Ovulation: Pinpointing the day you ovulate

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Ovulation: Pinpointing the day you ovulate

You can most accurately pinpoint your ovulation day by monitoring your cervical mucus, your basal body temperature (BBT), and your luteinizing hormone (LH) changes with an ovulation test.¹

• During the 5 to 6 days before and on the day of ovulation, the cervix produces a type of mucus that is stretchy, slippery, thin, and clear. This quickly changes on the day after ovulation.¹
• About 24 hours before you ovulate, your luteinizing hormone (LH) level rises. You can confirm that ovulation is approaching by testing your urine for high LH with a home ovulation predictor kit. Note that an LH surge can happen as close as 16 hours or as far as 48 hours before ovulation.¹
• Just before an egg is released (ovulation), your basal body temperature (BBT) decreases slightly; it then increases sharply 24 hours after ovulation. After 2 to 3 months of carefully measuring and recording your BBT every morning before getting out of bed, you may be able to identify a pattern that helps estimate when you are ovulating.

If you have unusually long or short menstrual cycles of less than 21 days or more than 42 days, monitoring your cervical mucus is your best bet for identifying your ovulation day; an ovarian monitor LH test won't work well for you.

References

Citations

1. Stanford JB, et al. (2002). Timing intercourse to achieve pregnancy: Current evidence. Obstetrics and Gynecology, 100(6): 1333–1341.

Credits

Last updated:	June 19, 2008
Author:	Sandy Jocoy, RN
Reviewed By:	Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine, Deborah A. Penava, BA, MD, FRCSC, MPH - Obstetrics and Gynecology
Editors:	Kathleen M. Ariss, MS, Pat Truman, MATC