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Why tracking only your cycle length is not enough
Your body naturally sends out various ovulation symptoms that you can use anew each cycle to determine your fertile and infertile days.
11 typical signs that indicate ovulation
11 typical ovulation symptoms at a glance
You can recognise ovulation through individual ovulation symptoms. There are reliable and rather unreliable signs:
| Symptom | Description |
|---|---|
| 1. Elevated basal body temperature (reliable) | A maximum of 48 hours after ovulation, the temperature rises by a few tenths of a degree. |
| 2. Changed consistency of the cervical mucus (reliable) | Lighter and more fluid discharge, as well as glassy cervical mucus with a stretchy consistency, can be an indication of ovulation. |
| 3. Changed cervix (reliable) | As ovulation approaches, the cervix changes: it becomes softer and opens slightly. |
| 4. Rise in the LH hormone (reliable) | Up to 24 hours before the egg is released, the concentration of the LH hormone (luteinising hormone) rises. |
| 5. Ovulation pain (unreliable) | Normally occurs around the day of ovulation. The intensity of the pain ranges from a slight pulling in the lower abdomen to a real feeling of illness (ovulation nausea, cramps, back pain, headaches, hot flushes, bloating, cravings). |
| 6. Ovulation bleeding (unreliable) | Sometimes a short episode of spotting occurs during ovulation, which is mainly noticeable as a slight discolouration of the cervical mucus. |
| 7. Sore breasts (unreliable) | Breasts that are sensitive to pain are not an ovulation symptom per se. Rather, they are considered a sign of the subsequent cycle phase and thus of the completion of ovulation. |
| 8. PMS (unreliable) | Includes various physical & psychological complaints that can occur after the day of ovulation until the monthly period. |
| 9. Desire for sex (unreliable) | In the fertile phase, the oestrogen level rises, which is why many women report increased desire around the time of ovulation. |
| 10. Body language (unreliable) | According to recent studies, body language is said to change during the fertile period. This is said to show both in movement and in overall appearance. |
| 11. Spots (unreliable) | The falling oestrogen level in the second half of the cycle often causes blemished skin. |
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Reliable, analysable ovulation symptoms
Whether you are planning a baby or want to use natural contraception, an important point is the correct determination of the fertile days. The most reliable ovulation symptoms are the basal body temperature and the cervical mucus.
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Symptom: elevated basal body temperature
A woman's body temperature immediately after waking up and before getting up is called the basal body temperature. It is one of the most meaningful ovulation symptoms and can be very useful for narrowing down the day of ovulation.
Before the time of ovulation, the waking temperature stays at a low level. A maximum of 48 hours after this event, the temperature rises. The temperature rise is caused by the hormone progesterone (corpus luteum hormone), which is only produced after ovulation. The temperature therefore indicates that ovulation has taken place. If the temperature stays up, which is called the high phase, a corpus luteum has formed.
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Symptom: changed cervical mucus consistency
By observing the consistency of the cervical mucus, conclusions can be drawn about the timing of ovulation. Stretchy mucus is a reliable indication of the fertile days here. The discharge is lighter and more fluid. If the cervical mucus has a stretchy consistency and is glassy like egg white, it is optimally permeable for sperm, which can ascend into the uterus. But it still keeps bacteria out, a traffic control system of sorts during the fertile days.
Combining the two ovulation symptoms of waking temperature and cervical mucus, the symptothermal method, is considered a reliable method for determining the fertile days.
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Symptom: soft, open and high cervix
The cervix, the lower part of the uterus, changes during the different cycle phases. After the period, it is hard and closed and can be felt easily, as it protrudes well. The closer ovulation gets, the softer the cervix becomes. It opens slightly and rises up a little again, which can make it harder to feel.
Analysing ovulation symptoms such as temperature, cervix, mucus & LH
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Symptom: indication of ovulation by measuring the LH hormone
Up to 24 hours before the egg is released, the concentration of the LH hormone (luteinising hormone) rises. An ovulation test can detect this change in urine. Determining the LH concentration can therefore also be a help in establishing the date of ovulation.
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Unreliable ovulation symptoms
In addition to the reliable ovulation symptoms, there are also signs that do not clearly indicate ovulation.
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Symptom: ovulation pain (unreliable)
The most important secondary ovulation symptom is ovulation pain. In about a third of women, ovulation pain can indicate a burst follicle in the ovary. Some women describe the symptoms of the follicle bursting as a pulling, stabbing or cramp-like pain, which is usually felt in the region around the ovary and fallopian tubes, in either the right or left lower abdomen.
However, ovulation pain cannot be considered a reliable ovulation symptom. Some women rather feel the tension of the ovarian capsule before ovulation. The intestine lies near the ovaries, as does the appendix. Lower abdominal pain can have very different causes, from an irritation of the appendix to painful bloating. Possible pain while the egg implants in the uterine lining must be distinguished from ovulation pain. Implantation pain can occur during this process.
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Symptom: ovulation bleeding (unreliable)
Few women notice bleeding at the time of ovulation. The cause of so-called ovulation bleeding is said to be a rapid drop in the oestrogen level. It is a light episode of spotting or a slight discolouration of the discharge.
Such bleeding is no cause for concern. In such cases, it is important to observe further ovulation symptoms, primarily the waking temperature, if you wish to become pregnant or want to use natural contraception.
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Symptom: sore breasts (unreliable)
Changes in the breasts and breast pain are summarised under the term breast symptom. In some women, this pain usually shows a few days before the menstrual period. The breasts and nipples usually become more sensitive to pain and larger, and a feeling of tension occurs.
