Cervical Mucus and Other Signs of Ovulation

You can calculate when you ovulate by the changes in your cervical mucus during ovulation. This article will go in depth on how to determine your ovulation period through cervical mucus, as well as other techniques that you can use in order to determine your ovulation date.

Ovulation is a process during your monthly cycle where an egg is released by a mature ovarian follicle in order to reproduce. If the egg is not fertilized during ovulation, a new cycle will occur and the egg will be flushed out of the uterus along with the uterine lining.

Many women that are trying to conceive try to distinguish when their ovulation cycle is happening, since this short window of opportunity is when a woman can get pregnant.

Cervical Mucus During Ovulation

Cervical mucus changes when ovulation is getting close, and is primarily due to hormonal shifts that women experience. Cervical mucus is a protective substance that prevents bacteria from entering the uterine cavity in order to prevent infection. While estrogen increases before ovulation, the cervical mucus becomes watery, clear, and stretchy.

You may complete a cervical mucus ovulation test on yourself, since all you need to do is examine your cervical mucus. You need to examine your cervical mucus on a daily basis, and toilet paper works best in order to determine color and consistency.

During most of the month, you should experience a dryness and lack of fluid, since hormonal changes are not common throughout the entire month. When your body starts to prepare itself for ovulation, you will notice sticky mucus that will be slightly opaque in color.

When your cervical mucus starts to thin out and become clear, you can be certain that your body will be ovulating soon. It only takes a few minutes to complete a cervical mucus ovulation self-test, and it is best to keep track of your results on a calendar or in an ovulation notebook.
Calculate Ovulation With Saliva

Besides cervical mucus, there is another way to calculate ovulation. It is with saliva, and by using an Ovulation Saliva Test. Because women experience changed in their hormones depending on the time of the month, your saliva actually goes through changes as well.

Just before ovulation occurs, levels of estrogen increase and actually change the appearance of your saliva. This pattern is known as ferning, and when the saliva dries it looks similar to frost on a windowpane.

There is Ovulation Saliva test kits available to help women to calculate when their most fertile period will be, and all you have to do is take a good look at your saliva.

Ovulation Cramps

Some women may also calculate when they are about to ovulate just by knowing their own body. Ovulation cramps occur in many women who are in the ovulation process, but it is a common and harmless condition.

Right as ovulation occurs, the developing follicle stretches the ovary, which then releases the egg along with a small amount of fluid into the abdomen. The egg travels through the fallopian tube, but the fluid is still left in the abdomen.

The remaining fluid causes ovulation cramps, because it can sometimes irritate the lining of the pelvis. The stretching of the ovary can also cause some ovulation cramps, similar to those you might experience while you menstruate.

Ovulation Spotting

Spotting is another sign that signals ovulation is near, since spotting commonly occurs when the egg is released into the abdomen. If you experience some spotting about two weeks before your normal cycle, you are most likely having ovulation spotting. The blood makes its way through the uterus and is discharged. Ovulation spotting is actually considered a great fertility sign. Some ovulation spotting may also occur when estrogen levels increase, which is also another sign that ovulation is just around the corner.

Besides cervical mucus, there are many different ways to determine when you are ovulating. Some of them you can do on yourself without spending any money. It is very simple and inexpensive to calculate ovulation, which makes it possible to plan when you will get pregnant.