The complete process of ovulation in women. All about ovulation. How is ovulation stimulation carried out?

Every woman planning a child should become familiar with the concept and mechanism of ovulation. The success of pregnancy planning will depend on understanding what ovulation is and when it begins. If it does not come true, then sexual intercourse can happen even daily - the desired conception, unfortunately, will not happen.1. What is ovulation?
2. How many days later does ovulation begin?
3. How to understand that ovulation has begun?

From the very first day, a woman’s body stores approximately one million eggs, which for the time being exist as if “in a warehouse,” in a dormant state. Each individual cell is hidden in a follicle house and stands in line to be released into the world. Before the girl reaches puberty, only three to four hundred thousand important cells remain; the rest, remaining in their infancy, die. Competition between cells is just like in life - the strongest wins. This, of course, is ironic, but, nevertheless, appreciate the scale: out of the initial million, 400-500 mature eggs will have a real chance.

What is ovulation?

To better navigate, let's look at what is happening schematically. Once a month, several ten to fifteen cells enter the active awakening phase, they begin to mature and grow in size along with the follicles. After a decade, one follicle takes the lead; it becomes the largest - approximately 20 mm.

The egg inside also grows and at the peak of development the follicle bursts, releasing the cell. Once free in the abdominal cavity, it is picked up by the villi of the fallopian tubes and begins its journey into the uterine cavity. Only one day can an egg be fertilized when it meets a sperm. In this case, the cell will divide, gradually changing into an embryo, attach to the wall of the uterus, and the expectation of the baby will follow the usual path. In the opposite situation - the beginning of rejection of the endometrial layer from the uterus - menstruation will occur.

How many days does it take for ovulation to begin?

It is important to take into account the fact that with a stable and regular cycle, the onset of ovulation can be expected on approximately the same days of the cycle; this makes the task easier. If it is of varying duration and irregular, you will have to resort to additional detection methods and add a few days in both directions so as not to miss late or, on the contrary, early ovulation.

There is an opinion that since menstruation is regular, ovulation happens every time. Not entirely true. Even a young woman may have two or three cycles over the course of a year without a chance of potential fertilization, the so-called “anovulatory” cycles. And the older the lady is, the more “empty” cycles happen.

Closer to forty years, there can be from five to seven of these - these are natural phenomena inherent in nature. The complete absence of ovulation is a signal of problems in the female body. The reasons may be different - infections, inflammation, hormonal imbalance. Everything can be resolved, but there is serious work to be done together with the doctor, including tests in the laboratory, folliculometry to understand whether follicles are developing in principle and monitoring the state of the endometrium in the process. Treatment will be prescribed; in some situations, prescribed stimulation of ovulation will help.

How to understand that ovulation has begun?

Well, firstly, one of the most accurate is the basal temperature chart

Secondly, you should pay attention to vaginal discharge

Thirdly, you can track the appearance of a follicle using folliculometry

You should not focus on subjective signs of ovulation, such as pain and tingling in the lower abdomen and increased libido. The pain is by no means always ovulatory, and the desire for physical intimacy may have a completely different reason.

We advise you to be patient and build a schedule, additionally supporting it with an ultrasound examination (if possible) and, as an addition, purchase an ovulation test at the pharmacy. They are similar to pregnancy tests and are based on the response to the release of luteinizing hormone 12-36 hours before ovulation. The five available strips begin to be used based on the duration of your own cycle - the first on the eleventh day (with a 28-day total cycle). As always, there is only one recommendation - do tests at approximately the same time and not drink a lot of liquid. If the colors of the control and diagnostic parts of the strip match, congratulations, you are ovulating!

We understand your desire to get the desired result as quickly as possible. Here everything largely depends on your understanding and patience. And be more careful with your other half. After all, the common goal - the birth of a baby - can be blurred by the mechanization of the process.

“Honey, I’m ovulating, let’s make love!” Your spouse loves you and let the mutual feeling be fueled by attraction and your control of the process, invisible to him.

We wish you health and conception in a minimum number of attempts!

Ovulation is a term that not every woman is able to explain. Nevertheless, the process referred to by this word regularly occurs in the female body, which is in reproductive age. Essentially, it is the key to childbearing or to avoiding unplanned pregnancy, a mysterious and often elusive process. This is something that every modern lady must know about, at least in order to understand what sometimes happens to her.

The position and role of ovulation in a woman’s menstrual cycle

A woman’s biological life is a series of cyclical processes controlled by hormones

The life of any woman, as we know, consists of many cyclical segments, constantly and almost continuously following each other - the so-called menstrual cycles (MCs). In the minds of a person who is far from anatomical details and medical issues, this cycle externally manifests itself in the form of menstrual flow appearing in a woman once a month. However, if you dig a little deeper, it turns out that menstruation is only the end of the cycle, its small, and, in fact, not the most significant segment. Simultaneously with its beginning, a new cycle begins, full of important events that a woman and her environment simply do not notice in ordinary life.

A woman who is aware of the significance and signs of all processes of the monthly cycle, having gained experience in observing her body over time, will definitely learn to distinguish the external “symptoms” of each stage of MC, including determining the approximate boundaries of the ovulatory period.

