrary, you are not planning a pregnancy, calculating the “dangerous” period will also be very useful.

Ovulation is the process of a mature egg leaving the follicle. This phenomenon usually occurs in the middle of the menstrual cycle. At sexual contact During this period, the probability of pregnancy is very high, since the egg that has left the follicle is ready to meet with the sperm. But how to define or how to feel this period?

Signs of ovulation

There are several signs that indicate that ovulation is approaching or that it has already occurred. They can be divided into external signs and internal.

Let's get acquainted with the signs of approaching ovulation.

1. The nature of the discharge changes. There are more of them and they acquire a different consistency.
2. There are unpleasant sensations in the lower abdomen.
3. Swelling and engorgement of the mammary glands, painful sensations in the chest area.
4. Changes in basal temperature.
5. Opening and softening of the cervix.
6. Increase in latinizing hormone.
7. Increased sex drive.
8. Feeling unwell.

Some of them occur a couple of days before the release of the egg; other symptoms in girls and women are observed during ovulation or after its completion.

The first signs of approaching ovulation

The most early signs before ovulation there are nagging pains in the lower abdomen, pain in the lower back. Some women note that on the day of ovulation their breasts hurt or their ovaries feel tight. However, these pains are short-lived and disappear after the release of the egg.

Not all women necessarily have all indicated symptoms, because every woman’s body is individual, so if one feels a pull in the lower abdomen, the other may not experience such discomfort at all.

However, if not all women experience subjective physical symptoms, that is, obvious signs ovulation, which occurs with almost every girl at the moment of greatest fertility. We will talk about this further.

Objective signs of ovulation

If the sensations described in the previous section are subjective (for example, severe nausea, painful breasts, bloating, etc.) and are not found in every girl, then almost every woman encounters objective signs of this phenomenon.

The main objective symptoms of the onset of ovulation include:

1. Change in vaginal discharge.
2. Increase in basal temperature.
3. An ultrasound detects the release of the egg.

Let's start in order.

Change in vaginal discharge

Before the onset of ovulation, there is an increase in the amount of discharge. In addition, their consistency changes: they become more liquid. How long do these symptoms last? As a rule, white discharge begins 1-2 days before the date of ovulation and ends after it occurs. The onset of ovulation is characterized by mucous membranes transparent discharge, which also acquire stickiness and ductility. Some women note the appearance brown discharge or bloody discharge, do not worry and think that this happens due to pathologies in the genital area. In fact, the reasons for such changes are caused by an increase in progesterone in a woman’s blood during this period.

This period is called the fertile phase (increased ability to conceive). Be attentive to this characteristic, and you can plan your intimate life, easily determining the dangerous period of time if pregnancy is not yet part of your plans. The most favorable days for conception are considered to be 3 days before the release of the egg and 2 days after this event. Nature allots only 5 days a month to conceive a child.

Increase in basal temperature

The period of approaching ovulation is characterized by small stature basal temperature. To trace this sign, every morning a woman should measure her temperature without getting out of bed by inserting a thermometer into the anus. In the first phase of the cycle, basal temperature values ​​are in the range of 36.5 -36.7 degrees, and with the approach of ovulation they increase to 37.

The data should be displayed on a special graph, with the help of which you can understand the approach of the fertile period and its end. Also, using the chart it is easy to determine the day the egg is released. Thus, the approach of ovulation corresponds to an increase in basal temperature, and to the period when the release of a mature egg has taken place, its decline. A sharp drop in temperature is observed on the day of ovulation.

Keeping a basal temperature chart will also help you plan your intimate life, depending on whether you want to become a mother in the near future or have decided to postpone this event.

If you have problems conceiving, a basal temperature chart will tell you whether your eggs are maturing at all and will help your gynecologist determine correct diagnosis, also prescribe appropriate treatment.

Ultrasound records the release of the egg

The fertile period can be easily determined using ultrasound examination. An ultrasound allows you to find out: Whether the follicle is increasing in size, that is, whether the egg is growing and maturing. Changes occurring in the cervix: its smoothing and opening. Appearance corpus luteum in the right or left ovary (at the site of a mature egg). The presence of follicular fluid indicates that the egg has left the follicle and ovulation has begun. Data ultrasound diagnostics quite accurate and allow you to answer with almost one hundred percent certainty when ovulation occurs in the body.

