How about ovulation. Ultrasound definition of ovulation

Knowing the signs of the approach and onset of ovulation, a woman can predict which days will be favorable for the desired conception or, conversely, find out when she needs to be especially careful to protect herself. There are several such symptoms. Among them there are more accurate, taking into account changes in physiological parameters in the body. There are also those that are based on the study of everyday experience, they allow you to know about the onset of ovulation only approximately. But it is useful for every woman to get acquainted with them. This will help to find out how well her reproductive system is functioning.

Content:

What is ovulation

From the first day of menstruation, a woman begins another menstrual cycle. Depending on the physiological characteristics of the organism (hereditary or acquired after birth), its duration is individual. Some women have a short cycle (21-23 days), while others have a long one (may be 35 days or even more). The end of the cycle is considered the last day before the next menstruation. If menstruation comes approximately in an equal number of days, then they say that the woman has a regular menstrual cycle, and if the number of days between periods is not constant, then it is irregular.

Ovulation is the moment when a mature egg leaves the follicle - the capsule that surrounds it and is located in the ovary. Here, even before birth, an individual supply of eggs is formed, which throughout the life of a woman can mature during the cycle. In the first (follicular) phase, the so-called dominant follicle with an egg is formed.

If there are no deviations in the work of the reproductive system, then ovulation occurs, after which the second (luteal) phase begins. During this period, a mature egg moves into the fallopian tube, where sperm enter during intercourse. In this case, fertilization and the onset of pregnancy are possible.

If conception does not occur, the egg dies after about 12-24 hours and is removed from the uterus along with the functional layer of the endometrium. There is another menstrual bleeding.

Calendar determination method

The time of release of the egg from the follicle can only be determined approximately, since it depends on the duration of the entire cycle and many other factors (the functioning of the reproductive organs, changes in hormonal levels, general health).

The normal duration of the luteal phase is approximately 14 days. This means that the duration of the follicular phase is equal to the difference between the total length of the cycle and the number 14. Therefore, theoretically, the day of the onset of ovulation is:

7 - with a 21-day cycle;
11 - at 25 days;
14 - at 28 days;
21 - at 35 days.

This method of calculation is called calendar. By regularly marking the start and end of periods on the calendar, a completely healthy woman with a regular menstrual cycle can predict which days of the month she is most likely to conceive. Considering that cycles are quite often irregular, and not every woman can boast of ideal health, deviations in terms can be significant. In addition, anovulatory cycles may occur, when conception cannot occur at all. At the same time, a woman planning a pregnancy will in vain hope for her onset. Therefore, it is impossible to call such a method for determining the onset of ovulation effective.

Video: By what signs can you find out about the approach of ovulation

Signs of approaching ovulation

There are several signs by which you can more or less accurately know how soon the egg will be released. They can be divided into home and medical.

First manifestations

The nature of the vaginal discharge. During the cycle, it changes repeatedly, since the work of the glands that produce mucus is directly related to fluctuations in the ratio of hormones in the body. You may notice that immediately after menstruation, the discharge is almost absent (they are so thick that they form a plug in the cervix). By the time of ovulation, they become plentiful, stretching, reminiscent of egg white in color and appearance.

After it passes, the amount of mucus decreases. If there are no changes in its consistency, this indicates that there was no ovulation.

It is not always easy to notice such a sign, since the presence of infectious diseases, the use of lubricant during sexual intercourse, and the sexual excitability of a woman affect the state of mucus.

ovulatory bleeding. The fact that ovulation has occurred can be judged by slight spotting on a certain day of the cycle. They appear in the form of daubs and quickly disappear. If the "bleeding" is prolonged and accompanied by other symptoms of a cycle disorder, this indicates diseases of the genital organs.

Changes in the state of the mammary glands. Before ovulation occurs, the breasts usually feel swollen and sore, and the nipples become more sensitive. This condition can persist until the onset of menstruation, so it is almost impossible to determine the end of ovulation.

Pain in the lower abdomen. At the moment of rupture of the follicle membrane and the release of the egg from it, especially sensitive women feel a slight stabbing pain in the groin. It is characteristic that short-term pain sensations appear from the side of the ovary where the dominant follicle grows.

Increasing sexuality. The body instinctively reacts to the hormonal shift that occurs at the moment of completion of the maturation of the egg and the appearance of the maximum possibility of its fertilization.

Crystallization of saliva (effect of arborization). An increase in estrogen levels in the first half of the cycle leads to an increase in the salt content in saliva. This can be noticed already a few days before the onset of ovulation. If saliva is applied to glass, then under a microscope it is noticeable that crystallization occurs in it, and a pattern appears in the form of fern leaves. After the completion of the ovulatory process, the density of saliva decreases.

Addition: If a woman pays attention to her feelings at different periods of the cycle for several months, she may notice that, due to the approach of ovulation, her sensitivity to smells increases. Some feel bloated.

All these signs are not accurate enough, since subjective sensations can be erroneous.

Change in the condition of the cervix. By the time of ovulation, the cervix becomes softer, it increases the production of cervical mucus. In addition, the position of the neck changes, it shifts higher. This creates conditions for the penetration of spermatozoa into the uterus. Some women are able to recognize the ongoing changes in the state of the cervix to the touch.

The gynecologist, upon examination, detects them by the appearance of the “pupil effect”. About a week before ovulation, the diameter of the cervical canal begins to increase, so the exit hole becomes like a pupil.

Home ways to track ovulation

There are ways by which you can more reliably at home make sure that ovulation is approaching.

Building a graph of basal temperature. A sign indicating the approach and onset of ovulation is an increase in basal temperature. It is usually measured rectally. This eliminates the influence of external factors on body temperature. To build a graph, it is measured every day at the same time throughout the cycle. Before ovulation, the temperature is approximately 0.4°-0.6° higher than at the beginning of the cycle. After reaching a peak at the time of ovulation, it begins to decline.

If fertilization has occurred, there is no decrease in temperature.

To obtain a more accurate result, temperature measurements must be carried out for several months. You should stop taking alcohol. Measurements are not taken during illness.