Basic information about MC that a woman should have is as follows:

1. MC is controlled by hormones, which means that the beginning, course and completion of each of its stages are determined by the entry into the body (normally from internal sources - glands) of a certain hormone or group of hormones.
2. The MC lasts for a certain period of time - usually from 25 to 35 days. This number of days is approximately equal to a calendar month - this is where the name “monthly” comes from. The length of the MC is an individual characteristic; in addition, it can vary in the same woman from month to month.
3. MC consists of two stages (phases), between which ovulation occurs.
4. The first period of the cycle begins its countdown from the first day of monthly discharge and ends with the onset of ovulation. In an ideal cycle (28 days), this stage lasts 13–14 days, however, in practice (and this is absolutely normal), the duration of the first phase varies, even for the same woman. The main event of the first stage is the maturation of follicles (formations containing one egg each) in the woman’s ovaries, the selection of one of them as the dominant (largest).
5. The second phase starts after ovulation, it is much more stable in duration - for the same woman its length does not change, for different women it varies within small limits (from 12 to 16 days). The main purpose of this period is to prepare the body for a possible pregnancy, securing the fertilized egg in the uterus. The stage ends in the absence of pregnancy with the onset of the next menstruation, that is, a new cycle.

Each stage of the cycle is controlled by a specific hormone or combination of hormones.

Hormones that stimulate the onset of the next stage of the cycle: for the first stage - FSH, estrogen; for ovulation - LH; for the second stage - progesterone. However, you should not assume that this is a complete list of hormones involved in the process. A woman’s hormonal background is a delicate matter; entire groups of hormones are involved here, their combinations in a certain concentration and sequence. Not only those hormones produced by the ovaries are involved in the cycle; hormones from the thyroid gland, the pituitary gland, and even the adrenal glands are also important. A disruption in the production of any of them can lead to very serious troubles, including infertility.

How does anovulation manifest?

Sometimes (due to some hormonal imbalances) ovulation does not occur during the cycle. In this case, the second phase does not occur. Such a cycle is called anovulatory, and its duration is much more difficult to predict than the length of a normal cycle (for some women it is outwardly no different from normal, for others it is much longer or shorter). Nevertheless, the presence of up to two anovulatory monthly periods per year is not a pathology, but an absolutely normal phenomenon. If the process is constantly absent, this is a serious cause for concern, because in fact this means the inability of the woman’s body to conceive.

When taking oral contraceptives, the phenomenon is absent for obvious reasons - it is on hormonal suppression that this method of contraception is based.

There is a common misconception that there is no ovulation during lactation (breastfeeding), so there is no need to take care of contraception at this time. In fact, the presence or absence during lactation is individual - for some, the cycle is truly absent throughout the entire breastfeeding period, while for others, regular menstruation begins several months after birth. Of course, as long as there is no regular monthly cycle, there is no ovulation. However, the cycle can begin at any moment, and an unsuspecting woman simply will not notice the required date and become pregnant unplanned.

What is ovulation in the structure of the menstrual cycle

Ovulation is the release of an egg from the follicle

In simple terms, ovulation is the rupture of the follicle and the release of an egg out of it (into the abdominal cavity). This is one of the key moments in the conception process, because without this, the egg and sperm will not subsequently meet in the fallopian tubes. As a result of this meeting, fertilization will occur. If this does not happen, approximately 24–48 hours after ovulation, the egg will die, and MC will continue according to the scenario of a pregnancy that did not occur.

When does this happen? Classical (described in the medical literature) MC assumes its onset exactly in the middle of the cycle. Nevertheless, practice shows that the ideal MC is the exception rather than the rule among modern women. It's all about the relatively “freely walking” length of the first phase - the same girl, under the influence of a sudden climate change, stress, or any unusual exciting life circumstances, can ovulate on both the 7th and 40th day of the cycle.

The length of a specific MC in a woman is determined precisely at the moment of ovulation, because the second phase has a fixed duration.

Example. A woman who, through long-term observations, has established that the length of phase 2 of her cycle is 13 days, usually has a cycle with a total duration of 27 days. Moreover, the first phase lasts, as a rule, 14 days. After the operation, the cycle went wrong, and ovulation seemed to occur on the 20th day of the cycle. This means that you should not expect menstruation at the usual time (at 28 DC), it will begin no earlier than the 34th day of the cycle.

It is precisely because of completely normal temporary fluctuations in the moment that the terms “early” and “late ovulation” appeared in medical practice.

Why do you need to know the timing and what are fertile days?

Fertile days are calculated by women planning pregnancy or, conversely, fearing pregnancy

In fact, the moment of release of the egg from the follicle is short in time, and it is impossible to reliably establish its time frame using modern technologies available to women. However, in order to establish the time when conception itself can occur, it is not so important.

The practical significance of timing is to know exactly when unprotected intercourse can lead to conception and when it does not. Based on these considerations, a woman is more interested not in the moment itself, but in the so-called fertile days.

Fertile days can be divided into two parts:

• days before ovulation, sexual intercourse during which can lead to pregnancy due to the fact that sperm are able to “wait” for an egg in the tubal space for several days without compromising their own fertilizing properties;
• days after, sexual intercourse can lead to pregnancy due to the fact that the egg “awaits” fertilization in the tubes for some time.

Each of the listed periods of fertility lasts on average about a couple of days. However, it is impossible to establish an exact framework - everything depends on the individual characteristics of both women and men, the quality of the cells, and other circumstances.