How to determine ovulation yourself?

There are many in various ways how to feel ovulation:

• monitor your own well-being;
• be attentive to mucous secretions;
• monitor your basal temperature.

Also today, every woman has the opportunity to use a special test to determine ovulation. It works in a similar way to a pregnancy test, but it only determines not pregnancy, but the most favorable time for conception. The purpose of the test is to determine the maximum level of progesterone in the blood.

As a rule, 5 test strips are sold in a package. Testing should begin closer to the middle of the cycle, from 10-11 days, if menstruation occurs with an interval of 28 days. The test strip must be dipped into a glass of urine and wait 30 seconds, then placed on a dry surface and after three minutes the result can be interpreted. As the fertile period approaches, the test will show the presence of a second stripe (if ovulation is not yet imminent, the second stripe will not be present at all). The brighter the stripe, the closer the successful period of conception. When the egg release process is complete, the luteal phase begins and the test will again show one line.

Ovulation tests are simple and affordable way determine the fertile period, and in combination with the analysis of cervical mucus and other sensations characteristic of the ovulation period, the likelihood of accurately determining the most acceptable time for conception or, on the contrary, abstaining from sexual relations during the specified period.

Symptoms of the end of ovulation

If the process of releasing the egg is completed and ovulation has occurred, the following symptoms are noted:

1. Mucous discharge disappears or significantly decreases in volume.
2. The breasts cease to be painful and less sensitive.
3. Pain and discomfort in the lower abdomen disappear.
4. The pimples that appeared on the forehead before the fertile period disappear.
5. The basal temperature value is fixed at 37 degrees for some time, regardless of whether pregnancy has occurred or not.
6. Improves general condition(nausea, dizziness goes away).
7. Ultrasound results show the presence of a corpus luteum in the follicle.

The presence of these signs signals ovulation and the beginning of the corpus luteum period.

Why doesn't ovulation occur?

There can be many reasons why a woman has anovulatory cycles. 2-3 monthly cycles per year without ovulation are considered normal and do not require medical treatment. But if the eggs do not mature much more often, you should seek help from a specialist to find out the reasons and comprehensive survey. Most often such failures are caused hormonal disorders, for the elimination of which consultation with a gynecologist and endocrinologist is necessary. After undergoing an examination and determining the cause of “sterile” cycles, you will be prescribed appropriate treatment and given additional recommendations in this regard.

Reasons for the lack of ovulation that are not related to the presence of gynecological and endocrine diseases, can be divided into the following:

1. Breast-feeding.
2. Climax.
3. Constant stress and nervous tension.
4. A sharp change in climatic conditions.
5. Dramatic weight loss.
6. Strong physical activity.
7. Cancellation of hormonal drugs.

Cycles without ovulation are characterized by a delay in menstruation by several days or by 2-3 months, severe breast tenderness, sudden changes moods. The bleeding that begins in such a cycle is different longer duration, pain and increased bleeding.

Women who experience hormonal imbalances are most prone to such cycles. Also, ladies whose age is approaching 50 are prone to cycles without ovulation.

If you notice frequent anovulatory cycles, it is still better to contact antenatal clinic and talk to a gynecologist about this

When ovulation occurs, it is important for women planning to conceive to know. Favorable days for pregnancy to begin approximately in the middle of the menstrual cycle.

Ovulation is the process during which an egg ready for fertilization leaves the follicle and enters the cavity of the fallopian tube.

Normally, it occurs in a woman’s body approximately every 25-30 days. Frequency depends on individual characteristics reproductive system And hormonal balance.

During unprotected sexual intercourse, a mature female cell meets a sperm, is fertilized and moves into the uterine cavity, where it is fixed. This is how pregnancy begins. If fertilization does not occur, the egg is released with menstrual flow.

When does ovulation occur?

When ovulation occurs after menstruation, it is important for any woman of reproductive age to know. However, the maturation of the egg and its release may not occur monthly.

There are periods when the ovaries rest and do not produce eggs. This cycle is called anovulatory. Normally it happens once every three months.