Use of tests. The principle of operation of pharmacy tests for ovulation is based on the fact that before it occurs in the urine of a woman, the concentration of pituitary luteinizing hormone (LH), which regulates the course of the 2nd phase of the cycle, sharply increases. A sign of approaching ovulation is a change in the color intensity of the strips impregnated with a substance that reacts to LH. The first strip is the control. If the second strip is weakly colored, it means that 1-1.5 days are left before ovulation. Intense staining indicates that ovulation will occur in the coming hours.

Testing is carried out over several days, so as not to miss the moment of interest. In order to find out from which day of the cycle it is necessary to start checking, it is necessary to subtract 17 from the cycle duration (14 + 3 = 17, where 14 is the duration of the 2nd phase of the cycle, and 3 is a possible error). Thus, it is determined that it is necessary to start measurements, for example, on day 7 if the cycle lasts 24 days or on day 11 if the cycle lasts 28 days.

medical methods

They are the most accurate. This includes a blood test for LH hormone performed in the laboratory, as well as a transvaginal ultrasound.

With the help of a sensor, the development of follicles in the ovary is monitored. Size measurements begin approximately on day 6-7 of the cycle and are carried out every 2-3 days.

Video: How to determine if ovulation is occurring. Tests

Signs of the end of ovulation

Knowing on which day ovulation ended, it can be assumed that after 2 days the probability of pregnancy will decrease significantly.

Warning: It is impossible to consider the following days as completely “safe”, since deviations sometimes appear (for example, spontaneous maturation of another egg occurs), due to which conception, in principle, is possible on any day of the cycle.

Signs that ovulation has taken place are a decrease in the intensity and viscosity of secretions, a weakening of sexual desire, and the disappearance of one-sided stabbing pain in the ovaries. Measurement of basal temperature shows its decrease.

Signs of an anovulatory cycle

Anovulatory cycles often appear in girls at the onset of puberty, as well as in women on the eve of menopause. The reason is the instability of the hormonal background. In the first case, it is caused by the immaturity of the ovaries, and in the second, by their aging.

Often, cycles without ovulation appear in women during breastfeeding due to increased production of prolactin and a decrease in the levels of FSH and LH hormones in the body.

An imbalance of hormones can occur with long-term treatment with hormonal drugs. Artificial suppression of ovulation for the purpose of contraception is achieved by taking oral contraceptives. Cycles without ovulation can appear in a woman after stress, physical overwork, a sharp decrease or increase in body weight, a change in climatic conditions.

The absence of ovulation is indicated by the fact that during the cycle there are no signs of changes in the consistency of secretions, the state of the mammary glands. There is also no ovulatory bleeding and ovarian tenderness.

If a young woman does not ovulate for a long time, it is necessary to consult a doctor and find out the cause of this condition.

Female discharge is a natural phenomenon that performs the necessary functions and arises due to the physiological properties of the body. Their normal color and smell indicate that the reproductive system is in perfect order. Each phase of the cycle is characterized by a certain shade, consistency and smell of secretions. So how does ovulation occur? Symptoms of ovulation are individual for each woman.

What are the signs of ovulation

Ovulation symptoms indicate that the female body is prepared to conceive a child. Some signals say that the ovulation phase will begin soon, some indicate its end, others warn of problems in the body. The process of ovulation occurs approximately in the middle, when the egg is ripe for fertilization, and disappears only during pregnancy and during the female menopause.

The symptoms before this phase help you understand when conception may occur, when to plan or use contraceptive methods. Signs of the upcoming phase of ovulation may depend on lifestyle. To make them less painful, you need to eat well, lead a healthy lifestyle and avoid stressful situations. There are several ways to determine ovulation.

Symptoms before ovulation

Fluid change. Depending on the change in your cycle, the color and texture of the cervical fluid changes. When there is no ovulation, the discharge can be sticky and rare, as the ovulation phase approaches, their volume increases.
Watery, stretchy discharge odorless, reminiscent of raw egg white.
Change in body temperature. The basal temperature chart is the most popular ovulation tracking method. During ovulation itself, the temperature drops, and the next day it rises. If the temperature rises, then most likely ovulation has occurred.
Painful sensations and swelling of the mammary glands. Susceptibility is explained by a surge of hormones.
Lower abdominal pain or cramps due to the release of eggs from the ovary.
Headache.
sexual desire. It signifies a woman's readiness to conceive.
high emotionality, short temper, there is a lot of energy.
Exacerbation of taste buds, vision, smell due to hormonal surge of elevated progesterone levels.

The absence of ovulation symptoms may indicate, although some do not have them due to the structure of the body.

Symptoms of an Ovulation Occurrence

The ovulation phase can be calculated by paying attention to some symptoms in the middle of the monthly cycle. A sure sign that ovulation has occurred is a change in the secreted fluid, it becomes transparent, viscous and looks like egg white.

Changes indicating that ovulation has already occurred:

basal temperature is higher than before ovulation;
the amount of vaginal mucus begins to decrease;
pain in the ovary, where the egg matured, disappears.

What are the symptoms during ovulation?

During ovulation, the state of the female body changes, and even its appearance. Women may feel a slight lingering pain from one of the ovaries, where ovulation is currently taking place. It also comes with a slight loss of strength. The main sign of the onset or continuation of ovulation is small spotting.

What are the symptoms of ovulation during menstruation

Ovulation during menstruation is sometimes possible, this can be affected by hormonal disorders, a sharp change in climatic conditions, stressful situations, excessive physical activity. A high probability of ovulation during this period can be traced in women with a disturbed cycle. With an irregular menstrual cycle, when menstruation occurs once every three months or 2-3 times a month, there is a chance of getting pregnant even during menstruation.

It should also be noted that spermatozoa are able to stay in the female body for 3-5 days, so pregnancy can occur from sexual intercourse that occurred during menstruation. Any stress during the release of the egg can bring down the hormonal balance and the monthly cycle. The symptoms of female ovulation include menstrual-like bleeding, which can be scarce.