Sperm live in the female body from one to seven days.

Fertilization can occur only on a few specific days of the menstrual cycle.

It has been scientifically proven that male cells with the Y chromosome (determining the sex of the future baby as male) are viable for a much shorter period than cells with the X chromosome (female). Therefore, the more distant the moment of sexual intercourse from the moment of ovulation (meaning the time before), the greater the chances of conceiving a girl, and vice versa.

The lifespan of an egg outside the follicle is much shorter - from 12 hours to 1 day, in exceptional cases - up to two days. In other words, the fertile period, according to the most daring estimates, can last about a week, according to the most conservative estimates - about 4 days.

What sensations and signs can tell a woman about the onset of

Most women do not feel ovulation at all, primarily for the reason that they do not think about the need to determine it. However, as soon as a woman receives the necessary amount of knowledge about the MC and the processes occurring at each stage, establishing an approximate time is not particularly difficult for her.

Before ovulation (several days), a viscous discharge appears

The main external signs of ovulation are:

1. The first and main sign is strengthening - the discharge becomes more liquid, transparent, viscous (reminiscent of egg white or mucus).
2. Blood may be present in the discharge (a rare sign).
3. The breasts increase in size and become painful.
4. They occur in the lower abdomen and lower back (possibly on one side).
5. Due to sudden changes in hormonal levels, headaches occur.
6. Sexual desire increases and performance increases.

Of course, all of the listed signs of ovulation cannot be clearly manifested in the same woman at the same time. However, having studied the behavior of her body for several months in a row, supporting the acquired knowledge with special research (which will be discussed below), a woman can determine, if not the moment of ovulation, then the fertile days with an accuracy of several days.

Instrumental determination methods

When embarking on the path of planning a pregnancy or, on the contrary, planning protection from it using the calendar method (by the way, it is the most unreliable of all), a woman inevitably thinks about more accurately determining the time of ovulation, and not just by sensations. Today there are several such methods, and to obtain the most accurate result it is recommended to use two or three of them simultaneously.

Calendar counting

The calendar method for determining ovulation is based on the application of general cycle parameters to a woman’s individual cycle

The calendar method is the simplest, oldest and most unreliable. It is based on the application of the above-described general information about MC to a specific cycle. So, woman:

• simply calculates the duration of the first phase (based on its average length for all women - 14 days, or individually ever established in another way);
• calculates the moment of ovulation;
• subtracts the approximate life expectancy of sperm from the obtained date;
• adds to the same date obtained the approximate life expectancy of the egg;
• As a result, you get an approximate period of fertility.

The method under consideration is today implemented in the form of many online calculators for calculating the days of conception based on the average cycle length and the date of the last menstruation entered by the user.

Ultrasound

To determine the moment of ovulation, folliculometry is performed - several ultrasound examinations during the cycle

Ultrasound is one of the most reliable methods. However, it does not allow us to determine the moment of ovulation with an accuracy of at least several hours. In addition, to determine the time of ovulation, it is necessary to attend at least three ultrasound examinations in advance. After the fact, it is possible to ascertain that ovulation has already occurred after several days.

The doctor determines the high probability of ovulation by the clear identification of the dominant follicle and its achievement of a certain maximum size. To do this, he needs to observe the growth of follicles in the woman’s ovaries several times over the course of two weeks (this study is called “folliculometry”).

Ovulation tests

Ovulation tests look exactly the same as pregnancy tests

The most recent advance in the field of determining the moment of ovulation is tests for it. After all, now a woman can determine her fertile period at home with a high degree of probability (by the way, no less than with an ultrasound). This technique is based on recording a sharp release of LH into the blood before ovulation. Establishing the fact of hormone release allows us to talk about the approaching (within 24 hours) date with maximum probability.

Ovulation tests are designed on the same principle as pregnancy tests - they are strips or cassettes with a reagent applied to them, which appears when the required hormone is present in the urine. The only difference is in the following points:

• The test result is considered positive only if the test strip is no less bright than the control strip (there are slightly different rules when determining pregnancy);

The ideal basal temperature schedule consists of two periods: the first is low temperature, the second is high temperature

This method of determining the moment of ovulation is also widespread. This technique has received a controversial reputation among doctors, as it is far from the most accurate. However, today women still use it quite often, as the most inexpensive and relatively reliable. The technique is based on natural fluctuations in the temperature of the human body due to cyclical changes in hormonal levels. Thus, under the influence of hormones before ovulation, the temperature decreases slightly, and after ovulation (thanks to increased progesterone) it sharply and clearly “jumps.”

To use this method, a woman needs to measure the temperature in the rectum early in the morning every day, and based on the data obtained, keep a monthly chart. Specialized Internet resources or a competent gynecologist will help you interpret the graph.

Stimulation of ovulation - why and how

In cases where anovulation has become the cause of infertility, a treatment method such as ovulation stimulation becomes quite effective. Stimulation is the artificial introduction of hormones into the body that promote follicle growth under ultrasound control. When the dominant follicle reaches the required size, the required dose of a hormone analogue of LH (hCG) is injected into the body so that the follicle bursts. In this way, real ovulation is artificially achieved. If necessary, the technique is combined with artificial insemination or IVF.