On what day of the cycle does ovulation begin and is it possible to calculate it - at least important issues. If a woman’s health is normal and the cycle is constant, then the days of egg maturation fall in the middle. It happens that a female cell matures earlier or later than expected.

Let's take a 28-day menstrual cycle as an example. So, ovulation normally occurs on the 14th day after menstruation. But it can occur earlier, on the 7-10th day, or later - on the 20th day.

The duration of ovulation is several minutes, and the viability of a mature egg is about a day or a little more. This is how long she is ready for fertilization, which will occur in the presence of sperm.

How to determine?

To know exactly when ovulation begins, you can use one of existing methods for calculation:

• Calendar method. It is based on taking into account the start and end dates of menstruation and calculating the middle of the cycle. But this method is accurate in approximately 30% of all cases, that is, when the woman does not suffer from a cycle disorder. In most cases, failures are still observed, and therefore it is difficult to calculate ovulation using a calendar.
• Tactile method. This is a more subjective method, based on observation of vaginal discharge. During ovulation, they acquire a special character - they become transparent and viscous, similar to egg white.
• Measurement. More reliable method. It is based on measuring temperature using a thermometer in anus. This should only be done in the morning immediately after waking up, without getting out of bed. If on other days of the cycle rectal temperature remains at the same level, then at the beginning of ovulation it changes. To identify days favorable for conception, you need to make a schedule.
• . An innovative and most reliable method that allows you to understand that the egg is ripe. It is based on determining the level of hormones that take part in the process of maturation of the female cell.

Basal temperature chart

Signs of egg maturation

It’s easy to see an egg ready for fertilization if you monitor your well-being.

During the menstrual cycle, the hormonal levels in a woman’s body change, so ovulation is characterized by certain features:

• Vaginal discharge. They change their consistency, are viscous, and increase in volume.
• Discharge streaked with blood. In the allocated vaginal mucus Blood elements may be observed, this indicates ovulation.
• Increased breast sensitivity or appearance pain. The reasons are the release of a mature egg and changes in the hormonal balance in the body.
• Bloating or pain in the lower abdomen. Also characteristic feature for ovulation days.
• Increased libido. During the days of maturation of the reproductive cell, women often experience increased sexual desire for a partner, which is inherent in nature for the purpose of procreation.

The listed signs of ovulation can appear one at a time or occur simultaneously, everything here is individual. Some women experience no symptoms at all, while others experience a sharp deterioration in their health due to stress or lack of rest.

Reasons for absence

Some women ask doctors why ovulation does not occur. Despite knowing how many days after menstruation the egg should mature, sometimes this does not happen at all. The ovaries need rest, and therefore several cycles a year are anovulatory.

In some cases, the reason for the lack of ovulation or anovulation may be a malfunction in the body or the development of a disease:

• infectious and inflammatory processes organs of the genitourinary system;
• kidney or thyroid diseases;
• violation normal operation pituitary gland or hypothalamus;
• stressful situations.

You can find out the exact reason for the absence of a mature egg only by consulting a doctor.

Safe days

Calculating safe days is important for women who are not planning a pregnancy. However, you should not use this method alone as a method of protection. The reason is that sometimes two ovulations occur per month and it is difficult to predict.

The so-called “safe days” are days when a woman’s body is not capable of conceiving. To determine them, you need to know the exact length of the cycle, and then count the week before ovulation and three days after. These days are dangerous, that is, a woman can become pregnant. All other days are safe.

It should be borne in mind that any malfunction in the body, and even more so, disruption of the menstrual cycle, leads to a shift in the days of maturation of the female cell. Therefore, it is recommended to use more reliable methods of contraception.

Video about determining ovulation

When is fertilization possible?

After ovulation and the release of the egg from the ovary, it is viable for up to 72 hours. This is the period when a woman’s body is capable of conception.

Sperm that enter the fallopian tubes are also active for 72 hours, and in some cases they retain the ability to fertilize even up to 7 days.

When ovulation occurs, it is important for any woman to know. This knowledge is necessary both for planning pregnancy and, conversely, for the need to avoid conception. There are several methods for determining the day of ovulation that you can use. If there is no ovulation, it is better to consult a doctor to find out the reasons.

