A guide to tracking ovulation

Are you planning for a pregnancy? Do you want to make sure that everything is in order before you start trying to conceive? Preconception care is incredibly important and understanding your cycle’s ovulation patterns can be a great place to start. Learn more about the signs of ovulation and how you can track it with this guide. 

Recognising When You're Ovulating 

There are a few key signs that can help you recognise when you have ovulated. Firstly, your cervical mucus should be clear and stretchy between your fingers like egg whites. Additionally, some women experience mild pain or pulsing sensation on either the left or right side of their pelvic region when they ovulate. Note that if the pain is uncomfortable or excessive, this may need to be investigated further, so it's best to check in with your doctor or healthcare professional if this is the case for you. Additionally, tracking your body temperature can also serve as an indicator of ovulation - as your body temperature drops right before egg release. Other potential indicators include LH test strips or urine ovulation test sticks, increased sex drive, and feeling more energetic, confident and switched on around this time.  

Tracking Your Cycle 

In addition to recognising the signs of ovulation, tracking your cycle on a regular basis will help give you an idea of when and how often you are ovulating. Keeping track of your cycle allows you to better plan for conception by knowing when to try for pregnancy each month. You can use an app like Flo or natural cycles to map your symptoms and track your period and ovulation. One important thing to note is that these apps are often based on a 28 day cycle where they predict ovulation occurs on day 14 however, we know this is not the case for many. So take the advice from the apps with a grain of salt and use the information of how long your cycles are and your ovulation symptoms to best pinpoint ovulation. Some apps are also great like natural cycles as they can help track your basal body temperature and better predict ovulation. In addition to these apps, there are other methods such as charting on paper or using digital tools such as Fertility Friend which also provides similar data insights over time.                 

Preconception care is essential for any couple trying for a baby and understanding what's going on inside your body is the first step towards successful conception. Knowing the signs that indicate when you have ovulated can help both partners plan around fertile times each month so they maximise their chances at conception. Honestly, you would be so surprised how many people don't know about ovulation and the symptoms. By tracking your cycle closely it can provide couples with access to valuable data insights which will help them better understand their individual fertility window and make informed decisions when trying for a baby. 

If you are still struggling with fertility and your hormones, why not book a discovery call with me and we can see if there are any other underlying issues that may be at play?