There are several ways to know when you are ovulating. Some require medical assistance at a health center that performs the tests, but some can be performed at home.
How do I know when I am ovulating? Each woman will choose the system that best suits her individual needs, based on her own schedule, lifestyle and budget. Knowing when you ovulate can help you avoid getting pregnant as well as avoid pregnancy, and there are several ways to calculate your fertility.
Ovulation is the process that occurs when a mature egg is released from the ovary. The egg can then enter the fallopian tube and be fertilized. Separation of these eggs is natural and occurs thanks to the function of hormones during each menstrual cycle.
During ovulation, pregnancy is possible only if the egg comes into contact with the fertilizing sperm.
How to Check Ovulation
There are multiple ways of knowing when a woman is ovulating. Some require medical assistance at a health center that performs the tests, while others can be performed at home.
Temperature
During ovulation, the body produces a hormone called progesterone. This hormone affects the brain, especially the center that regulates body temperature.
During ovulation, body temperature can rise between 0.5 and 1 degree Celsius. To measure body temperature you will need:
- Thermometer: Use the same thermometer while using this method.
- Paper and pencil to record body temperature
Before getting out of bed, you should take your body temperature every day when you wake up . Any movement can raise your body temperature, so it’s a good idea to measure your body temperature before performing any activity. Then it should be recorded.
This method of knowing if you are ovulating requires training to be effective. First, do not skip daily body temperature measurements to get a decent average. When the body temperature rises, it is the period of ovulation.
If a couple wants to conceive, it is best to start having sex two days before the body temperature rises. The reason is to ensure that the body has produced ideal levels of progesterone for fertilization.
- Pros: It is inexpensive and can be done at home.
- Cons: Taking body temperature every day can be tedious and sometimes fail to record.
Ovulation test
Ovulation tests are available at drugstores. It is similar to a pregnancy test. This test works by detecting luteinizing hormone (LH) in your urine. If the test result is positive, the woman is ovulating. This test can predict ovulation up to about 36 hours before your fertile day.
We recommend that you follow the instructions provided with the test. To avoid false positives in the urine test, it should be tested on the second day of ovulation because LH is concentrated at night.
- Pros: Very easy to test. And it’s safer than taking your body temperature.
- Cons: There are no arguments against ovulation testing. If there is no positive test for a month, more comprehensive measurements of other hormones such as estradiol, prolactin, thyroid hormone, and male hormone should be performed.
Examinations Performed by Obstetrics and Gynecology
Ultrasonic Wave
A transvaginal ultrasound is performed in the obstetrician’s office. This ultrasound is used to evaluate the growth of the hair follicles that will ovulate during ovulation.
- Pros: It is a reliable scientific procedure.
- Cons: Expensive and requires professional visits.
Biopsy
A piece of tissue covering the Endometrium is removed and the hormones within that tissue are analyzed.
- Pros: Provides accurate results.
- Cons: Can be painful and annoying.