The long-awaited moment has come when a young family or married couple begins to think about the appearance of a little man who will become a continuation of their family. On early stages During this period, difficulties and pitfalls begin to appear, because every fourth family has difficulties conceiving a child. Lack of ovulation is the limiting factor.

Any woman who is planning a pregnancy should understand what day after her period ovulation occurs. Ovulation is a process accompanied by the release of a mature egg from a ruptured follicle. Let's understand this process a little. any woman is divided into two important points- follicular and At the beginning of the cycle, exactly until the middle, the follicle matures, it ruptures and the movement of the egg ready to merge with the sperm occurs in abdominal cavity. All this occurs under the influence of the sex hormones estrogen and progesterone, produced by the hypothalamus and the endocrine system as a whole. This is ovulation. If fusion does not occur, then the mature egg, together with the inner layer of the walls of the uterus, comes out in the form of bleeding. Ripening is determined by the middle menstrual period. Ideally, with a 28-day cycle, it will occur approximately 13-15 days after the start of menstruation. There are cases when ovulation occurs twice during the menstrual cycle. Is this related to any infectious diseases, incorrect work endocrine system, stress.

Every girl who has reached puberty should be able to calculate her menstrual cycle. On average, its duration is 21-35 days. But there are cases when the cycle lasted less than 18 days and more than 45. Menstruation may be erratic depending on different situations: childbirth, abortion, lactation. And during pregnancy they stop moving altogether.

Many couples raise the question “on what day after menstruation does ovulation occur” in search of an answer only to use the calendar method to insure against the possibility of getting pregnant. But this does not need to be done, because, as stated above, the maturation of the egg in critical situations may recur in the same menstrual cycle. Yes, and ovulation due to health conditions may shift by 1-2 days within the cycle. Even if you manage to get between " dangerous days", this will not protect against infection.

In some women, during the maturation of the reproductive cell, increased desire, or the so-called libido. Heavy discharge is also associated with rupture of a mature follicle. Sharp decline, and then an increase in temperature measured rectally may be an echo incoming ovulation. But all these methods are imperfect and do not provide a 100% guarantee. Most accurate diagnosis can be called studies carried out using ultrasound radiation.

On what day after menstruation does ovulation occur?

Let's still figure out what day after menstruation ovulation occurs. Let's take the standard 28-day menstrual cycle as a basis. When dividing in half, we get the 14th day, from which we should start. After menstruation, a mature egg leaves the follicle in search of sperm. If we take into account that the life span of a sperm is no more than three days, in some cases up to a week, and the egg is ready to wait only 12-24 hours for a meeting, then the number of “dangerous” days is at most equal to a week.

When answering the question about what day ovulation occurs, it is worth highlighting the main points:

The menstrual cycle is calculated from the first day of menstruation of the previous month until the first day of menstruation of the next month;

Ovulation occurs exactly in the middle of the cycle or may shift by 1-2 days;

The absence of ovulation may be due to a number of reasons, which must be diagnosed under the supervision of qualified specialists;

If you should immediately contact an antenatal clinic.

First of all, women who are concerned about the question of what ovulation is and how it happens. However, this information will not be superfluous for any representative of the fair sex, because for us girls, it is very important to know all aspects of our body.

What is ovulation in women

Nature has endowed a woman with a unique ability to bear children. From the moment of birth, a huge number of eggs “live” in her ovaries. However, many of them die even before they are ready for sexual activity, without waiting in the wings. Others begin to ripen one at a time each month and leave the ovary in anticipation of fertilization - this is called ovulation. As a rule, it occurs 14 days before the start of “menstruation” and lasts only 24 hours.

This process can be compared to a “mini-explosion” - a follicle bursts in one of the ovaries and an egg ready for fertilization emerges. This phenomenon can happen at any time of the ovulatory day.

It is very rare, but it happens that ovulation occurs twice in one month, with an interval of about two days. Therefore, girls who want to get pregnant need to take advantage of this “bonus”. Those who use a contraceptive method should take this fact into account when calculating the onset of “day X”.