Video - how to determine fertile days

Ovulation is the most important process in the life of any woman, occurring monthly. It is she, as a result of the coordinated work of hormonal levels, that establishes a regular monthly cycle. Determining the moment is important, first of all, for a correct understanding of your own fertility. Today there are many methods of determination, however, none of them gives a 100% accurate result - it is best to use several at once.

One of the stages of the menstrual cycle is the rupture of a mature follicle, accompanied by the release of a mature egg from the ovary into the abdominal cavity, ready for fertilization. This process is called ovulation (from the Latin ovum - egg).

If a woman wants to get pregnant, then she urgently needs to know the most significant symptoms of ovulation, because it is at the moment the egg is released from the ovary into the uterine cavity that the probability of conceiving a child is highest.

Ovulation begins 12-16 days before the onset of menstruation and does not depend on the overall duration of the cycle. If the cycle length is 28 days, then ovulation usually occurs in the middle. With a shortened or lengthened cycle, the duration of the first phase, which occurs before ovulation, changes. After ovulation, an average of 14 days pass before the menstrual cycle (range 12 to 16).

Still, calculating the total duration of the menstrual cycle is not a 100% method of obtaining information about the period of ovulation. However, ovulation usually occurs earlier in shorter cycles and later in longer cycles.

Identifying the most noticeable and common symptoms of ovulation

All the signs and symptoms of ovulation are most important to know for those women who cannot get pregnant for a long time. Of course, with 100% certainty the most suitable day for conception can only be determined using ultrasound.

However, such an examination, even in a municipal clinic, is not carried out free of charge. Therefore, many women use no less reliable, but more economical and understandable methods for them to help determine the time of ovulation. Let's look at them in more detail.

Method for determining the ovulation cycle by measuring basal temperature

This is the most famous, widespread and accessible method of recognizing ovulation at home. Basal temperature is measured in the rectum. To obtain complete and reliable information, it is necessary to take temperature measurements throughout the entire cycle and not stop even after the first symptoms of ovulation appear. The method is quite informative if it is carried out correctly and a schedule of observations of basal temperature is created for at least three cycles.

So, approximately from the end of menstruation, you should start measuring the temperature in the anus every morning, entering the data obtained into a lined or printed graph (where the horizontal axis is the days of the cycle, the vertical axis is the temperature). The first half of the cycle will be determined by temperature fluctuations around 37 degrees.

From the middle of the cycle there should be a jump of at least 0.4 degrees. This will be the period when ovulation begins, since an increase in temperature is an integral sign of it. If no increase in temperature is detected and the graph is flat, then most likely the cycle under study is anovulatory.

The temperature readings of the thermometer can be affected by any factor, for example, smoking before measurement, drinking alcohol, sexual intercourse several hours before measurement, or a mild cold, and even more so the presence of hidden infections. It is best to use a regular mercury thermometer, since the readings of an electronic one greatly depend on the characteristics of its contact with the anus.

The measurement time should be the same each time - 5-10 minutes. It should be taken into account that, in addition to the increase in temperature during the period of ovulation, about a day before it, the thermometer readings, on the contrary, will become slightly smaller, and then begin to increase. This occurs under the influence of the hormone progesterone, which affects the part of the brain that regulates body temperature. Sometimes such changes may be absent during the period of ovulation, which is due to a lack of progesterone. If there are any reasons, they should be marked on the chart.

The method of measuring basal temperature in the anus is reliable in 40% of cases. This is worth taking into account and combining this technique with other methods that determine the signs and symptoms of ovulation.

Testing

This is a simple method. Now the pharmacy sells individual test strips for determining ovulation, kits of several tests, test devices (for example, ClearPlan Easy Fertility Monitor). It is better to purchase a kit, since several tests must be done. What ovulation symptoms do these tests respond to and how are they detected?

The purpose of the tests is to recognize luteinizing hormone (LH) in the urine. A certain amount of LH is constantly present in the urine, but only 24-36 hours before the ovulation period the concentration of this hormone increases significantly. Its increase is accompanied by the appearance of two stripes on the test. Error is practically eliminated.

It would not be amiss to test twice a day during the most favorable days for conception, starting 5-6 days before the expected ovulation cycle. This method gives excellent results in combination with ultrasound. In this case, you can not use tests, but wait until the follicle reaches 18-20 mm in size and is able to ovulate. From now on, you can start doing tests daily.

The result of determining ovulation using a test strip: if there is only one strip on the test, it means that the LH level has not yet increased. Do a repeat test in a day. The presence of two stripes indicates a recorded increase in LH levels. The degree of coloration of the strip next to the control one is an indicator of the amount of detected hormone. The onset of ovulation is possible when the color intensity of this strip is similar to the control or brighter.

The result of determining ovulation using a test device: compare the line on the left of the arrow on the device body with the control line on the right in the result window. The line located closer to the arrow on the stick determines the level of LH in the urine. The control line always appears in the result window if the test was carried out correctly.

If the result line is paler than the control line, it means that the hormone release has not yet occurred. Then testing should be done every day. If the result line is the same shade as the control line, or darker, then an LH surge has been produced. This means that ovulation should begin within 24-36 hours.

Once elevated LH levels are confirmed, testing can be stopped. The possibility of conception is highest 3 days before the expected period of ovulation and LH surge and 1-2 days after it.