At ovulation, the egg is released into the genital tract. If she meets at this moment with an active sperm, fertilization will occur, otherwise the female cell will simply die. To avoid unwanted pregnancy, you need to know and understand when the likelihood of conception is high.

In the body of a healthy woman, all processes occur cyclically, repeat monthly. Normally, ovulation is noted in the middle of the cycle, when the follicular phase ends. With the onset of menstrual flow, vesicles begin to mature in the ovaries, in one of which an egg is born. When its size reaches 20-24 mm, the follicle ruptures, the cell comes out.

With a high concentration of estradiol and follicle-stimulating hormone, a decrease in testosterone levels, ovulation is early. If there is little estradiol and a lot of testosterone, late ovulation is observed.

Even if the egg met with the sperm, conception does not always occur. But if a girl does not plan to become pregnant in the near future, on such days it is imperative to use barrier contraceptives. The duration of ovulation is 1-2 days.

Important! Ideally, the egg matures in the ovaries alternately, but with some failures, the process can occur in one organ for 2 cycles in a row. There are situations when the follicle does not mature at all. If such deviations occur periodically, there is no reason to panic.

There are certain signs before and after ovulation that are associated with changes in hormonal levels. If a girl carefully monitors her health, she will notice the characteristic symptoms without much difficulty. Most often, the first signs of an egg release are abdominal pain, an aggravation of smell and sensations, irritability, and sudden changes in mood.

Against the background of an increase in the amount of progesterone, changes occur in the mammary glands - the breast swells, it hurts, the nipples become more sensitive. Similar symptoms occur after the rupture of the follicle, can be observed before the onset of menstruation.

When the egg matures, the body is ready for procreation, which is manifested in increased libido, physical attraction.

During ovulation, the nature of the discharge changes, the position and structure of the cervix, the indicators of rectal temperature, there is some discomfort in the well-being of varying degrees of intensity.

Main symptoms

One of the most specific signs of ovulation is a change in the nature and amount of female secretions. At each stage of the menstrual cycle, cervical mucus has a different structure, since hormones influence its consistency.

The nature of the discharge:

When the follicle matures, the level of estrogen increases, the mucus becomes thick - the secret creates a plug that protects the uterus from the penetration of pathogens and sperm. If the discharge has a similar consistency, fertilization is impossible.
As the cell grows, the level of estrogen decreases, the secret becomes less viscous, but there is practically no external secretion.
When the cell breaks the walls of the follicle, there is a sharp change in the hormonal balance, which is reflected in the structure of the cervical fluid. The secret becomes transparent, viscous, its amount increases several times, outwardly it looks like a raw egg white. Since there is no discharge in a healthy girl until the moment of ovulation, it is almost impossible not to notice the appearance of such an amount of mucus. Abundant secretion continues for 1-4 days, depending on the age of the woman.
Since the growth of the corpus luteum, the level of progesterone increases, the body prepares for a possible pregnancy, so there is practically no discharge.
If conception did not occur, a few days before the onset of critical days, watery mucus is released.

In some cases, against the background of hormonal changes, a high level of progesterone increases appetite.

Important! During ovulation, the presence of a small amount of brown bloody inclusions is allowed in the discharge, which is associated with a rupture of the follicle.

The position of the cervix during ovulation

By the location of the cervix, you can find out the phase of the cycle, the possibility of conception. This is the least expensive and quite informative method for determining ovulation, but it is necessary to conduct an examination regularly and correctly.

The cervix is the organ that connects the uterus and vagina and responds to all hormonal changes in the body. It is more convenient to conduct an examination in a squatting position, you need to wash your hands well, shorten your nails, you can use special lubricants. The index finger must be carefully inserted into the vagina until it stops - a small tubercle is the cervix.

The location and structure of the cervix on different days of the cycle:

At the beginning of the cycle, the cervix is low, the pharynx is tightly closed, the surface is dry and hard, like the tip of the nose.
During ovulation, the cervix rises, during the release of the egg it is at the highest point, it is difficult to reach it. The surface is soft to the touch, moist due to the large amount of secretions. The pharynx opens up so that spermatozoa can easily enter the fallopian tubes.
After ovulation, the pharynx closes, creates a barrier to infection, the cervix is in the middle, the surface becomes hard and dry.
If there was no conception, the uterus gradually descends, opens slightly so that menstrual blood can flow freely.
If pregnancy has occurred, the cervix rises high, the surface of the organ is very hard, dry, the pharynx is completely closed.

Important! Every girl and woman needs to keep a diary of the cycle, where its duration, the amount and consistency of discharge, basal temperature indicators, and the condition of the cervix should be entered. In case of health problems, such a diary will help the gynecologist to quickly establish a preliminary diagnosis.

Basal temperature indicators

In different phases of the menstrual cycle, the indicators of rectal temperature are different. To make a schedule, you need to take measurements every morning at the same time, without getting out of bed with an ordinary mercury thermometer. Measurement of basal temperature should not be carried out after sex, drinking alcohol, during illness.

In the first half of the cycle, basal indicators do not exceed 37 degrees. Before ovulation, the temperature decreases by 0.3-0.4 degrees, during the release of the egg from the follicle, it increases to 37.2-37.4 degrees. The complexity of this method lies in the need to take measurements daily, to enter all indicators in a special diary. The most accurate indicators can be obtained by measuring the temperature in the rectum, the options are in the vagina, under the tongue, but throughout the entire cycle, measurements must be taken in the same way.

Important! When can I take a pregnancy test after ovulation? A weak second line may appear 9-14 days after the release of the egg.

Pain during ovulation

The egg breaks the walls of the follicle, there is a minor wound, inflammation, which manifests itself in the form of pain and some discomfort. Normally, discomfort should be mild, most women do not even notice them.

What pain and where can accompany ovulation:

tingling, dull, aching pain in the right or left side, lasting several hours or days, may radiate to the lumbar region, associated with rupture of the follicle;
pain in the lower abdomen occurs due to the penetration of a small amount of blood into the peritoneum or into the space behind the uterus. If within a few days the discomfort intensifies, the temperature rises, it is necessary to visit a gynecologist;
if pain during sex occurs after ovulation, the egg may have been fertilized.