Symptoms of ovulation

Recognize the onset time ovulatory period possible based on certain criteria:

• short-term pain appears in the lower abdomen, usually from the side of the ovary from which the egg is released;
• the amount of vaginal discharge increases, it becomes watery and has the color of egg white;
• engorgement of the mammary glands occurs;
• rises basal temperature bodies;
• sexual attraction to the opposite sex increases.

It is worth noting that all of the above symptoms are individual for each woman. Some of us may experience all the signs at once, while others may experience none.

When does ovulation occur?

Typically, ovulation occurs every 21-35 days. It starts around the same time if a woman has a regular cycle.

However, it happens that some malfunctions occur in the body, then the egg leaves the ovary a couple of days earlier or later, and these phenomena are called early and late ovulation. This happens for the following reasons:

• irregular menstrual cycle;
• hormonal disorders;
• constant stress;
• various gynecological diseases;
• postpartum recovery period;
• previous abortion;
• reaching the age of 40, when the body begins to prepare for menopause.

The ovulation process lasts only one day. We can say that it ends as soon as the egg is released. If fertilization does not occur during this time, then after two weeks the woman will begin her “critical days.”

How to calculate ovulation

Calendar method

Before you begin to focus on the results of this method, you must regularly mark the start and end dates of your menstruation for six months, and also better than the year. Then the results will be more accurate.

For example, your cycle length is 28 days. In order to find out the expected date of ovulation, you need to add 28 days to the first day of your last “menstruation”, and then count back 14 days from the received date. If the cycle lasts 30 days, then add this number accordingly.

Today there are a large number of Internet services and applications that help to automatically carry out these calculations, so you can safely use them. They indicate the ovulatory period and ovulation itself, as well as safe days.

Basal temperature chart

Using this method, you can quite accurately determine the presence of ovulation, since at this time the basal temperature increases by 0.25-0.5 degrees. Usually the average readings are 36.3-36.5 degrees, and at the time of its onset they rise to 37.1-37.3 and remain at this level until menstruation or pregnancy occurs.

It is very important to carry out all measurements correctly:

• in the morning at the same time, while sleep should be long - at least 6 hours;
• use the same mercury thermometer;
• Take temperature measurements for at least 5 minutes;
• It is forbidden to make sudden movements or get out of bed until the measurements are completed.

To obtain the most accurate results, it is necessary to schedule daily for 3-4 months. You also need to take into account many factors: illness, taking medications and alcohol, sexual intercourse that occurred the day before. All of them must be noted in your notes.

This schedule, like the calendar, can be maintained and filled out online.

Of course, a certain error in the calculations cannot be ruled out. To minimize it, you should use more accurate methods of identifying your ovulatory period. For example, folliculometry, but we’ll talk about that a little later.

Ovulation test

Another way to calculate the day of ovulation is special tests. They are similar to those performed to determine pregnancy.

Their operating principle is as follows: 24-36 hours before the follicle ruptures, luteinizing hormone appears in the urine, and test strips help detect its presence.

Diagnostic systems can be found in pharmacies different manufacturers, however, they have the same sensitivity, so choose any option that suits you.

Before using them, it is very important to consider some factors and follow certain rules:

• The reliability of the test decreases while taking any hormonal drugs both internal and external;
• the result is distorted when drinking a large amount of liquid, as the concentration decreases the right hormone in urine;
• urine collection is performed only after 4 hours of abstaining from going to the toilet;
• To obtain accurate results, it is recommended to do them every 12 hours and strictly follow the instructions. Be sure to use all 5 test strips in the package.

You need to start conducting such tests approximately 11-13 days before your next menstruation, but provided that the woman’s cycle is regular and lasts 28 days. If this figure is higher, then do the diagnosis 17 days in advance.

In a situation where the cycle is not regular, this method will not work because it will be difficult to calculate the required period for testing.

The only correct way to do this is to calculate ovulation using ultrasound.

Discharge during ovulation

You can also recognize the onset of the ovulatory period and ovulation itself by characteristic vaginal discharge.

In the first stage of the menstrual cycle, thick mucus closes the entrance to the cervix; it can be compared to a kind of “plug” that performs protective function. This is called the "dry" period. When ovulation begins, it becomes liquid and viscous and comes out as heavy discharge– “fertile” period. Then the mucus thickens again.