Ovulation calendar

By referring to a chart with basal temperature data or tests for at least 3 months, it is possible to create a calendar of the ovulation cycle. With its help, a forecast is made of the day of the next ovulation, and, therefore, you can begin planning for conception and pregnancy.

Ovulatory pain

During the period of ovulation, a number of women feel a sharp or nagging pain in the area of ​​the ovary where the follicle burst. The combination of all symptoms of painful ovulation is officially called ovulatory syndrome. The syndrome includes ovulatory pain: about 2 weeks before the onset of menstruation, sharp cramps or pain in the lower abdomen occur.

Painful sensations are usually short-lived, lasting from several minutes to two hours, but some women feel them for a day or even two. Approximately 20% of women go to the doctor with complaints of painful ovulation.

What causes the painful symptoms of ovulatory syndrome is still unknown. It is believed that this phenomenon accompanies irritation of the ovarian mucosa at the moment when the release of the egg begins.

Painful ovulation and its symptoms may occur monthly or periodically. When you experience ovulatory pain for the first time, you should consult your doctor to rule out the possibility of infections or other serious problems. If the pain is severe and does not subside within several hours, it is imperative to consult a doctor, because the cause of the pain may not be the maturation of the egg.

Cervical fluid

The most common occurrence among healthy women is the presence of stretchy, clear, odorless vaginal discharge. If you regularly monitor the condition of the cervical fluid throughout the menstrual cycle, you can observe a certain pattern.

At the end of menstruation, the discharge is abundant, and after a few days its quantity decreases, it acquires a thicker, stickier consistency. The closer the beginning of ovulation, the more the discharge becomes thinner, the consistency resembles cream and the color is whitish or yellowish. When there are a few days left before ovulation, the discharge becomes transparent, elastic, and slippery.

At this time, the likelihood of conception is greatest. Post-ovulation discharge changes again, becoming sticky, or disappears completely until the next cycle. On such “dry” days - immediately after the menstrual period or shortly before its onset - the likelihood of conception is very low.

Definition ovulation symptoms using a regular or special microscope at home

In the morning, before brushing your teeth and eating, apply a drop of saliva to the glass. Place under a microscope and note: if there is no clearly defined pattern on the glass, there are randomly located dots, then there is no ovulation. If ovulation is about to occur, a “fern” pattern will be observed. The pattern on the glass becomes as clear as possible one day before the start of ovulation. After the ovulation cycle ends, the pattern blurs again.

If a special microscope purchased at a pharmacy is used for observation, then, as a rule, drawings in the form of diagrams corresponding to each day of the cycle are attached to it. This method of identifying ovulation symptoms is the most reliable (about 95%). Existing inflammatory diseases of the oral cavity, smoking and drinking alcohol shortly before the saliva test can contribute to the appearance of a false result.

Ovulation symptoms diagnosed by a doctor

Ultrasound examination (US) is considered to be the most accurate method for diagnosing ovulation symptoms. At the end of menstruation, usually on the 7th day after its start, the gynecologist performs an ultrasound using a vaginal sensor. The degree of transformation of the follicles - the so-called vesicles in the ovaries, from which the egg is released alternately in different cycles - is being monitored. A pronounced sign of existing ovulation is the appearance of a dominant follicle, which is somewhat larger in size compared to others. After ovulation it disappears. Ovulation will begin after this follicle reaches a size of 18-20 mm. These symptoms of ovulation are quite obvious, so the doctor must notice them.

The main symptom that occurs after the end of ovulation is the formation of the corpus luteum at the site of the ruptured follicle. At this time, fluid appears in the resulting space behind the uterus.

If the menstrual cycle is regular, then an ultrasound is performed 2-3 days before the expected period of ovulation and 1 day after it. If the cycle is irregular, the study is carried out every 2-3 days, starting from the 10th day of the cycle. Ultrasound examination can be done less frequently if you calculate the possible date of ovulation based on the size of the follicle, taking into account that the dominant follicle increases by 2 mm every day.

During an examination in the middle of the cycle, a gynecologist may reveal a slight opening of the internal os of the cervix and the presence of copious, transparent discharge from the patient’s vagina.

Considering that the average “lifespan” of sperm is 2-3 days (very rarely it is 5-7 days), and the female egg remains viable from 12 to 24 hours, then the longest duration of the fertile period (this is the interval in a woman’s menstrual cycle, when the likelihood of getting pregnant increases) is about 6-9 days. The fertile period has phases of slow rise (lasts 6-7 days) and rapid decline (1-2 days) before and after the first day of ovulation, respectively.

Ovulation divides the menstrual cycle into 2 phases:

1. The follicle maturation phase, which lasts 10-16 days in the case of an average cycle length.

2. The corpus luteum phase (luteal), lasting 12-16 days, independent of the duration of the menstrual cycle, stable. This phase is considered a period of absolute infertility, which begins 1-2 days after ovulation and ends with the beginning of the next menstruation. If for one reason or another ovulation does not begin, then the endometrial layer in the uterus is forced out during menstruation.

The most rare symptoms of ovulation

The onset of ovulation day is indicated by the following symptoms: insignificant spotting with blood from the vagina, as well as increased sexual desire. The last sign of ovulation, like many other symptoms, is not pronounced in all women.

