Understanding ovulation is a big part of taking control of your reproductive health, especially if you’re interested in getting pregnant, but many people are unfamiliar with the signs of ovulation.
“As women, as we get a little bit older, we are more aware of our bodies,” Dr. Chavone Momon-Nelson, an OB-GYN in Pennsylvania, tells TODAY.com. “You don’t always have to have symptoms (of ovulation), and sometimes symptoms might be very mild. But then there are some people who are very aware that those symptoms that they are having are occurring when they’re ovulating.”
What is ovulation?
Ovulation is the point in your menstrual cycle where your body releases an egg, which may then become fertilized, leading to pregnancy. It normally occurs about halfway through your menstrual cycle. Eggs are normally released one at a time during each cycle. During ovulation, the egg leaves the ovary, moves through the fallopian tube and heads toward the sperm, if there is any.
When do you ovulate?
A menstrual cycle ranges from 25 to 35 days depending on the person. About halfway through the cycle, ovulation occurs — so at day 14 for the average 28-day cycle — and it lasts for three days. People are most fertile prior to ovulation.
What are the signs of ovulation?
People who are not attuned with their body might miss some symptoms of ovulation because “they are subtle changes,” Dr. Christine Greves, an OB-GYN in Florida, tells TODAY.com.
Both doctors agree that if you’re ready to start a families, you should speak to a doctor to learn more about ovulation and fertility.
Still, the experts say there are some common signs of ovulation.
1. Cramping
Some people might experience pain that can feel like menstrual cramps about two weeks after their period, when ovulation begins.
This pain with ovulation is short-lived and often occurs on one side of the body.
“There can be discomfort from whichever side you released the egg, and there can be pain,” Greves explains….
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