Common Signs Of Ovulation

Careful planning to conceive a child includes knowing when you ovulate. The reason for this is simple; knowing when ovulation occurs allows you to plan intercourse during the time when you are most likely to get pregnant. Studies have shown that intercourse during the right window of opportunity greatly increases your chances of becoming pregnant. In fact, intercourse at the wrong time is said to be the primary cause of failing to get pregnant. There are many signs that indicate ovulation. There are also many ways that you can test for changes that occur in the body before and during ovulation.

Ovulation is simply one part of the monthly cycle all women go through during their child-bearing years. At some point around the middle of the cycle, a matured egg is released from the ovary into the fallopian tube. This process is triggered by a hormone called luteinizing hormone, which is released in greatest amounts 13-36 hours before you ovulate.

Lutenizing hormone levels can be monitored with a home ovulation kit. They are pretty easy to use: you simply pee on a stick, which then gives you a visual reading of whether or not you're ovulating soon. I've heard very good reports about the Clearblue Easy Fertility Monitor. Although it's a little expensive, it can save you thousands of dollars, as you can get pregnant naturally without having to resort to drugs or surgery.

There are other ways to test for the chemical signs of ovulation. As estrogen levels rise prior to the increase in LH, there is an increase in the amount of sodium chloride (salt) in the saliva and the cervical mucus. This salt content causes the mucus to crystallize when dried, resembling a fern pattern. There are home tests that can help you examine your saliva for the signs of increased salt, using a pocket sized microscope. An online review for the Fertile Focus states that the kit can be reused indefinitely, is discreet, and is also inexpensive. This system is said to give you 1-3 days of warning before you ovulate, providing you take samples before you eat or drink in the morning.

Examining the variations in your cervical mucus also gives you an indication of when you ovulate. In your most fertile time of the month, your secretions will transform from a dense, creamy liquid to something clear and almost liquid-like. Some women experience pain during ovulation, which can help to increase the accuracy of your prediction.

Predicting your most fertile time of month, by checking your cervical mucus and looking at fluctuations in your hormone levels is more suitable if you do not have irregular periods. If there is a problem with your menstrual cycle - and this can include irregularities, excessively heavy periods, light periods, or no periods at all, then you need to take action to regulate your cycle. One recommendation I make that has proven very successful is to balance the hormones with herbal cleansing and herbs that increase the fertility such as Fertil Plus.

To sum things up, check the changes in your hormone levels and cervical mucus, to work out your most fertile time of the month. If your hormones are out of balance because of a reproductive disorder, then try balancing your hormones with a body cleanse and a herbal remedy like the one I mentioned earlier. Doing these two steps will help you to ovulate like clockwork, and will increase the effectiveness of any efforts you make in identifying the signs of ovulation, and having the healthy, happy baby you deserve.