Ovulation: Signs and Symptoms, And How to Calculate For Your Safe And Fertile Days.

Ovulation is the release of a mature ovum from the ovary which is hormonally mediated. The released ovum is ready to be fertilized by a sperm or dissolves and comes out as menses.
When is your ovulation day?

Different women have different cycles, but ovulation remains constant. That is 14 days before the next cycle. The average menstrual cycle is 21 to 35 days, I.e some women have a cycle of 21, 25, 28, 30, 33, or 35

How do you calculate the most fertile day?
Subtract 14 days(constant) from your cycle or the number of days your cycle takes to get the next cycle.
A cycle of 29 days your ovulation date is 29-14=15 so you're likely to ovulate on day 15 from the first day of your periods. If your cycle is 25 days, ovulation day is 25-14=11, 11th day from the first day of menses. Also a range of -3, +3 is added to or subtracted from the ovulation day to get the time you're likely to be fertile.

Sperm can survive in the reproductive tract for 72 hours I.e if you engage in intercourse 48 hours before ovulation you can conceive. An ovum takes 24 hours after ovulation. After 24 hours the ovum will not be viable.

However, some people may experience anovulatory cycles which means they never ovulate. This can be caused by several things and requires one to seek medical attention.
Signs and Symptoms that Show one is Ovulating

• Breast tenderness - during ovulation your breasts and nipples may become sore or achy.
• Change in cervical mucous- you may notice an increased discharge which is mucoid and whitish and a change in its texture.
• Heightened sense of smell - you may have an increased sense of smell towards certain scents.
• Bloating- you may experience bloating or increased gas in the abdomen.
• Increased appetite- you might notice that you're eating a lot or you get hungry quite often.
• Emotional/ mood changes.
• Cramping- you might experience cramps and discomfort especially on the lower abdomen which may also be accompanied by light spotting although it is rare.
• Increased sex drive or libido- during ovulation you might feel sexier, more flirty, more sociable and more physically attractive.
• Changes to your cervix - becomes softer, higher, and wetter.
• Changes in basal body temperature- during ovulation your basal body temperature may rise by 0.5 to 1.0°F from the baseline body temperature.

All these changes occur in response to hormones involved in ovulation.