Lack of ovulation is one of the main symptoms of infertility

By observing the menstrual cycle as a whole, you can determine the symptoms of the presence or absence of ovulation. Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is usually a symptom of the ovulatory cycle. Engorgement of the mammary glands before the onset of menstruation, a slight increase in body weight during the second phase of the cycle - these symptoms are characteristic of the ovulation cycle.

If ovulation occurs in every cycle, then the cycle is considered regular. An irregular cycle is characterized by a complete absence of ovulation, or it occurs, but not in every cycle. However, a regular cycle does not indicate the 100% presence of ovulation, just as an irregular cycle does not guarantee its absence.

Lack of ovulation is associated with improper functioning of the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian system, and can result from inflammation of the genitals, dysfunction of the adrenal cortex or thyroid gland, tumors of the pituitary gland and hypothalamus, intracranial pressure, systemic diseases or stressful situations.

Disorders associated with the absence of ovulatory cycles may be hereditary in nature (the presence of diseases that prevent the occurrence of the ovulation process). The term anovulation means the absence of ovulation in a woman of childbearing age. Anovulation involves disturbances in menstrual rhythms like oligomenorrhea (when menstruation lasts only 1-2 days), amenorrhea, and dysfunctional bleeding from the uterine cavity. Lack of ovulation is usually an undeniable sign of female infertility.

Ovulatory cycles may also be absent due to a previous abortion, hormonal imbalance arising from brain injuries, various complex depressions, etc.

Such conditions are treated with complex therapy using hormonal drugs that act as ovulation stimulants and also cause superovulation (the maturation of several eggs in the ovary at once, due to which the chances of fertilization increase sharply). Such methods are widely used during in vitro fertilization (IVF) procedures.

Another reason for the prolonged absence of ovulation and, as a consequence, infertility, may be luteal phase deficiency syndrome (LPF). Deficiency is characterized by a concentration of progesterone less than the amount required for implantation of the embryo into the uterus during the second phase of menstruation in the postovulation period.

This requires treatment aimed at stimulating the functions of the corpus luteum of the ovary and increasing the amount of progesterone in the blood. Unfortunately, NLF is not always correctable, since this condition is often associated with other gynecological diseases that require a more thorough examination.

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Women who are planning a pregnancy are faced with the concept of ovulation. This process is very important for conception, because... if ovulation has not occurred, then fertilization will not occur, even if sexual intercourse occurs every day. So what is ovulation and why is conception impossible without it? In two words, ovulation is a process that accompanies the release of a fully mature and ready-to-fertilize egg from the follicle. It lasts only a few minutes; as soon as the egg leaves the follicle, ovulation ends.

Every woman's body contains about a million eggs from birth. They are in a dormant state in the ovaries, each egg is hidden in a house - a follicle, and waits for its turn to come out. Not all eggs are destined to mature or be fertilized; many of them remain in the follicles in their infancy and die over time. By the time the female body reaches puberty (first menstruation), there are already 300-400 thousand left in the ovaries. follicles. And during the entire reproductive period, approximately 400-500 eggs that are mature and ready for fertilization ovulate.

About once a month, under the influence of the hormones of the first phase, several eggs (from 10 to 15) begin to awaken, mature and increase in size along with the follicles. After ten days, out of one and a half dozen awakened follicles, one begins to stand out, it is called dominant. It is much larger than the others, its size reaches about 15-20 mm, sometimes more. When the egg inside it reaches the peak of its maturation, the follicle bursts and the egg comes out into the abdominal cavity. Here it is picked up by the villi of the fallopian tubes and moves along them into the uterine cavity. It would be more correct to say that it is not she who is advancing, but the fallopian tubes, contracting, pushing the egg through. Within 24 hours she is ready for fertilization, and if a sperm is encountered on her way, conception will occur. The egg will begin to divide, turning into an embryo, continuing its movement into the uterine cavity, where it will attach to its wall and the pregnancy will begin to develop. If for some reason the embryo dies or is unable to implant (attach) into the uterus, after a certain time, under the influence of hormones of the second, luteal phase, the endometrium will be rejected from the uterine cavity, i.e. menstruation will begin. In rare cases, two or three eggs ovulate, then two or three embryos are conceived, the woman develops a multiple pregnancy and twins or triplets (fraternal twins) are born.

Signs of ovulation (how to determine ovulation)

For couples planning a child, it is very important to know the moment of ovulation so as not to miss it. Are there any signs of ovulation? Yes, and there are several of them. First, charting your basal temperature can be very helpful. If a woman keeps such a schedule, measures her temperature every morning and records the readings, then she noticed that every month, approximately in the middle of the cycle, the temperature drops by 0.2-0.3 degrees, and the next day it sharply increases by 0.4-0 .6 degrees, i.e. a jump occurs. So on the day when the temperature drops, the egg is released, i.e. ovulation. This can be seen on the graph as an ovulatory drop in temperature. That is, if you see that the temperature has dropped, then the most favorable time for conception has come. It is known that the sperm of a healthy man retain mobility and viability for five days, so if a couple had sexual intercourse a few days before ovulation, then there is a high probability that the sperm in the fallopian tubes will wait for the egg and fertilization will occur. But the most favorable period is considered to be the day of ovulation and 12-15 hours after its onset. The question may arise: why not a day, since the egg “lives” for 24 hours? Do not forget that the sperm is not a Formula 1 car, and it needs time, or rather several hours, to travel the required distance before meeting the egg in the fallopian tubes.