Additional methods for determining ovulation are express tests for urinalysis, microscopic examination of saliva, ultrasound.

Important! Nausea, vomiting, fever that accompany pain during ovulation may indicate the presence of an inflammatory process, the development of neoplasms, and displacement of the appendages. But many women consider these signs of pregnancy.

What to do if there is no ovulation

Lack of ovulation for several months is a sign of infertility. It is necessary to pass hormonal tests, a general blood test, a smear from the vagina, an ultrasound scan, a cytological examination. If the cell does not come out of the follicle, this may be due to an infectious disease. A similar failure is observed in women after childbirth, in adolescence, until the cycle is established.

Why there is no ovulation:

The main reason for the lack of ovulation is a hormonal imbalance caused by a malfunction of the endocrine glands. The egg does not mature at all or does not leave the follicle. For conception to occur, a woman must produce normal amounts of estradiol, luteinizing, follicle-stimulating hormone, testosterone.
Obesity or dystrophy - any significant deviations from normal body weight indicators make the body work in an enhanced mode. The brain fixes such manifestations as unfavorable for conception, the necessary hormones cease to be released.
Frequent stress, nervous strain - the body stops the reproductive system, because there are no conditions for the normal bearing of a child.
Intense physical activity - with constant overwork, not only ovulation, but also menstruation may be absent.
Venereal diseases.
Congenital anomalies of the ovaries, hypothalamus, trauma, brain pathology.
Pregnancy, breastfeeding period, menopause, oral contraceptives.

With a long absence of ovulation, it is necessary to visit a gynecologist and an endocrinologist, adjust the weight and daily routine. To stimulate the release of the egg, special preparations are used - Duphaston, Puregon, Clomiphene citrate. You should not self-medicate, because without tests and examinations it is impossible to establish the cause of the failure.

During ovulation, each woman has characteristic symptoms, the consistency of the cervical fluid changes, discomfort appears in the mammary glands, lower abdomen. Usually all signs disappear within 2-3 days. But if this does not happen, there is a deterioration in well-being, a visit to the gynecologist should not be postponed - any disease is easier to cure at the initial stage of development.

What is ovulation? How not to miss a good moment for conception? Everything is very simple - we focus on the signs and symptoms of ovulation, use basal temperature, an ovulation test and folk remedies - and pregnancy is in our pocket!

Ovulation: what is it?

Ovulation(from the Latin ovum - egg) is one of the stages of the menstrual cycle, which is the process of rupture of a mature follicle with the release of a mature, capable of fertilizing an egg from the ovary into the abdominal cavity.

The process of ovulation is controlled by the hypothalamus by regulating (through gonadotropin-releasing hormone) the release of hormones secreted by the anterior pituitary gland: LH (luteinizing hormone) and FSH (follicle-stimulating hormone). In the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle, before ovulation, the ovarian follicle grows under the influence of FSH. When the follicle reaches a certain size and functional activity, under the influence of estrogens secreted by the follicle, an ovulatory peak of LH is formed, which triggers the "maturation" of the egg. After maturation, a gap is formed in the follicle through which the egg leaves the follicle - this is ovulation. Between the ovulatory peak of LH and ovulation takes about 36 - 48 hours. During the corpus luteum phase after ovulation, the egg usually travels down the fallopian tube towards the uterus. If the egg is fertilized during ovulation, then on the 6-12th day the zygote enters the uterine cavity and the process of implantation occurs. If conception does not occur, the egg dies in the fallopian tube within 12-24 hours.

Ovulation and conception

When does ovulation occur?

Average ovulation occurs on the fourteenth day of the menstrual cycle(with a 28-day cycle). However, deviation from the mean is often observed and to a certain extent is the norm. The length of the menstrual cycle by itself is not a reliable source of information about the day of ovulation. Although usually with a shorter cycle, ovulation occurs earlier, and with a longer one - later.

The ovulation rhythm that is constant for every woman undergoes changes within 3 months after an abortion, within a year after childbirth, and also after 40 years, when the body is preparing for the premenopausal period. Physiologically, ovulation stops with the onset of pregnancy, and after the extinction of menstrual function.

How does ovulation and conception occur?

The female body is endowed with two ovaries located on either side of the uterus. The ovaries produce hormones, the best known of which are estrogen and progesterone.

The ovaries contain eggs even at the stage of intrauterine development of the girl. There are hundreds of thousands of eggs in the two ovaries of a newborn. True, they are all inactive until the onset of puberty and the first ovulation, that is, up to about 12 years. During this time, a certain number of cells die, but 300,000 - 400,000 full-fledged eggs remain. From the moment of the first ovulation until the onset of menopause, a woman will experience from 300 to 400 menstrual cycles, as a result of which the same number of oocytes that can become fertilized will mature. During the menstrual cycle, one of the many eggs matures in the ovaries.

Under the influence of the follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) of the pituitary gland - the endocrine gland on the lower surface of the brain, the follicle (sac) begins to grow with the egg selected for ovulation in this cycle. The diameter of the follicle at the beginning of the cycle does not exceed 1 mm, and after 2 weeks it reaches 20 mm. As the follicle grows, a bulge forms on the surface of the ovary, which by the middle of the cycle increases to the size of a grape. Inside the follicle contains fluid and a small nucleolus with a diameter of 0.1 mm.

The period of maturation of the egg until its release from the ovary can last from 8 days to a month, although on average it lasts about 2 weeks. The main factor influencing the duration of this process is the time it takes the body to reach the maximum level of estrogen. High levels of estrogen stimulate a sharp increase in luteostimulating hormone (LH), which causes the egg to break through the ovarian wall within one to two days after a sharp rise in its level. In the middle of the cycle, approximately 12 days after the onset of menstruation, the pituitary gland releases large amounts of luteinizing hormone (LH), and ovulation occurs approximately 36 hours after that.

