If you’re trying to get pregnant, understanding when ovulation occurs is incredibly important. The actual timing is different for every woman, with some ovulating on the same day of their cycle each month and others ovulating on different days each month. There are, however, common signs of ovulation that occur in most women, as well as secondary symptoms to look for.
Most Common Signs of Ovulation
Most women experience the following signs of ovulation each month:
- A change in basal body temperature: Most women have a consistent basal body temperature prior to ovulation, which drops slightly just before ovulation and increases sharply after ovulation occurs. You can track your basal body temperature for a few months to predict when ovulation will happen.
- Changes in cervical position and firmness: During ovulation, the cervix goes through a number of changes. This is one of the harder common signs of ovulation to notice because it requires carefully studying your own body to notice when your cervix becomes high, soft and open.
- A change in cervical fluid: If you are ovulating or approaching ovulation, you’ll find your cervical fluid begins to look like egg whites. While not all women have the same appearance to their cervical fluid, clear changes should be noticeable. The most amount of fluid also occurs on the same day as ovulation.
Secondary Signs of Ovulation
In addition to the three most common signs of ovulation, some women may also experience secondary signs, which are not as consistent. Secondary signs include a slight cramping or pain on one side of your pelvis, tenderness of the breasts, light spotting, an increased sex drive, abdominal bloating and heightened senses of vision, taste and smell. When combined with the first three symptoms of ovulation, it’s possible to track and predict your ovulation each month with good reliability.
Most Common Signs of Ovulation
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