Even though we are two months into the New Year, some of us are still working on our New Year’s resolution and trying to conceive. After months of temping, charting, and trying to get pregnant, you have a pretty good handle on when you are ovulating. You might even recognize some of the signs that your body is gearing up for ovulation.
Gearing Up For Ovulation
Whenever our bodies are preparing for ovulation, it can send off subtle cues that we may actually be able to feel. We use temping or a certain fertility monitor such as the OvaCue (now on sale) to confirm ovulation has actually occurred. This is because our bodies can gear up for ovulation several times and never really ovulate. This is why it is important to not rely on specific symptoms alone to give you an indication that ovulation is near or is actually going to happen each month.
After having my son, I noticed that my body changed drastically. My period didn’t return until 10 months postpartum as I had just stopped breastfeeding around nine months. However, around six months postpartum I started experiencing the changes in my cervical mucus that I never had before. I always had to use Preseed and take guaifenesin close to ovulation in order to provide an optimal environment for sperm.
Checking For Ovulation
If you are using an OPK, the positive result is an indication your body is preparing for ovulation. The only problem is that it cannot guarantee an egg will be released and when. Unfortunately, nothing can guarantee you are going ovulate and our bodies can actually gear up a few times before we actually do.
The truth is that if you regularly ovulate it is possible to have an anovulatory cycle. If you are desperately trying to conceive and aren’t familiar with temping, I strongly suggest the OvaCue Fertility Monitor that can both predict and confirm ovulation. There are other products on the market that you can even wear while you sleep. However, this has been my favorite product so far mainly because I do not like wearing anything at night. While spending $299 on a monitor might not be within your budget, there are some signals you can pay attention to that may let you know ovulation is near. They include:
- Increased sex drive- Yes! As ovulation approaches, an increased libido is nature’s way of telling you know it is time to get down to business and make a baby.
- Egg White Cervical Mucus- The properties of cm change and it becomes thin and stretchy allowing sperm to penetrate and be transported through.
- Changes in Cervical Position- When you are close to ovulation, the cervix is soft, high, wet and open for obvious reasons. Checking cervical position wasn’t something I mastered or really cared to try. More power to you if you are able to do it!
- Cramping on one side or the other near the pelvic region- I have been experiencing strong ovulation cramping as I am getting older. Maybe I am paying more attention because well, with age comes experience!
Other Secondary Signs
Some women also experience: changes is smell or vision, breast tenderness, and or spotting. Keep in mind that not all women experience these symptoms or changes. So if you do not recognize any changes, it doesn’t mean you aren’t ovulating. I recommend keeping a journal or record of what is going on should you need to speak with your doctor.
What You Should Do
At the very least, if purchasing a fertility monitor is not an option and temping is not for you, use ovulation predictor kits. This way you will have an idea as to when you are supposed to ovulate and you can better time sex. If using an OPK isn’t for you, than you use the Sperm Meets Egg Plan (SMEP). You can read about that here. Lastly, if SMEP is not your thing, than I don’t know how you are going to get pregnant if you aren’t having sex!