Chromosomes located in the nucleus of cells are carriers of the genetic code. The purpose of fertilization is the fusion of two germ cells (gametes) originating from heterosexual individuals. All cells in the human body contain 46 chromosomes. Therefore, two gametes must form a new cell containing also 46 chromosomes. With simple addition, 92 chromosomes would have been obtained, but this would have led to a biological error, the consequence of which would have been the termination of the genus. Therefore, each of the partners must halve their number of chromosomes (to 23). In the egg, a reduction in the number of chromosomes occurs after the release of luteinizing hormone by the pituitary gland several hours before ovulation. For such a transformation, 20 - 36 hours is enough for her. In preparation for the reception of the sperm, the egg pushes out to the periphery, into a small sac called the first polar body, half of its chromosomes. The meeting with the sperm must occur at a strictly defined time. If this happens earlier, the egg will not be ready to receive the sperm because it will not have time to divide its chromosomes; if - later, then she risks missing the period of maximum readiness for fertilization.

Next 14 days after ovulation, the second part of the cycle, take place in preparation for the conception of the uterine mucosa. All preparation is in vain if conception does not occur, and its biological consequences will pass along with menstrual bleeding. But in one of the ovaries, a new egg is already preparing for ovulation.

What happens after ovulation at conception?

The egg released from the follicle, having carried out the reduction of chromosomes, enters the fallopian tubes, which, with their soft fringes, are connected to the ovary. The fringes resemble an opened flower at the end of the stem. And its living petals capture the egg on the go. The fusion of the egg and sperm usually occurs in the fallopian tube itself.

The fallopian tube is a cylindrical muscular organ, inside it is lined with a mucous membrane covered with villi and containing glands that produce a secret. This structure contributes to the movement of the egg and (if fertilization has occurred) the embryo into the uterus.

To fertilize an egg, the sperm must enter the body around the same time that the egg leaves the follicle. This may seem easy to achieve, but the egg after ovulation lives only for 24 hours or even less, and the sperm remains capable of fertilizing it for only a few days. Thus, sexual intercourse should take place at your most appropriate time if you want to become pregnant.

Thus, ovulation period- the most successful period for conceiving a child. For this reason, it is important to be able to identify when does ovulation occur. You can do this yourself at home, for example, by measuring basal temperature. Special devices have also been developed (for example, the ClearPlan Easy Fertility Monitor), which, by the content of hormones in a urine test, can more accurately determine the moment of ovulation: ovulation tests. More accurate determinations can be made in the clinical setting, for example, by ultrasonic observation of the growth and development of the follicle and determining the moment of its rupture.

When planning a conception in a natural way, the procedure of in vitro fertilization and artificial insemination, one of the most important points is moment of ovulation.

Ovulation symptoms:

How to determine ovulation?

Symptoms of ovulation that a woman can notice without a doctor:

short-term pain in the lower abdomen,
increase in sex drive.

During a gynecological examination during ovulation, an increase in the amount of mucus secreted from the cervical canal is observed. In addition, extensibility, transparency of the mucus is sometimes used, and its crystallization is also observed, which can be done using a special microscope for home use.

The next most accurate method for determining ovulation is basal temperature measurement. An increase in mucous secretions from the vagina and a decrease in rectal (basal) temperature on the day of ovulation with an increase in it the next day most likely indicates ovulation. The basal temperature graph reflects the temperature effect of progesterone and indirectly (but quite accurately) allows you to determine the fact and day of ovulation.

All of these listed signs of ovulation and methods for determining it give only approximate results.

Signs of ovulation, which the doctor states:

How to accurately recognize ovulation?
There are methods that help to absolutely determine the moment of ovulation:

ultrasound monitoring (ultrasound) of the growth and development of the follicle and determining the moment of its rupture (ovulation), see photo. Ultrasound monitoring of follicle maturation is the most accurate method for determining ovulation. After the end of menstruation, approximately on the 7th day of the cycle, the gynecologist performs an ultrasound using a vaginal probe. After that, the procedure should be carried out every 2-3 days, to monitor the preparation of the endometrium. Thus, it is possible to predict the date of ovulation.

dynamic determination of luteinizing hormone (LH level) in the urine. This method is easier and can be applied at home using ovulation tests. Ovulation tests begin to be carried out 2 times a day, 5 to 6 days before the expected ovulation, strictly following the instructions.

Ovulation test at home

The work of home ovulation tests is based on determining the rapid increase in the amount of luteinizing hormone (LH) in the urine. A small amount of LH is always present in the urine, but 24-36 hours before ovulation (the release of an egg from the ovary), its concentration increases dramatically.

Using ovulation tests

What day should you start testing? This day depends on the length of your cycle. The first day of the cycle is the day when menstruation began. Cycle length - the number of days elapsed from the first day of the last menstruation to the first day of the next.

If you have a constant cycle, then you need to start doing tests ~ 17 days before the start of the next menstruation, since the corpus luteum phase after ovulation lasts 12-16 days (on average, usually 14). For example, if the usual length of your cycle is 28 days, then testing should start from the 11th day, and if 35, then from the 18th.

If your cycle length varies - select the shortest cycle in the last 6 months and use its length to calculate the day when to start testing. With very unstable cycles and delays of a month or more, the use of tests without additional monitoring of ovulation and follicles is not reasonable due to their high cost (when using tests every few days, ovulation can be missed, and using these tests every day will not justify itself ).

With daily use or 2 times a day (morning and evening), these tests give good results, especially when combined with ultrasound. With simultaneous monitoring on ultrasound, you can not waste tests, but wait until the follicle reaches about 18-20 mm, when it is able to ovulate. Then you can start doing tests every day.

Performing an ovulation test

You can take an ovulation test at any time of the day, but you should stick to the same test time whenever possible. In this case, you should refrain from urinating for at least 4 hours before the test. Avoid excessive fluid intake before starting testing, as this can lead to a decrease in the amount of LH in the urine and reduce the reliability of the result.

Determination of ovulation using test strips: place the test strip in a jar of urine up to the line indicated on the test for 5 seconds, put it on a clean, dry surface, after 10-20 seconds look at the result.