Secondly, ovulation can be tracked without a schedule, using vaginal discharge. When the time for the release of a mature egg approaches, the discharge becomes more liquid, transparent and slippery, resembling the white of a chicken egg in appearance. It is quite easy to notice ovulatory discharge - it becomes mucous and abundant, and stretches well. The most accurate method for determining the time of ovulation is folliculometry, or, more commonly called, ultrasound monitoring, when the growth of follicles is monitored using ultrasound equipment. The first study is carried out approximately on the 10th day of the menstrual cycle, then you need to visit the doctor every two days until ovulation occurs.

There are also subjective signs of ovulation. This is short-term pain or tingling in the lower abdomen at the moment when the follicle bursts. Or the increased sexual desire that some women experience during ovulation. Still, you should not focus on subjective signs, because Abdominal pain may not be ovulatory at all, and increased sexual arousal is caused by other reasons. Therefore, it is better to keep a temperature chart, rely on ultrasound monitoring or use ovulation tests.

Ovulation tests

Ovulation tests are one way to determine the day of ovulation. They are quite simple and easy to use. They are test paper strips, usually 5 pieces per package. The strip is divided into two halves - one control, with a colored line applied, the other - diagnostic, on which a reagent is applied. It remains invisible until the strip is placed in a bowl of urine. They work similarly to pregnancy tests, only the urine reacts not to hCG, but to luteinizing hormone. The peak release of this hormone in the body occurs 12-36 hours before ovulation. They begin testing based on the length of their menstrual cycle. If its length is, for example, 28 days, then the first strip should be soaked from the eleventh day. It is advisable to carry out the procedure at the same time and not drink a lot of liquid beforehand. It is necessary to lower the strip into a container with urine for a few seconds, and after three minutes see the result. If the strip with the reagent on the diagnostic half of the test is the same color as the control half, or darker than it, then the result is positive. If it is lighter, the test should be repeated the next day.

Days of ovulation (ovulation cycle)

To roughly determine the day of ovulation, you need to know the duration of the menstrual cycle. It can have different lengths for different women; the norm is considered to last from 21 to 35 days. Each cycle can be divided into two phases - follicular, before ovulation, and luteal, which begins after ovulation. These phases have different lengths, the first can range from 9 to 21 days, the second - from 12 to 16 days. The second phase is more stable, but the first, even in the same woman, can lengthen or shorten, depending on the time of follicle maturation, which is regulated and controlled by a complex hormonal process. Therefore, when calculating the approximate day of ovulation, you should proceed from the second phase. For example, with a 31-day cycle, the length of the second phase will be 14-15 days, which means you can expect ovulation from the 16-17th day of the menstrual cycle. With a 28-day cycle - from the 13-14th day of the cycle, with a 21-day cycle - from the ninth day.

If the cycle is regular and stable, then ovulation will occur on the same days of the cycle, then you can use this formula for calculation. If the cycle is irregular, to determine the day the egg is released, you will have to use additional methods, or provide reserve days in one direction or the other, in case ovulation is late or occurs earlier than usual.

Irregular cycle and pregnancy

When planning a pregnancy, a woman may need to take complexes of biologically active substances that normalize and support reproductive function. For example, a biologically active food supplement TIME-FACTOR®, which contains vitamins C and E, folic acid, rutin, minerals (iron, magnesium and zinc), indole-3-carbinol, glutamic acid, aucubin, gingerols, as well as standardized plant extracts of angelica root, ginger root and chasteberry fruit. The complex of biologically active substances included in the TIME-FACTOR® dietary supplement helps normalize the menstrual cycle and maintain hormonal balance.

If there is no ovulation

Many women believe that ovulation occurs every month. But it is not so. Normally, for a young and healthy body, up to two or three anovulatory cycles are allowed per year. The older a woman is, the more cycles she goes through without ovulating. By the age of 35-40, there may be only 5-7 ovulations per year. And this is also the norm. If there is no ovulation at all, in this case we can talk about disorders occurring in the female body. They may be associated with infectious diseases, inflammatory processes, hormonal imbalances, or stress experienced by the woman. To identify the cause and restore the ovulatory cycle, you need to contact a gynecologist. First of all, he will prescribe laboratory tests for hormones, infections, etc. He may refer you for folliculometry in order to monitor whether follicles are developing throughout the entire cycle, at the same time assess the condition of the uterus and ovaries and observe changes in the endometrium. If a woman is over 35 years old, her ovarian reserve should be checked. Based on the initial examination and test results, the doctor prescribes further examination or treatment. In many cases, stimulating ovulation helps.

Ovulation stimulation

If for some reason ovulation does not occur, or occurs very rarely, its stimulation can help. It is prescribed only if a woman has patent fallopian tubes, otherwise there is a high probability of an ectopic pregnancy. Stimulation is carried out only under medical supervision. Depending on the woman’s age and test results, a number of hormonal medications are prescribed. When prescribing treatment, the doctor simultaneously monitors the growth of follicles using ultrasound. As soon as a dominant follicle of the required size is identified, a dose of another drug is administered - Pregnil, which causes ovulation. Drug stimulation is a fairly effective method of combating infertility, which has helped many couples get a long-awaited baby.

