To get pregnant or conceive, women must ovulate.
Ovulation is when a woman’s ovaries release an egg, which happens once a cycle. After ovulation, the egg stays in the fallopian tube for less than 24 hours. This means that sperm must be present during this short window for pregnancy to occur.
Keep reading to learn more about ovulation and pregnancy timing. If you think you might be pregnant, visit Adira Clinic today for free and confidential pregnancy testing to find out for sure.
When Does Ovulation Usually Happen?
Ovulation happens once during a woman’s cycle, usually around the midpoint. If a woman has a 28-day cycle, she will likely ovulate halfway through around day 14. There are apps and different ways to track your cycle and learn when you may be ovulating.
Signs of Ovulation
Some women may try to either have sex around ovulation to get pregnant or avoid sex around those times to prevent pregnancy; this is the basis of natural family planning.
The ovulation signs women look for include changes in vaginal discharge or cervical mucus and basal body temperature (your temperature when your body is at rest). There are also urine test strips that detect the luteinizing hormone (LH), which often surges about three days before ovulation.
Ovulation and Preventing Pregnancy
Even when women monitor their ovulation, it’s not a perfect method of preventing pregnancy. There are so many factors that can impact ovulation, including stress, sickness, or irregular periods. Ovulation can feel like a moving target to try to pinpoint.
Hormonal birth control aims to stop ovulation, but missing a pill can lead hormones to fluctuate and ovulation to occur. Breastfeeding can delay periods, but that doesn’t mean ovulation definitely will not happen. Additionally, women can sometimes ovulate even in the absence of a period.
Do You Think You Might Be Pregnant?
If you’re reading this and wondering if you’re potentially pregnant after sex, know that it’s always a possibility. The only way to entirely prevent pregnancy is to abstain from sex.
Adira Clinic is here to help during this uncertain time. Visit us today for free and confidential pregnancy testing in West Houston. We can help you confirm your pregnancy and learn the next steps.