Determination of ovulation using a test device: Holding the tip of the absorbent pointing down, place it under the urine stream for 5 seconds. You can also collect the urine in a clean, dry dish and place the absorbent in the urine for 20 seconds. Keeping the tip of the absorbent pointing downwards, remove the absorbent from the urine. Now you can put the cap back on. The result can be seen after 3 minutes.

Ovulation test results

Results of determining ovulation by test strip: 1 strip means that the increase in LH has not yet occurred, repeat the test after 24 hours. 2 strips - an increase in the level of LH was recorded, the intensity of the strip next to the control indicates the amount of the hormone. Ovulation is possible with the intensity of the band as in the control or brighter.

Ovulation test results: Look into the result window and compare the result line on the left of the arrow on the wand body with the control line on the right. The line closest to the arrow on the case is the result line, which shows the level of LH in the urine. Further to the right of the arrow on the body of the wand is the control line. The control line is used for comparison with the result line. The control line always appears in the window if the test was performed correctly.

If the result line is paler than the control line, then the LH surge has not yet occurred, and testing should be continued daily. If the result line is the same or darker than the control line, then the release of the ear hormone has occurred, and you will ovulate within 24-36 hours.

The best 2 days for conception start from the moment you determine that the LH surge has already occurred. If sexual intercourse occurs within the next 48 hours, your chance of getting pregnant will be at a maximum. Once you have determined that an outlier has occurred, there is no need to continue testing.

Types of ovulation tests

The most common disposable test strips for determining ovulation, by analogy with pregnancy tests, their price is not high.

There are also devices for determining ovulation, which are gradually replacing expensive one-time tests, they also accurately determine the moment of ovulation, but are also multifunctional and more economical, they do not need to be changed after each use and they are designed for many years of work.

Tests allow you to accurately determine ovulation, experts associate the existing errors in the results of ovulation tests only with their incorrect use.

Thus, by combining several methods to determine the moment of ovulation, it is possible to track the long-awaited ovulation with a 100% guarantee. After all, it is on these days that the chance for successful conception is highest: there is ovulation - conception is possible.

Ovulation calendar

Using ovulation data from a basal temperature chart or tests for at least 3 months, you can create an ovulation calendar. The calendar allows you to predict the day of the next ovulation, so it is possible to plan conception and pregnancy.

Ovulation and pregnancy

In a woman, the few days before and after the moment of ovulation represent the fertile phase in which conception and pregnancy are most likely.

Different women have a noticeable difference in the timing of ovulation. And even for the same woman, the exact timing of the onset of ovulation fluctuates in different months. Menstrual cycles may be longer or shorter than average, may be irregular. In rare cases, it happens that in women with a very short cycle, ovulation occurs around the end of the period of menstrual bleeding, but still, in most cases, ovulation occurs regularly at the same time.

From the time of conception in relation to the time of ovulation, not only the actual conception of the child, but also its gender depends. Right at the time of ovulation, it is more likely to conceive a boy, while before and after ovulation, a girl is more likely to be conceived. This is explained by the fact that spermatozoa with the Y chromosome (boys) are faster, but live less and are less stable in an acidic environment before ovulation than with the XX set (girls). If the egg is already moving towards fresh sperm, the "boys" will reach it faster. If the sperm "waits" for an egg for a long time, most of the sperm remain in it to conceive a girl.

The probability of conception and pregnancy is generally maximum on the day of ovulation. and is estimated at about 33%. A high probability of pregnancy is also noted on the day before ovulation - 31%, two days before it - 27%. Five days before ovulation, the probability of conception and pregnancy is 10%, four days - 14% and three days - 16%. Six days before ovulation and the day after it, the likelihood of conception and pregnancy during sexual intercourse is very small.

Given that the average "lifespan" of spermatozoa is 2-3 days (in rare cases it reaches 5-7 days), and the female egg remains viable for about 12-24 hours, then the maximum duration of the fertile period is 6-9 days and the fertile period corresponds to the phase of a slow increase (6-7 days) and a rapid decline (1-2 days) before and after the day of ovulation, respectively. Ovulation divides the menstrual cycle into two phases: the follicle maturation phase, which, with an average cycle duration, is 10-16 days, and the luteal phase (corpus luteum phase), which is stable, independent of the duration of the menstrual cycle and is 12-16 days. The corpus luteum phase is referred to as the period of absolute infertility, it begins 1-2 days after ovulation and ends with the onset of a new menstruation. If, for one reason or another, ovulation does not occur, the endometrial layer in the uterus is thrown out during menstruation.

Stimulation of ovulation

Lack of ovulation is one of the common causes of infertility.

Violation of ovulation is due to dysfunction of the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian system and can be caused by inflammation of the genitals, dysfunction of the adrenal cortex or thyroid gland, systemic diseases, tumors of the pituitary and hypothalamus, intracranial pressure, stressful situations. Violation of ovulation may be hereditary in nature (first of all, it is a tendency to certain diseases that interfere with ovulation). Anovulation - the absence of ovulation in childbearing age - is manifested by a violation of the rhythm of menstruation by the type of oligomenorrhea (menstruation lasting 1-2 days), amenorrhea, dysfunctional uterine bleeding. Lack of ovulation is always the cause of a woman's infertility.

One of the common causes of infertility is the lack of ovulation, most often due to hormonal imbalance, which, in turn, can occur against the background of stress, brain injury, abortion, etc. To treat this condition, a complex of hormonal drugs is used that stimulates ovulation and causes superovulation, when several eggs mature in the ovaries at the same time, which increases the chances of fertilization, and is widely used in the IVF procedure.

Another cause of infertility may be, for example, luteal phase deficiency - NLF, when ovulation has occurred, and the concentration of progesterone in the second phase of menstruation is insufficient for implantation of the embryo into the uterus. In this case, treatment is carried out aimed at stimulating the function of the corpus luteum of the ovary and increasing the content of progesterone in the blood. However, the correction of NLF is not always successful, since this condition is often associated with other gynecological diseases and requires a thorough examination.

