Low-Tech Ways to Predict when You are Ovulating

Are you trying to get pregnant?

Do you know when you ovulate each
month?  Tracking menstrual cycles is a low-tech way of estimating when
your body ovulates. 

I will give you some ways you can track your cycles to help you
figure out when you are ovulating. This will help you know when to have
sex and be most likely to fertilize your eggs.

Figuring out ovulation

One of the best ways to figure out your ovulation time is tracking
your menstrual cycle each month.  Each month one egg from one of your
ovaries is  moved through all of the follicular phases of development. The
egg is released into the fallopian tubes and travels through them to
the uterus in hopes of being fertilized. 

Before ovulation only estrogens are produced in the ovaries but after
ovulation both estrogens and progesterone are produced.  The presence
of progesterone actually slightly raises our body temperature by .1 to
.2 degrees. After noticing this slight difference you can decide when to
have sexual intercourse to increase your chances of fertilizing your
eggs with your partner’s sperm.

Basal Body Temperature

Tracking your menstrual cycle requires that you observe your body
every day and note your basal body temperature.  Tracking will require
you to take your temperature starting the first day of your menstrual
period, and for every day for your entire period.

Here is an example of how it works. Days before ovulation a woman’s
basal body temperature is 97.0 – 97.5 degrees Fahrenheit and it
increases slightly by .1 – .2 degrees after ovulation because of the
release of progesterone.

It is best to take your temperature first thing in the morning before
you get out of bed every day.  This means before you eat or drink or
start moving around! It doesn’t matter the method you decide to use,
whether oral, rectal, or vaginal. Just use the same method each day. 

Cervical mucus

Another way to track your menstrual cycle is to track your cervical
mucus during the course of the month.  Your cervix is located at the
opening of your uterus and it is the gateway into your uterus and to
your eggs after fertilization. 

Your cervical mucus changes at different stages of your menstrual cycle.

Before ovulation the mucus is thick to prevent sperm or microorganisms getting into the uterus. 

During ovulation the mucus thins and looks clear, having the
consistency of egg white. This increases sperms’ ability to get to the
egg.  Then after a few days of ovulation it gets thick to prevent sperms
again.

You can check your cervical mucus each morning in the bathroom by
running a clean finger over your vaginal lips to see if the mucus is
clear and the consistency of egg whites you are ovulating.

Live Vibrantly,
Dr. Dae
Dr. Daemon Jones

 Originally published on EmpowHer.com