Written on 11/23/20
Ready for a short history lesson? Over 100 years ago, there weren’t concrete terms for basic definitions in women’s health, such as ovulation. It took hundreds of years (1900 to be exact) for women to learn there is a “fertile window,” which led to a basic understanding of a short window of time where they could possibly conceive.
Cue 1905: a Dutch gynecologist proved ovulation occurred monthly. Fast forward to the 1920s; a Japanese gynecologist discovered ovulation occurs about 14 days before the next period.
It took hundreds of years for women to learn there is a “fertile window,” which led to a basic understanding of a short window of time where they could possibly conceive.
These are just a few examples of monumental leaps in women’s health discovery. Though we may not know all the intracicies surrounding women’s health, we can at least review what ovulation means and how it works. Let’s get started!
How does ovulation work?
First, let’s understand how a woman’s cycle works. A typical cycle lasts approximately 28 days (every cycle being different) and has four stages. The first stage is menstruation, or your period, when the body sheds the unfertilized egg and uterine lining.
The second stage is the follicular phase. During the follicular phase, follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) is released to stimulate follicles, one of which will produce a mature egg. Ovulation – the third stage – occurs when the mature egg is released from the follicle.
The fourth and final stage is the luteal phase, where the empty follicle produces progesterone to prepare the uterus for implantation, if the egg is fertilized by sperm. If the egg is not fertilized, your body sheds the lining and the whole process starts over again!
Why is ovulation important?
Ovulation is a sign that your body is working properly and your hormones are balanced. If you aren’t ovulating, we recommend consulting your doctor as anovulation could be the sign of a bigger health issue.
If you are trying to conceive, knowing when you ovulate is critical. Ovulation tests (or ovulation predictor kits) help you time intercourse correctly. If egg and sperm don’t have a chance to meet, then conception is not possible.
When does ovulation happen?
As we mentioned, ovulation is the third stage of your cycle. In a textbook 28-day cycle, ovulation usually occurs halfway through, around day 14. However, we know that most women do not have a 28-day cycle — in fact, the vast majority of women have cycle lengths that range from 22 to 36 days!
Ovulation occurs halfway through your cycle, around day 14 of a 28-day cycle.
How do I predict ovulation?
Since our cycles can vary so drastically in length, it’s important to track your unique cycle to know when ovulation is going to occur. These are a few common methods:
Ovulation tests: Ovulation tests measure luteinizing hormone (LH) levels in urine. LH surges about 24-48 hours before ovulation is going to occur.
Cervical mucus monitoring: Cervical mucus monitoring involves tracking the changes in cervical mucus consistency throughout your cycle. Leading up to ovulation, cervical mucus becomes stretchy and watery, often resembling egg whites.
Basal body temperature (BBT) tracking: BBT tracking involves tracking the subtle changes in your body’s lowest resting temperature that occur leading up to and after ovulation.
What are the different types of ovulation?
Believe it or not, not all ovulation is created equal. Successful ovulation, for example, involves more than just the release of an egg. Understanding the different types of ovulation will help you better understand how to track it, which is so important when trying to conceive.
Not all ovulation is created equal! Sufficient ovulation involves more than just the release of an egg.
Anovulation
Anovulation occurs when an egg is not released by a follicle. Anovulation may occur in young girls who have just started their cycles or women with PCOS. It is also typical for 1-2 cycles per year to be “anovulatory”, even in healthy women.
However, consistent anovulation can be a sign of hormone imbalance or other health issues. If you are experiencing multiple cycles that you suspect are anovulatory, we recommend visiting your doctor.
Suboptimal ovulation
An egg is released by a follicle, fertilized in the fallopian tube, and travels down to the uterus. When ovulation is suboptimal, however, there isn’t enough progesterone to support its survival and the uterine lining is shed along with the egg. Progesterone is produced by the corpus luteum (empty follicle) after an egg is released.
Progesterone prepares the uterine lining for implantation. If there is not enough progesterone, the uterine lining won’t adequately support the fertilized egg and it can be difficult to successfully conceive.
Successful ovulation
Successful ovulation is just how it sounds! The fertilized egg is released and the corpus luteum produces enough progesterone. Confirming successful ovulation helps you understand whether ovulatory problems could be preventing you from conceiving.
So, how can I confirm successful ovulation?
With Proov, the first and only FDA-cleared PdG test kit, confirming successful ovulation is easy! Proov measures PdG (pregnanediol glucuronide), which is a urine metabolite of progesterone. Published studies have shown the presence of PdG in urine correlates to the presence of progesterone in blood.
Proov is the first and only FDA-cleared PdG test kit to confirm successful ovulation at home.
Since Proov tests are non-invasive and easy to use, you can track your PdG over several days to see if PdG (and progesterone) stay elevated long enough to confirm successful ovulation.
Have any questions about the different types of ovulation? Feel free to reach out to us at info@proovtest.com!