If the process of follicle maturation and, accordingly, ovulation is disturbed in a woman, ovulation is stimulated. For this, special medications are prescribed - ovulation inducers. Prescribing drugs leads to the stimulation of the development of one or more eggs in patients, which will then be ready for fertilization. Before the appointment of such a serious therapy, a whole range of tests is carried out, which allows you to determine the level of hormones in a woman. In addition to the use of ovulation stimulation, regular ultrasound diagnostics are also carried out. After the onset of ovulation, if it is still not possible to become pregnant naturally, the patient is given intrauterine insemination or IVF. There is a big difference in the method of ovulation stimulation for IVF and for natural conception: in the first case, they achieve the maturation of several eggs, in the second - 1, maximum 2.

Ovulation inducing drugs

The most commonly used drugs to stimulate ovulation are Clostilbegit and gonadotropic hormone preparations.

Preparations of gonadotropic hormones contain hormones of the endocrine gland of the pituitary gland - gonadotropins. These are follicle-stimulating hormone - FSH and luteinizing hormone - LH. These hormones regulate the process of follicle maturation and ovulation in a woman's body and are secreted by the pituitary gland on certain days of the menstrual cycle. Therefore, when prescribing drugs containing these hormones, the follicle matures and ovulation occurs.

These drugs include Menopur (contains the hormones FSH and LH) and Gonal-F (contains the hormone FSH).

The drugs are available in injectable form, administered intramuscularly or subcutaneously.

How is ovulation stimulated?

Various ovulation stimulation schemes are used depending on the type of ovulation disorder and the duration of the disorder. When applying the scheme with Clostilbegit, the latter is prescribed from 5 to 9 days of the menstrual cycle. A combination of this drug with gonadotropins is often used. In this case, Klostilbegit is prescribed from days 3 to 7 of the menstrual cycle with the addition of Menopur (Puregon) on certain days.

When conducting ovulation stimulation, a very important point is to conduct ultrasound monitoring, that is, control of the maturation of the follicle on an ultrasound machine. This allows you to make adjustments to the treatment regimen, in a timely manner to avoid such a side effect of stimulation as the growth of several follicles. The frequency of ultrasound examinations during the treatment program averages 2-3 times. During each examination (monitoring), the number of growing follicles is counted, their diameter is measured and the thickness of the uterine mucosa is determined.

When the leading follicle reaches a diameter of 18 millimeters, the doctor may prescribe the drug Pregnil, which completes the final process of egg maturation and causes ovulation (direct release of the egg from the follicle). Ovulation after the introduction of Pregnyl occurs within 24-36 hours. Depending on the type of marital infertility during the period of ovulation, either intrauterine insemination is performed with the husband's or donor's sperm, or the time of sexual intercourse is calculated.

Depending on the duration and cause of infertility, the age of the woman, the pregnancy rate per attempt is 10-15%.

Conditions for ovulation stimulation:

1. Examination of a married couple.
List of analyzes:
HIV (both spouses)
Syphilis (both spouses)
Hepatitis B (both spouses)
Hepatitis C (both spouses)
Cleanliness smear (female)
Bacteriological crops: chlamydia, mycoplasma, ureaplasma, trichomonas, candida, gardnerella (both spouses)
Pap smear for oncocytology (female)
Conclusion of the therapist on the possibility of carrying a pregnancy
Ultrasound of the mammary glands
A blood test for antibodies to rubella, that is, the presence of immunity (protection) in a woman

2. Passable fallopian tubes.
Since fertilization occurs in the fallopian tube ("Physiology of conception"), an important condition for the onset of pregnancy is passable fallopian tubes. Evaluation of the patency of the fallopian tubes can be carried out by several methods:

Laparoscopy
Transvaginal hydrolaparoscopy
Metrosalpingography

Since each method has its own indications, the choice of method is determined jointly by you and your doctor at the appointment.

3. Absence of intrauterine pathology
Any deviations from the uterine cavity prevent the onset of pregnancy ("Intrauterine pathology"). Therefore, if a woman has indications of trauma to the uterine mucosa (curettage of the uterine cavity during abortions and bleeding, inflammation of the uterine mucosa - endometritis, intrauterine device and other factors), hysteroscopy is recommended to assess the state of the uterine cavity ("Hysteroscopy").

4. Satisfactory sperm quality
Satisfactory quality of sperm is the absence of male factor of infertility. In the event that intrauterine insemination is not planned, a postcoital test (“Postcoital test”) is recommended before ovulation stimulation.

5. Absence of an acute inflammatory process
The absence of an acute inflammatory process of any localization. Any inflammatory disease is a contraindication for many diagnostic and therapeutic procedures in medicine, since it carries the risk of worsening the patient's condition.

Folk remedies to stimulate ovulation are best used only after consulting a doctor.

Photo of ovulation taken during IVF surgery

The 3rd photo shows that several eggs have matured (after preliminary stimulation of ovulation).

The term "ovulation" refers to one of the important stages of the menstrual cycle, when a woman's body undergoes a process of rupture of a mature follicle in the ovary, followed by the release of a mature egg into the abdominal cavity, ready for fertilization.

When the period of ovulation sets in, the “management” of this mechanism is taken over by the hypothalamus: it regulates, with the help of special biologically active substances, the release of certain hormones by the anterior pituitary gland - luteinizing (LH) and follicle-stimulating (FSH).

Under the influence of the latter, during the follicular phase of the cycle (just before ovulation), the ovarian follicle grows and, reaching the desired size and degree of activity during the formation of the ovulatory LH peak, stimulates the "maturation" of the egg.

When ovulation occurs, a gap forms in the follicle through which the egg is released and begins to travel through the fallopian tube to the uterus. It is at this time that her fertilization can occur, otherwise - death within 12-24 hours.

A healthy woman is able to conceive (which means that in her body there is a regular onset of ovulation from the moment the first menstrual cycle begins, and all this time the ovulation rhythm remains constant, undergoing changes only after 40 years, that is, after the body begins to prepare for the premenopausal period .

In addition, the rhythm remains unstable for a certain period after an abortion or after childbirth. After the extinction of the menstrual function and at the time of the onset of pregnancy, ovulation stops. Information about when the day of ovulation occurs is very important, since it is she who helps in choosing the most successful time for natural insemination, artificial insemination and IVF.

