SIGNS OF OVULATION YOU MUST KNOW!

How can I tell when I am ovulating? This happens to be the question in the mind of every lady today, when the gist about ovulation sets in. Welcome to another episode of Health Tuesday. Let's Ride!

Let me quickly remind you that every female in their reproductive age ovulates, and it is an essential tool for conception(I mean to get pregnant). Oh Yes, it is!

If you are not ovulating at the moment as a female, it's either you've not gotten to your Reproductive Stage, or you've crossed over into Menopause. Research have it that beginning from age 10 young girls can ovulate and in case you don't know, once you begin to ovulate there is a high chance of getting pregnant. Which means a girl of 10 can get pregnant so long she is ovulating. So mothers let's put caring eyes upon our girl child.

Ovulation isn't a bad thing and it goes with some signs that are not bad too. I hear lot of ladies asking "How then do I know when I am ovulating? Although I see my period, what's the sign that I am ovulating?" A lot of ladies doubt the fact that they ovulate, while others confuse ovulation signs for premenstrual signs and even some say ovulation discharge is a sign of infection. Well, this confusion and doubt will be clarified right here. Just hold onto you eyes as we learn.

Ovulation timing differs in every woman, but there are several common ovulation signs you may sense. The whole reason you experience ovulation signs is due to hormonal shifts that affect the entire body, prompting ovulation symptoms. If you can learn to recognize the common signs of ovulation listed below, it could help you predict when ovulation is likely to occur.

SIGNS OF OVULATION:

1). CERVICAL MUCUS CHANGES: This is one of the common signs of ovulation. The cervical mucus is similar to the egg white. It's a stretchy clear discharge that doesn't smell, it is sticky when you touch it, and not very thick. So as you near ovulation, your body produces more of the hormone called estrogen, that causes the cervical mucus which helps the sperm to swim to the egg that is released during ovulation.

The amount of cervical mucus and what it looks and feels like varies in every woman.

2). BREAST SORENESS OR TENDERNESS: Some women will experience this tenderness just before ovulation, while others may feel it right after ovulation occurs. You would notice that your breast feels heavy at this stage and painful at the nipple and this is due to the rush of hormones entering your body right before and after ovulation.

3). HEIGHTENED SENSES: This sign is not experienced by all women. Your sense of smell increases in the latter half of your menstrual cycle and can be a sign of ovulation. Some women also report a heightened sense of taste. Craving for different food, some may even mistake this for pregnancy. 

4). LIGHT SPOTTING: Brown discharge or spotting during ovulation is normal, if not that common. As blood gets older, it turns brown, which is why the ovulation discharge may range from red to dark brown. This is not a cause for concern unless the spotting persists, and in such a case you should see a physician to check for signs of infection and the possibility of an ectopic pregnancy if you’ve been sexually active. However, not every lady get this sign.

5). LIBIDO CHANGES: At a certain time in the month some women notice that their sex drive increases. This is another common sign of ovulation lot of ladies experience.

6). MILD PELVIC OR LOWER ABDOMINAL PAIN: You would notice some mild pain in the lower abdomen, usually on one side. This is what is called ovulation pain

Ovulation pain can feel like a sharp or dull cramp on the side of your abdomen where the ovary is releasing the egg. This ovulation side effect can last anywhere between a few minutes and a few hours. Some women say this pain is worse than a menstrual cramps for them but there's no need to worry about that, because it can stop with a few pain killers. But if ovulation pain is persistent or severe, see a doctor to rule out conditions such as endometriosis or an ovarian cyst.

7). NAUSEA AND HEADACHE: Nausea and headaches are two possible ovulation side effects due to the change in your estrogen and progesterone levels.

8). CHANGES IN YOUR BASAL BODY TEMPERATURE: As you approach Ovulation your basal body temperature will rise during and it will stay elevated during that time. Ordinarily, people around you may think you are sick because of the intense body temperature.

9). CHANGES IN THE CERVIX: So during ovulation, your cervix may become higher, softer and more open. You can check your cervix, along with your mucus for ovulation symptoms, but it can take time to learn the differences you’re feeling, and is often difficult than watching for the other signs of ovulation mentioned above. If you’d like to try, and get more comfortable checking for cervical changes as a sign of ovulation, use your finger to feel inside. In women with a regular menstrual cycle, right before ovulation the cervix will be softer, like touching your lips, but after ovulation it will feel harder, more like touching the tip of your nose. You can meet with your Obstetrician, who will help check for cervical changes using a speculum and help give you more guidance on how to do it at home.

IN CONCLUSION: When you know the signs of ovulation, you can be better prepared regardless of whether or not you’re trying to conceive. The more you stay with your body, the better you’ll be able to predict when ovulation will occur. 

It is very important you get to monitor and record your ovulation signs every month to get a sense of what is normal for your body and so you can easily spot any abnormal ovulation signs and symptoms.

Thank you for taking time to learn about your health, until next Tuesday, stay healthy.

Sincerely yours

F.N.F