What is ovulation?

The average woman ovulates midway through her menstrual cycle (usually around day fourteen), but it can actually occur at any time during the cycle.  Women who struggle to get pregnant might chart their ovulation, as there are signs as to when it occurs.  One of the signs is the woman’s basal temperature, which is taken first thing in the morning, before she even gets out of bed.  When that temperature is at its lowest, this is when she’s ovulating.  Obviously, a woman would need to track this for a while before she might find a pattern.  Some women have irregular ovulation, which means there is no pattern.  Getting pregnant under those circumstances is challenging.

Other signs of ovulation can include breast tenderness, moodiness, and increased vaginal mucus (which is stringy and clear during ovulation, similar to an egg white).  For those attempting pregnancy, there is a four-day window during which the egg can be reached by the sperm – the two days before ovulation, the day of, and the day after.  Some believe that if you want a better chance for a son, you aim for the day of ovulation (or the day after) for fertilization; for a girl, it’s the two days before ovulation.  There are numerous kits out these days which are supposed to help women predict their ovulation to increase their chances for pregnancy.