Usually, if the menstrual cycle is stable, the egg begins to prepare to leave the mature follicle every 21-35 days, although slight deviations are allowed, which are considered to be the norm to a certain extent.

Methods for determining the onset of ovulation

For those who are concerned about the question of how to find out when ovulation occurs, several methods are available to determine the course of this process. The first (calendar) method has already been described - it consists in monitoring the calendar dates of menstruation with the expectation that ovulation in a 28-day cycle takes place on the 13-14th day, and with a 30-day cycle it should be expected on the 15-16th day.

The reliability of this method is about 30%, since the cycle of modern women rarely runs smoothly, and 1-2 times a year the egg is generally not ready for fertilization.

The tactile method will help determine the signs of impending ovulation by fairly subjective indicators. It is known that on the eve of this process and during its passage, the discharge from the cervix becomes less viscous, so that by following this factor, a woman can determine with a certain degree of certainty whether she is ready for conception.

The third method has long been considered the most reliable and was used in the first place. This is a method for measuring basal body temperature. How to understand that ovulation has come, with its help? It is required every day for a month to measure, without getting out of bed, rectal temperature (in the rectum), and, based on the data obtained, draw up a schedule.

On the day of ovulation, the temperature, relatively flat on the rest of the days, is fixed at the lowest level, and the next day it rises sharply. It will take "monitoring" 1-2 menstrual cycles to make sure the schedule is accurate and with a probability of at least 90% to prepare for conception.

A modern, convenient, practical test indicator allows women to quickly and accurately determine the state of their eggs. The test responds to an increased content of hormones, the production of which indicates the beginning of the process, and it can detect reliable signs of the onset of ovulation both in urine and in saliva.

When ovulation does not occur

Can ovulation not occur, even if there is confidence in the absence of pregnancy? Yes, and this is quite possible. Often the cause of this is dysfunction of the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian system or stressful situations, sometimes the problem is caused by inflammation of the genitals, some systemic diseases, dysfunction of the thyroid gland or adrenal cortex, tumors of the pituitary gland and hypothalamus.

A disease of this kind is called anovulation and is 100% the cause of female infertility, therefore, if any violations are found, it is imperative to contact a gynecologist to find out the specific cause and receive adequate treatment.

Having found out why ovulation does not occur in each case, specialists prescribe a stimulation procedure, which is carried out with special medicines. In particular, Clostilbegit is used (often in combination with hormones) and the actual preparations of gonadotropic hormones - Menopur containing FSH and LH, and Gonal-F containing FSH.

The procedure itself is carried out according to various schemes, depending on the cause of anovulation, although the most popular and effective method is treatment with Clostilbegit, carried out on days 5-9 of the cycle. This drug is in most cases prescribed in combination with Menopur, and in this case, stimulation is carried out in the 3-7th menstrual cycle with the addition of hormones on certain days.

Signs of the onset of ovulation

Short-term pains in the lower abdomen are the very first subjective signs of the onset of the ovulation process in the female body. How to determine the onset of ovulation further: the signs appear more and more objectively - vaginal discharge becomes more intense, basal (rectal) temperature indicators decrease directly on the day of ovulation and increase the next day, progesterone levels increase in blood plasma.

On ultrasound during this period, one can observe the dynamics of changes in the follicles, in one of which a gap is gradually formed, followed by the release of the egg. Determining what day ovulation occurs, following all these signs and using various methods for determining this condition, is not at all difficult.

The process of "maturation" of the egg can be delayed

As you know, during pregnancy, the maturation of new eggs ready for fertilization does not occur, but when this important stage for every woman is left behind, a new, no less important question arises: when does ovulation occur after childbirth?

Experts note that the menstrual cycle begins to recover within 3-10 weeks after childbirth, but it proceeds against the background of anovulation. It must take at least 6 weeks - 3 months for this function to fully recover, although pathological cases are also known within six months after the birth of a child.

Another question that worries women is when does ovulation occur after an abortion? As practice shows, this problem is very serious: in order to plan conception and to prevent the next pregnancy, it is important to know that ovulation normally occurs within the first 4 weeks, and it does not matter whether the interruption was artificial or spontaneous. Another 2 weeks later, menstruation returns and a normal menstrual cycle is established.

How to help the onset of ovulation?

In addition to artificial stimulation, which is prescribed by a doctor after a thorough examination, it will not be possible to help the onset of ovulation in any other way. The question "What to do to ovulate?" does not imply a constructive response - everything is placed on the shoulders of mother nature, and her daughters can only use various methods of control over their condition, over the course of the menstrual cycle and their own health.

The most important thing is to know when ovulation occurs after menstruation, and to regularly attempt to conceive.

For reference: a person, unlike animals, is not too fertile, and every healthy woman has only 1 out of 3 chances of getting pregnant every month, and this probability decreases significantly with age.

And only a competent approach to business, armed with the necessary knowledge and the ability to feel your body to the last cell, carefully understanding all its internal processes, will help to cope with any difficulty.

Finally: a few important facts about ovulation

Firstly, directly on the day of ovulation, the probability of conception is as much as 33%, that is, it is the maximum. On the day before the release of a mature egg, the probability reaches 31%, and 2 days before that it is 27%, which are also excellent indicators. 5 days before ovulation and the day after it, the chance of a successful conception is vanishingly small.

Secondly, some studies have shown that a competent calculation of the course of the menstrual cycle, which allows you to find out exactly how many days ovulation occurs, determines not only the optimal time for fertilization of the egg, but also the likelihood of conceiving a child of the desired sex.

Thirdly, when planning a pregnancy and focusing on your cycle, you should not have sex exclusively on the day of ovulation. This is ineffective, because the "life" of spermatozoa is at least a week, so even if they got into the fallopian tubes 5-6 days before the egg is ready for conception, the likelihood of pregnancy will also be very high.

And most importantly: the time of passage of ovulation depends on when the next menstrual cycle began, and not on when the previous one ended. It is important not to make mistakes when calculating the timing!

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