Signs and Symptoms of OvulationOvulation is a process that occurs midway (between twelve and fourteen days) into the menstrual cycle. Ovulation happens when the body releases at least one egg from the ovary. You are most fertile one day before ovulation begins until three days after ovulation has ended. There are many signs to indicate you are ovulating. Physical symptoms of ovulation are breast tenderness, cramping of the abdomen, increased vaginal discharge and changes in cervical firmness and positioning. Another way to determine if you are ovulating is to measure your basal body temperature. When ovulating, almost all women have a noticeable (though slight) body temperature increase. To determine if you are ovulating based on the basal body temperature, you should take your temperature orally as soon as you wake up each day and record the results on a basal body temperature chart. Mid-cycle, an increase in body temperature indicates ovulation. When using this method, it is important to keep factors such as illness, insomnia and physical exertion under consideration as they too affect the body's temperature. Another method to test for ovulation is to monitor your vaginal secretions. The body produces several kinds of secretions and knowing what kind you are experiencing will help you determine if you are ovulating. A few days before ovulation, the body produces more secretions than normal. These secretions are very slippery and have a liquid-like consistency. These secretions are produced the most the day ovulation occurs, and after this the secretions become thicker and are produced less. Related articles |