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Symptom: premenstrual syndrome (unreliable)
PMS is also a cycle-related complaint. On the one hand, physical complaints such as pain in the lower abdomen, breast pain, nausea or weight gain reflected in the BMI can be observed. On the other hand, psychological symptoms can play a role, such as mood swings, irritability or sleep disorders.
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Symptom: desire for sex (unreliable)
Fluctuations in libido are also subject to hormonal change. Women often perceive an increased libido during the fertile phase. The cause seems to be the elevated oestrogen level during this time. In the 2nd half of the cycle, women's sexual desire often decreases again.
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Symptom: body language (unreliable)
New studies claim to prove that ovulation symptoms are reflected not only physically but even in behaviour. Fertility is said to express itself positively in a woman's face, in the female gait, in dancing style and in the way women dress and do their make-up.
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Symptom: spots (unreliable)
In the second half of the cycle, the oestrogen level falls. This often causes blemished skin, and the skin often looks pale. At the same time, it is prone to spots and clogged pores due to the higher body temperature and increased sebum production.
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Reliably analysing ovulation signs
The aim of analysing ovulation symptoms is to determine the date of ovulation as precisely as possible. To do this, the body's various symptoms must be documented and analysed month after month in order to determine exactly whether the follicle in the ovary has burst. The easiest way to do this is with certain tools.
Observing and documenting analysable ovulation signs can help you determine your fertile days. It is not enough to just recognise ovulation: the lifespan of the egg and the sperm must also be included in the calculation. You might like these products:
cyclotest products for analysing ovulation symptoms
A basal thermometer incl. app or a cycle computer can support you in documenting and analysing your ovulation symptoms. The basis for using cyclotest mySense or cyclotest myWay is measuring the basal body temperature, the temperature on waking.
Optionally, in the cyclotest mySense app or the cycle computer, you can enter further ovulation symptoms that are important for determining the fertile window. If you want to observe the consistency of your cervical mucus, you can enter the different consistencies. In combination, fertility can be determined reliably.
- You can also enter the result of an LH test and analyse it afterwards. It is also possible to document ovulation pain or observations of the cervix. Based on your entries, these reliable helpers recognise your individual cycle patterns and show you the current status of your fertility every day, also taking into account the lifespan of sperm. Through these records and symptoms, you have the opportunity to gain a great deal of insight into your body and your cycle as a whole.
Entering ovulation symptoms into the cyclotest mySense app
What can classic online ovulation calculators do?
Can you also calculate the release of the follicle with an ovulation calculator? No! They determine the conception-ready days based on a standard menstrual cycle that is always the same every month. Far fewer women than long believed always have cycles of the same length and ovulate on exactly the same day. The female cycle can be very variable and yet healthy and fertile. The informative value of an ovulation calculator is therefore practically zero.
Keep reading? You might like this:
How long do sperm survive?
Sperm can live for up to 5 days. How long they actually survive depends on sperm quality and the surrounding environment. In the open air, for example, sperm only survive for a short time. In a woman's vagina, they can last up to 5 days.
When are the infertile days?
The menstrual cycle consists largely of infertile days. A distinction is made between the infertile days at the beginning of the cycle and the infertile phase after ovulation. In this article, you will learn how to calculate your infertile days reliably.
Period pain: symptoms and causes
Period pain refers to lower abdominal cramps during the menstrual period, which affect up to 40 % of all women to varying degrees. Period pain is one of the most common menstrual complaints and is often accompanied by other symptoms such as nausea, back pain or mood swings.
Determining ovulation symptoms: watch out for disruptive factors
Please note that various disruptive factors such as stress or alcohol consumption can influence the temperature and other symptoms associated with the release of the egg. These can shorten or lengthen the infertile days and thereby change fertility. Information about this and how to deal with these disruptions is essential when analysing ovulation signs.
No ovulation signs?
Many women believe that because they cannot recognise ovulation, it has not taken place. In part, this may be due to incorrect observation of the signs: for example, a cycle that appears to have no ovulation signals may turn out to be one with a released egg, and the measurements were simply imprecise or the symptoms misinterpreted. Ovulation pain in particular is often misinterpreted as a central symptom. But it may also be that ovulation actually does not occur.
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Some women produce a lot of mucus at the time of ovulation and can analyse it easily, others produce less mucus. Then it is important to observe other reliable ovulation symptoms such as the consistency and position of the cervix. Relying on unreliable signs such as breast tenderness can be treacherous. This can just as easily occur during the fertile days.
It is important to observe your cycle immediately after stopping the pill because it can be fluctuating at first. You may also no longer be familiar with the 'normal' symptoms during the menstrual cycle and may then misinterpret physical signs. Documenting the basal body temperature, ideally in combination with the cervical mucus, provides you with reliable insights into ovulation.
What other women are interested in on this topic
Ovulation symptoms are divided into more reliable and unreliable symptoms. Analysable signs include, for example, an elevated basal body temperature, which you can track with the help of cyclotest mySense.During the fertile days, the consistency of the cervical mucus is lighter and more fluid than usual and it can be stretched.To determine whether ovulation has occurred or not, you should observe your cycle very closely and interpret it correctly. Ovulation pain in particular is often misinterpreted.For ovulation pain, the same remedies help as for period pain. A hot-water bottle, rest, certain teas and possibly a painkiller. If the pain is very severe, you should see a doctor and have your complaints clarified. You can find out about possible treatment options here.
The duration of ovulation symptoms varies greatly. The basal body temperature only changes after ovulation, but the concentration of the LH hormone changes beforehand. A large proportion of women do not notice ovulation or only feel a brief stab.Ovulation normally takes place in every cycle. It can happen that ovulation fails to occur. Illnesses, medication, alcohol consumption and a few other circumstances can be causes of this. -
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