How to you find out when Ovulation can be a bit tricky to keep track of. In this article, we'll take you through everything you need to know to find out when you're ovulating!

What is ovulation?

It is only during ovulation, which usually occurs around 12-16 days before your period, that you can get pregnant. But what actually happens in the body and how does it work? 

Ovulation plays a key role in your journey to the plus side of the stick. During ovulation, one (or in some cases several!) eggs are released from your ovary and enter the fallopian tube. Once there, the egg can be fertilized by sperm for the next 24 hours. So it is during these 24 hours that you are most fertile. However, it should not be forgotten that sperm can survive for up to 5 days, and that it can therefore be good to, in addition to when you ovulate, also try to schedule intercourse a few days before and after ovulation.

Read more about ovulation here.

Common symptoms of ovulation

1. Elevated body temperature: Many people experience a slight increase in their body temperature just after ovulation. This is due to hormonal changes and can be measured with, for example, a basal thermometer or ovulation thermometer.
2. The consistency of the flows changes: During ovulation, the discharge usually becomes clearer in color, more stretchy and often resembles raw egg white in consistency. The change in consistency gives the sperm a little extra help on their journey through the cervix towards their final destination: the egg!
3. Increased sexual desire: Some people notice an increase in sexual desire during the ovulation period, which is a natural reaction to the body's fertility cycle. During ovulation, levels of oestrogen, the hormone that stimulates sex drive, increase.
4. Soreness or pain in the lower abdomen: Some women may experience mild to moderate pain or tenderness on one side of the abdomen, depending on which ovary releases the egg. This is sometimes referred to as mittelschmerz.
5. Positive ovulation test: Ovulation tests, which measure the level of the hormone LH (luteinizing hormone) in the urine, can help find out when you are ovulating. An increase in LH levels is usually a signal from the body that ovulation is near.

How do I know if I am ovulating?

To find out when you ovulate and optimize your chances of getting pregnant, you can use ovulation calendars or ovulation calculators. 

How does an ovulation calculator work, you may ask? We'll help you find out, of course. The ovulation calculator's calculation is based on information about your menstrual cycle, both the start date of your last period and the length of your menstrual cycle. 

A menstrual cycle usually lasts between 28 and 32 days, with ovulation usually occurring around the middle of the cycle, around day 14 (counting from the first day of the last menstrual period). However, this can vary from person to person.

Try our ovulation calculator here

What is an irregular menstrual cycle?

Sometimes the menstrual cycle is irregular, meaning that it can be 25 days one month and 35 the next. For those trying to get pregnant, it can be difficult to know exactly when ovulation occurs and when it is most optimal to have sexual intercourse. What you can do in this case, to be extra sure, is to take an ovulation test. You can find these at the pharmacy.