Getting to know your ovulation cycle
This blog post is written with information shared in our free Fertility Masterclass on YouTube hosted by Fertility Nurse Consultant Kate Davies
If you’re trying to conceive and you want to understand your fertility health, then an important place to start is with your cycle and a deeper understanding of your ovulation. This will help you get to know your body better and understand when the best time in your cycle is to try for a baby.
What does a “normal” menstrual cycle look like?
A normal menstrual cycle can be anywhere between 25-35 days. It’s common for this cycle to move around a bit and change from month to month. If it does, this doesn’t mean you have an irregular cycle; you can still be regular within those 25-35 days. Also, different lengths in periods is normal. Some women and people who menstruate may have three day periods and some may have seven day periods.
What happens when I ovulate?
Ovulation occurs as a result of hormonal changes. From the start of your cycle, oestrogen starts to rise, and this helps to promote the development of a follicle in an egg ready for ovulation. At the time of ovulation, you will have some other hormones that come into play as well, especially follicle stimulating hormones which help you to release an egg. After this, your oestrogen levels start to decline and the now important hormone, progesterone, starts to increase.
Progesterone is so important because it supports the fertilised egg to implant into the lining of the womb - aka an “implanting pregnancy”. Progesterone is the hormone responsible for us feeling fragile when we have our period (our PMT hormone) but, unfortunately, it is a very vital hormone.
When will I ovulate?
One of the most empowering things you can do to understand your fertility is to know how to keep an eye on your fertility indicators to know when you are ovulating. You will normally ovulate around 10-16 days before your next period, rather than 14 days after your period (which many people believe to be the case). This is only true if you have a 28 day cycle, and even then, this can move around.
One thing that is consistent in your period is the gap between ovulation and your next period. This will always be between 10-16 days (unless you have an irregular cycle), but the time between the first day of your period up to ovulation is very moveable. This is called your follicular phase, and can be impacted by many things - stress, illness, travelling, getting out of your routine - and any of these things can change your follicular phase length.
Why is it important to track ovulation?
It’s important to know when you’re ovulating because there is a limited time that we are actually fertile during our cycle. The egg in the cycle only actually lasts for 12-24 hours. With this in mind, you might be thinking how on earth does anyone get pregnant? But did you know sperm can live inside the vagina for an average of five to seven days?! This means you end up with a longer fertility window, from five days before your first day of ovulation to the second day, meaning your fertility window can increase up to 6 days. Mind-blowing, really.
How can PCOS impact ovulation?
For those with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), this can lead to longer cycles and irregular cycles. This means that some people with PCOS will only ovulate a few times a year due to a very long cycle. This is due to a hormone imbalance. Normally with polycystic ovaries, testosterone is raised which creates problems with oestrogen and progesterone. Quite often, people with PCOS will have cysts on their ovaries, which make it harder for the follicle to mature and ovulate. This can contribute to an irregular cycle.
The main thing to be aware of when trying to conceive with PCOS, is to know when you’re ovulating. This can be hard, but if you can do this, you’ve done the hardest part. Ovulation induction medications can really help with this. These medications can help people with PCOS who are trying to conceive to find out when they’re ovulating. However, if you have been trying to conceive for a long time with no success you may be offered IVF treatment.
What are my fertility indicators?
Once you’ve got to know your cycle, the next step is to understand your fertility indicators. These are signs which indicate that you are in your fertility window. Think of it like your body’s secret ‘fertility language’, speaking to you and letting you know when things are happening!
There are three indicators to look out for:
Temperature - after you ovulate, progesterone gives you a rise in temperature as it rises itself. If you check your temperature everyday, this may show you when you have ovulated.
Cervical mucus - everyone with a menstrual cycle will have some amount of cervical mucus built up by the vaginal walls and cervix. This helps to carry the sperm to the egg. So, when your cycle begins and you’re bleeding you probably won't notice your mucus, but as your oestrogen rises, more mucus will be produced and at the time of fertility your mucus will be clear and almost like ‘egg whites’. Keep an eye on your cervical mucus and look for the mucus that secretes when you’re ovulating as this will indicate you are either ovulating or about to ovulate.
Position of your cervix - this one can definitely be tricky to track, but if you’re struggling with the other two, this could be an option for you. At the start of your cycle when you are not fertile, your cervix is quite low, easy to feel, and feels like the end of your nose. As you become fertile, your cervix rises up and becomes harder to find, and feels a bit like your earlobe - softer. You may also feel a little dimple in the centre of your cervix, which is the cervix starting to open, ready for the fertile time in your cycle.
The key to trying to conceive is:
Knowing your cycle
Knowing when you’re ovulating
Knowing when your fertility windows are
….All of this might be easier said than done, but if you know your fertility indicators and try and track your cycle, you’re getting started on that conception journey already.