By appearance this discharge resembles egg white, but it happens that a woman notices slight bloody, even rather brown, “traces” on her underwear. And this is an absolutely natural phenomenon that occurs due to the rupture of the follicle when a mature egg leaves it. It can last about 48 hours.

However, you should not completely rely on this sign alone. Each organism is individual and the same processes described in books on medicine occur in completely different ways in practice.

Pain during ovulation

In some women, ovulation occurs and the reasons for this may be the following:

• contraction of the fallopian tubes intensifies, because they try to catch a mature egg in time;
• the very process of “explosion” of the follicle sometimes provokes spasms;
• the egg grows during maturation and stretches the follicle, due to this some discomfort occurs in the ovary;
• in the presence of various gynecological diseases pain syndrome increases, for example, if there are pelvic adhesions.

If significant pain symptoms occur in the middle of the cycle, it is very important to consult a doctor. He will help eliminate other reasons that may provoke them and recommend necessary treatment, for example, taking medications - no-spa, spasmalgon.

Taking this medicine will help relieve discomfort warm bath. You can add herbs to the water, either.

Also during this period it is better to exclude fatty and spicy foods, legumes, white cabbage, strong coffee and tea, as these products increase intestinal motility, which in turn aggravates pain.

Ovulation and conception

As you know, without ovulation, conceiving a child is simply impossible. But you should not confuse these concepts with each other, because these are two completely different processes.

Let's consider how everything happens inside the female body. At the moment of ovulation, the egg leaves the follicle and enters the fallopian tube, through which it moves until it reaches the body of the uterus. During this journey, which lasts only 24 hours, she must meet a sperm in order for conception to occur. If fertilization has occurred, the egg, once in the uterus, implants into its wall and pregnancy occurs. If their meeting does not occur or something does not work out, then menstruation begins, through which the egg is removed from the body.

When planning a pregnancy, it is worth considering that life cycle sperm count is 5 days. Therefore, conception can occur even if sexual intercourse took place several days before ovulation.

Most favorable period for fertilization of an egg, the day of ovulation itself is considered, as well as 5 days before it and 3-4 days after it, since there is an error in precise definition At this point, we must not forget about the probability of two ovulations in one cycle.

However modern medicine does not stand still, and therefore an accurate method has emerged for determining the days of the cycle corresponding to ovulation - this is folliculometry or ultrasound diagnostics of the ovaries. With its help, you can determine the best time to conceive.

Lack of ovulation

During the year, the female body “rests” several times, which means that the egg does not mature, but menstruation still takes place. This process It is considered absolutely normal and natural and is called anovulation.

But it happens that some kind of malfunction occurs in the body, and then we can talk about a disorder of the menstrual cycle. The reasons here may be:

• diseases associated with hormonal system disorders;
• taking certain medications;
• the first months after stopping oral medications;
• constant stress, excessive physical activity;
• low body weight in women (less than 42 kg with average height).

All these causes of “incorrect” ovulation can be easily eliminated or corrected with appropriate treatment methods. Therefore, it is very important to monitor your health and seek help from a specialist in time.

Ovulation stimulation

When a woman's numerous attempts to become pregnant remain unsuccessful, there is a need to stimulate ovulation.

You can resort to these procedures only if the couple is unable to conceive a child. naturally for a period exceeding 1 year.

Before stimulation, both partners must go through all the necessary medical examinations so as not to unreasonably endanger a woman’s health.

There are various methods stimulation: medications, vitamin therapy, folk remedies.

Hormonal medications and injections are prescribed and used only in accordance with the appropriate medical indications and under the strict supervision of a doctor and ultrasound diagnostics.

The main “female” vitamins that help the egg mature are vitamin E, iodine and folic acid.

“Natural” stimulation occurs through the use of decoctions and infusions of various herbs: sage, hog queen and red brush leaves. And the decoction of rose petals contains a large amount of vitamin E, which has beneficial influence ability to conceive a child. This method is considered the safest, provided, of course, that all these drinks are prepared in the correct proportions.