In addition to medication, there is also a folk method of stimulating ovulation by taking herbal infusions. In the first half of the cycle, to grow the endometrium and stimulate the maturation of the egg, drink a decoction of red brush or sage, and in the second phase - a decoction of boron uterus, which promotes the production of progesterone, so that if pregnancy occurs, it will support it at first. Thinking that all herbs are harmless and prescribing treatment for yourself is a very reckless step. You should use infusions only with the approval of a doctor, otherwise you can harm your health and upset your hormonal balance.

Ovulation in women is a stage of the menstrual cycle during which the follicle ruptures and a mature egg capable of fertilization is released from the ovary.

If we talk about what ovulation is in simple words, then this is precisely the period of a woman’s menstrual cycle during which conception is possible.

Just when a mature egg is released, the probability of its fertilization becomes highest. Therefore, in order for the chances of conceiving a child to be as high as possible, it is necessary to learn how to determine the moment of ovulation.

The ovulation process is controlled by the hypothalamus, regulating the release of hormones secreted by the anterior pituitary gland: luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH).

Consider the ovulation cycle with an average menstrual cycle of 28 days.

From the first day of menstruation, a woman enters the follicular (preovulatory) phase. During this period, follicles begin to develop in the ovaries, which, under the influence of follicle-stimulating hormone, undergo certain transformations.

Starting from the seventh day and right up to the very middle of the menstrual cycle, the ovulatory phase is observed.

During this period, the formation of the Graafian vesicle is noted - a special follicle, which, upon reaching a certain size and level of functional activity, forms an ovulatory peak under the influence of estrogens, which triggers the process of maturation of the egg.

Ovulation occurs on the 14th day of the cycle. After the egg matures, a rupture occurs in the follicle, from which the egg is pushed out and leaves the follicle, ready to give birth to a new life.

By the 15th day, the postovulatory phase (corpus luteum phase) begins. Ovulation is completed before the arrival of a new menstruation. During this period, the egg goes through the fallopian tube into the uterine cavity, where it remains active for about two more days.

If successful fertilization of the egg occurs during the ovulation period, then by 6–12 days the zygote will enter the uterine cavity, where the process of implantation (implantation) into the uterine wall will occur.

If conception does not occur, the mature egg will die in the fallopian tube within 24 hours.

• In healthy women of childbearing age, ovulation occurs regularly, approximately in the middle of the menstrual cycle itself, every 21-35 days.
• This rhythm of ovulation, developed for each woman, undergoes changes after an abortion for 3 months, after childbirth for a year, and also after a woman reaches 40 years of age, when her body begins to prepare for menopause.
• Physiologically, the ovulation process stops with the onset of pregnancy in a woman, as well as as a result of the onset of menopause.

Signs of ovulation

Signs of ovulation can be divided into two groups:

• warnings about the approach of ovulation and a favorable period for conceiving a baby,
• indicating the completion of the ovulation process.

It is easy for a woman to notice signs of ovulation if she promptly pays attention to changes in her condition. Knowing these signs, you can control the days that increase your chances of conceiving a child, or determine safe days if you are not yet ready for pregnancy.

The main signs of ovulation in women

• Change in vaginal discharge. The amount and consistency of vaginal discharge changes as the hour of ovulation approaches. The discharge becomes abundant, thick and viscous, reminiscent in its character of the consistency of viscous raw protein.
• Increased sexual desire. A few days before ovulation, a woman experiences an increase in libido. It is nature itself that thus prepares the woman’s body
  to the possible conception of a child.
• Change in basal temperature. A woman's basal body temperature rises slightly as ovulation approaches, which is due to an increase in the amount of the hormone progesterone in the woman's body during the period of ovulation and after its completion.
• Changes in the cervix. Experts believe that as a woman approaches ovulation, her cervix becomes softer, rises slightly higher than its normal position and opens wider to accommodate the potential process of conception.
• Pain in the mammary glands. Quite often, women experience unusual pain in the chest area during ovulation. Such excessive sensitivity can easily be explained by the hormonal surge occurring at this time in the woman’s body. This is how your body prepares for possible conception.
• Pain in the lower abdomen (in the ovary area). Some women experience moderate aching pain in the lower abdomen during ovulation. In this case, the duration of such painful sensations can be from several minutes and last up to several days. These pains can be caused precisely by the release of a mature egg from the ovary.
• Changes in hormonal levels. Luteinizing hormone stimulates the ovaries and the subsequent release of a mature egg. During the period of ovulation, the production of this hormone in a woman’s body increases significantly. To determine the increase in the amount of luteinizing hormone in your body, you can use a pharmacy test to calculate the time of ovulation.
• Bloating. During the period of ovulation, many women experience significant bloating and enlargement of the abdomen, and flatulence is possible. It is worth noting that sometimes such a sign is a signal that you simply need to review and adjust your own diet.
• Increased perception of certain receptors. Sometimes during the period of ovulation, a change in the level of hormones in a woman’s body can cause an increased sense of smell or provoke a change in a woman’s taste buds.

Now you know that there are many signs that will give you the opportunity to control the timing of ovulation. Such knowledge will help you find the most favorable days for conceiving a baby and teach you how to prevent unwanted pregnancy.