Recognizing the signs of ovulation — the release of a mature egg from one of the ovaries, which happens every month — is key when you’re trying to get pregnant. That’s because you can only conceive around the time of ovulation — a small window each month (between 12 and 24 hours) when an egg is viable.
Doesn’t sound like much of an opening? Consider, then, that sperm can live for three to five days in the uterus, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists Opens a new window(ACOG). Even if you have sex a few days before ovulation, some sperm may still be around to greet the egg when it emerges.
So what ovulation symptoms should you look for to time it just right? Here are the signs of ovulation to look for when you’re trying to conceive.
Signs of ovulation
Here are the most common ovulation symptoms to watch for. While some women may experience symptoms of ovulation, others do not. You can ovulate without experiencing any symptoms![1]
1. Slight increase in body temperature
During ovulation, your basal body temperature (BBT) rises slightly. You’re most fertile in the two days before your BBT increases. Charting your BBT using a special thermometer for a few months may help you better pinpoint your most fertile days.
That said, BBT is not an ideal method to time when you’re most fertile, says What to Expect Medical Review Board Member Aaron K. Styer, M.D., a board-certified reproductive endocrinologist and a founding partner and co-medical director of Colorado Center for Reproductive Medicine (CCRM) Boston Opens a new window, in Newton, Massachusetts. “Once BBT increases, you may have already ovulated one day prior,” he explains.
2. Changes in cervical mucus
Cervical mucus becomes clearer and thinner with a slippery consistency similar to that of egg whites. You might notice the change in consistency in your undies.
