Physical Changes Around Ovulation

There are some physical signs around ovulation time and bring aware of those can help you identify when you are about to ovulate or have ovulated:
• Just before ovulation, the vaginal discharge becomes clear and stretchy like egg-white
• Body temperature rises approximately 0.5 degrees after ovulation
• After ovulation, the vaginal discharge becomes thick and white
• Some women experience abdominal pain around the time of ovulation

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Estimating Your Fertile Time

You can estimate fertile time by
• Basal body temperature chart
• Observations of cervical mucus
• Use of ovulation kits

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Basal Body Temperature (BBT) Charting

This is the simplest method of estimating the time of ovulation. It is done by charting daily oral temperatures using a special thermometer with Centigrade. Although normal temperature is stated to be around 36.5 degrees Centigrade, slight variations from the value occur. A woman's temperature is lower during the first part of the menstrual cycle than it is during the last two weeks of the same cycle. The shift from lower to higher temperature occurs at the time of ovulation.

Important points to note when doing BBT
• Take your temperature first thing in the morning before you get out of bed or even speak
• Try to have a minimum of 5 hours sleep and at least 3 days in a row is preferable
• You should try to place the thermometer the same way each day
• Plot your temperature on your chart each day

download a template of Cervical Mucus Chart 
download a sample of BBT and Cervical Mucus chart.

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Cervical Mucus Charting

About a few days before ovulation, cervical fluid or mucus starts to flow into the vagina. Your fertile time begins when you feel a sensation of discharge from the vagina. The mucus usually starts with a day or two of sticky mucus, which becomes increasingly wet, slippery and become more fluid and like eggwhite as ovulation approaches.

The fertile mucus helps to protect the sperm from the acid secretions in the vagina, nourish and keep the sperms alive for several days and helps sperm migration.

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Combining BBT and Cervical Mucus Charting

Basal Body Temperature (BBT) and Cervical Mucus Charting are the simplest method of estimating the time of ovulation. It is done by charting daily oral temperatures using a special thermometer with Centigrade. Although normal temperature is stated to be around 36.5 degrees Centigrade, slight variations from the value occur. A woman's temperature is lower during the first part of the menstrual cycle than it is during the last two weeks of the same cycle. The shift from lower to higher temperature occurs at the time of ovulation. Use this sample as a guide.

The best way to detect ovulation is to combine a daily reading of your body temperature with monitoring the texture of your cervical mucus.

Steps:
1. Keep track of your temperature on the first day of your menstruation / period.
2. Take your temperature, and plot it on the chart.
3. Check your cervical mucus. Using your fingers, note its texture.
4. Temperature will shift from lower to higher during ovulation. The mucus should also look and feel like raw egg white at around the same time.
5. When the two coincide, it is baby-making time.

Do note that individuals differ and every woman's cycle is different. Charting your cycle for a couple of months can provide an estimation of your pattern and also enable you to predict your more fertile days and hence enhance your chances of conception.

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Using Ovulation Kit

When you are about to ovulate, your body produces a large quantity of hormone called LH, which triggers the release of a ripened egg from your ovary.

The phenomenon tells you that ovulation is likely to occur in the next 24-46 hours. Ovulation kit tests the hormone in your urine, which can help you determine when you ovulate. Ovulation kit is available at most pharmacies.

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