Signs of Ovulation and Fertility

Your most fertile time of the month starts one to two days before you ovulate and lasts for three days after you ovulate. The process of ovulation is when your body releases egg(s) from your ovary and begins it's journey through your fallopian tubes. If the egg is fertilitzed and implants, you are then pregnant.

Undertanding the signs of ovulation will help you raise your chances at conceiving each month.

So What Are the Signs?

* Breast tenderness * Abdominal cramps or twinges * Increase in sex drive * Elevated level of the luteinizing hormone which can be detected on a test * Body temperature chart that shows a consistent change * Abdominal bloating * Heightened sense of vision, smell or taste * Increased cervical mucus:

Soon after your menstrual cycle, you might notice a sticky or "tacky" vaginal secretion. Immediately prior to ovulation, most women usually detect increased vaginal secretions that are wet and slippery (similar to the consistency of raw egg white). Generally, your body produces the greatest amount of this type of vaginal discharge is on the day of ovulation.

Immediately following the day of ovulation, your vaginal discharge gradually becomes thicker in consistency, and less is secreted.

* Change in position and firmness of the cervix

When your cervical position rises within your body, the opening gets larger and feels soft to the touch, this is an indication of being at your most fertile time. This page will give you information on the different positions, the changes of the opening as well as the feel of your cervix during your monthly cycle.

Cervix is Low, Hard & Closed After your menstrual period you will begin to start checking your cervical position. At this time the position of your cervix will be low within your body and easily reached with your fingertips. The opening to your cervix will be closed - feeling like a small slit or a tiny hole. The feel of your cervix will be rather hard to the touch. It will feel almost like touching the tip of your nose. During this phase (the first phase within your cycle) you are considered infertile.

Cervix is High, Soft & Open Right before ovulation occurs the amount of estrogen increases within your body. This causes your cervix to rise. When checking your cervical position, you will notice that it will move from the lowest point to mid and then extremely high. At the highest point it may be difficult to reach your cervix with your fingertips. The opening of your cervix increases making the slit or tiny hole much larger. The feel of your cervix is much softer now almost like touching your bottom lip. This is an indication of your peak or most fertile time. The cervix will remain high until you ovulate - after which estrogen subsides and the hormone progesterone is released causing your cervix to return to its low. closed and hard position.