When Does Ovulation Start?

Ovulation doesn't happen on the same day each month like clockwork for anyone. "Counting days" is what some call "rhythm method" and it is inaccurate. Hormones fluctuate monthly and can be affected by many biological and environmental factors, so to rely on a calendar is a waste of time.

The only reliable way to know when you are ovulating or about to ovulate is to take your basal body temperature upon waking each morning (at the same time each day) and to observe your bodily fertility signs such as cervical mucous, cervical position, and the cervical opening.

While some people have mid-cycle spotting, this is not always a good indicator of ovulation, as spotting can also be a sign of other issues such as fibroids, hormonal imbalances, or uterine problems for example.

There is a science behind knowing when you ovulate that goes beyond counting days from your last period, if you're looking for accuracy. I recommend taking a class at your local hospital on Natural Family Planning or purchasing a book like Taking Charge of Your Fertility by Toni Weschler or The Art of Natural Family Planning by Sheila Kipley.

3 moms found this helpful

There is a lot of mis-information in the responses you've received. Please get yourself a copy of Taking Charge of your Fertility by Toni Wechsler. Ovulation does not happen as a rule on Day 14. You can certainly track your ovulation using the methods outlined in the Taking Charge book, specifically, the consistency of your cervical fluid (egg-whitey fluid means you're close to ovulation) and your basal temperature (the day before a temperature spike). She also goes through some fairly common anomolies, such as cycles when you're under high stress, or if you're not ovulating at all. This book is a MUST READ for any woman who wants to understand her own basic reproductive health, and especially if you are trying to prevent or achieve pregnancy.

3 moms found this helpful

hmm. well 14 days is the 'norm' but it can be different. get the book "taking charge of your fertility" and all your questions will be answered.
http://www.amazon.com/Taking-Charge-Your-Fertility-Annive... --- 1200 reviews and 5 stars. It's a keeper. Highlight and use post-its when you read it for easy reference later.

1 mom found this helpful

If you take your temperature every day before you get out of bed, you will see there is a spike mid month of about 1 degree higher. The day before the spike there is usually a small dip. Best day to conceive is the day of the dip. Good luck!
.

1 mom found this helpful

I went through infertility treatment and day 1 was when you started your "flow" not when you spot. Get an ovulation test kit. Some people ovulate and some later than the middle of your cycle. Good luck!

1 mom found this helpful

I honestly don't remember what you would count as day one....but I highly recommend Taking Charge of Your Fertility by Toni Weschler. It helped me to understand the entire menstruation cycle and the importance of each part of the cycle and to understand the signs my body was giving me.

You ovulate approximately half way through your cycle. The first day you see blood is day one of your cycle. If your next cycle starts 28 days later then you should ovulate about day 14. If your cycle is 26 days later then you should ovulate about day 13. It is best to anticipate ovulation to occur a few days before or after your midpoint just to be safe.

I never counted... I just have always gone by my Ovulation symptoms.
And then, that is how I got pregnant each time.

If you do a Google search on "ovulation symptoms" you will know what to look for.

That is an average, for those with a 28 day cycle. If you are not keeping track of the length of your cycle, then I would recommend doing that. The length of cycle can really mess with the 14 day average.
I have a short cycle, 22-24 days, and ovulate on about day 10. For me, I can tell by the change in cervical fluid consistency and quantity. (You want it to be like an egg white, sticky and stretchy... That is (for me) the thing to look for.)
(What I have read on this subject is that this can vary greatly from person to person, so monitoring yourself is a good starting point, and the assumption that 14 days is about right is a starting point. Modifying that date from there is probably needed too though.)

Another thing to look for when ovulating is that you will start to secrete a white and clear yolky stuff or kinda mucus type stuff. Here is a website that I found that explains it better than I can...lol.

http://www.whattoexpect.com/preconception/fertility/five-...

I always go from the first day I see any spotting and then give a three day window on both sides. So basically from the first day of any sign of AF to day 11 or so to day 17 is what I would consider ovulation, basically a week. You can get ovulation sticks to use and then chart a couple months and that should tell you how your cycle works, or take your temperature daily and when you see it rise that should signal the beginning of ovulation.

You can always ask your dr. but I think you should start buy the first spotting day. because you spot and than your heavy the spotting still considered the begining of your period.

The only true way to know ovulation is to count backward. It happens 14 days BEFORE your period starts, not 14 days after. IF you have a predictably exact 28-day cycle, then at 14 days after the first day you could say you are *likley* ovulating.

I always know when I am ovulating....I feel it. Some women can. Some women have a mucus-y discharge when they ovulate, which is another tell. You could you take your temperature upon waking every morning (BEFORE getting out of bed), because your temp is slightly lower when you ovulate.

I was trying after a misscarriage for OVER a year to get pregnant and figure out when I was ovulating. (Without the use of a kit or temperature monitoring.) I came to the conclusion that it's simply different for everyone. I did notice the discharge changes as mentioned in other posts. I actually got pregnant the week my period ended. Not sure if that helps or not. I was having wacky cycles for a while and just gave up. Then we were on vacation and the day after my period ended (and a few times after that) we did "our thing" and I found out we were expecting baby number three four weeks after vacation!

Best thing for you to do would be to ask a doctor I found all kinds of different information on the web and none of it made sense when it was all put together.

Good luck!

I can feel it too, just like another mama suggested. I get more discharge during week 2 and can usually tell which ovary is expelling the egg because it hurts/twinges and this is usually during week 3.