Is late ovulation normal or an obstacle to the desired pregnancy? Signs of ovulation When ovulation occurs in a 24-day cycle

01.08.2023 -

Is late ovulation normal or an obstacle to the desired pregnancy?

Almost all married couples are familiar with the concept of “”, they have been planning a child for a long time (perhaps unsuccessfully) and are thinking about how to speed up this process. Some, in desperation, decided to raise money for the procedure. After all, no matter how hard you try, month after month the test is negative. But maybe there is still a chance to become parents on your own without violating the mystery of nature? Perhaps the reason for the failure is an incorrectly calculated time for the release of the egg? Late ovulation may well regularly interfere with conception. But what does this term mean? Let's try to figure it out.

What it is?
Is it possible to get pregnant?
Signs and nature of menstruation
Causes
Menstrual cycle shift
What to do?
Cancellation of contraceptives
Diagnosis and treatment

Late ovulation - what is it?

It is believed that the average length of a cycle is 28 days and 14 days.

The concept of late ovulation is quite vague and often misused. Ovulation can very rarely be late or early. In a healthy body, it occurs 14 days before the start of the next cycle. If the menstrual cycle is 30–32 days and ovulation occurs on days 18–20, then this is not late ovulation, but normal for the specified cycle length. In simple words, it takes more time to mature under the conditions of your hormonal background, because ovulation is a hormone-dependent process.

True late ovulation is release of the egg during the 14 days before menstruation. For example, the duration of the cycle is 34 days, the normal period for the release of an egg is day 20 +/- 3 days. Ovulation will be late if it occurs after the 23rd day of the cycle. Conclusions - late ovulation occurs, but is extremely rare.

Yes, you can get pregnant, provided there are no other pathological changes in the woman’s reproductive system. Late ovulation is not a cause of infertility. In order to make correct calculations, you just need to know your cycle duration. The process of conception and the course of pregnancy are not affected by prolonged maturation of the egg.

When to take an ovulation test?

With a 28-day cycle, it is recommended to take an ovulation test closer to day 14. In the instructions for ovulation tests, there are recommendations that the study should be carried out several times with a break of 1-2 days. However, the female body is a very cunning and delicate “device”, the functions of which depend on many factors. happens and occurs after the 16th–17th day.

To find out on what day ovulation occurs for a different cycle length, you need to take into account that the duration of the first half of the cycle can vary, and the second half usually lasts 14 days. From here you can make calculations that determine the onset of ovulation during a cycle of any length. Add 2-3 days to the resulting date. Examples are collected in the table.

Table 1. Late ovulation and pregnancy: when will the test show

Cycle duration (in days)	Ovulation is normal	When to take a pregnancy test during normal ovulation (cycle day)	Late ovulation	Late ovulation: when the test shows 2 stripes
21	Around 8–10 pm	On day 23–24	After 10 days	Not earlier than 25–26 days
26	12–13 day	On day 27–28	After 14 days	Not earlier than 28 days
28	Day 14	On day 29–30	After 16 days	Not earlier than 30 days
30	Day 16	On days 31–32	After 18 days	Not earlier than 32 days
32	Day 18	On day 33–34	After 19–20 days	Not earlier than 33 days

These calculations are very approximate - it is impossible to calculate everything with an hourly accuracy. But they will help determine how interconnected late ovulation and pregnancy, that is, when it’s time to go to the pharmacy for the test.

When to take an ovulation test? Perhaps in the middle of the cycle or a little later you will feel a small (but weaker than before your period) or see a small discharge with blood - more precisely, some kind of drop or trace on toilet paper - this day will be the most suitable for the test.

How late can ovulation be?

Everything here is so changeable that not a single doctor can answer this question unequivocally. An informative method of determination is individual monitoring of egg growth and maturation using folliculometry for three cycles.

Judging the timeliness of egg release based on cycle 1 is unreliable. Folliculometry during late ovulation is monitoring the dynamics of egg maturation using an ultrasound machine.

Late ovulation: signs and character of menstruation

Signs of late ovulation This:

a characteristic shift in the release of the egg towards the end of the cycle on the basal temperature chart. (this looks like a decrease in BT with a sharp rise);
receiving a positive ovulation test result later than the calculated period (see how to do the calculations above);
changes in well-being are an extremely relative sign.

If a pregnancy test at the right time shows a negative result and you are sure that conception has not occurred, then your period will come later. This is not a pathology. The nature, duration and sensations of menstruation do not change. They will be the same as if your period came on time. You should urgently seek medical help only when you feel that this month is unusually bright, the blood is flowing too profusely, or, on the contrary, menstruation is scanty. In a word, if something is not going as usual.

Late ovulation and delayed menstruation are a fairly common phenomenon; sometimes this is observed in completely healthy women (if this phenomenon is not permanent).

Late ovulation: reasons

Why does the body go on such “strikes” and “confuse the cards” for those planning a pregnancy? So, why does late ovulation happen?

There is no need to worry if the cause of late ovulation is:

stress;
vacation in hot countries or overheating in the sun;
any acute respiratory viral infection or exacerbation of a chronic illness;
treatment of gynecological diseases.

In all these cases, the body may react abnormally.

The question of whether there can be late ovulation disappears by itself. This is a protective reaction of the finely structured reproductive system to stress. The listed phenomena can cause under-ripening, over-ripening or premature in this cycle. Consider the shift in the release of the oocyte as the body’s protection from poor-quality conception. Adverse factors affect the quality of the genetic material of the embryo.

Menstrual cycle shift

Does the menstrual cycle shift - say, too much desire to get pregnant or, conversely, fear? It turns out yes! There is also a psychological problem that is most unexpected for many, sometimes lying at the subconscious level.

What to do?

To reassure yourself, you can undergo an ultrasound. The doctor will tell you how the follicles grew in this cycle and why there was such a delay. If you are worried about waiting for your period to arrive, get tested for hCG. This is the most informative diagnosis of pregnancy and its pathologies. The analysis will help to accurately determine whether there is a pregnancy.

It’s another matter when such a situation has become habitual, especially if the delay period is constantly increasing or ovulation does not occur at all. This already requires medical intervention, regardless of whether your cycle is normal or if it goes wrong. Lengthening of the cycle, late ovulation may be a sign of the onset of menopause (the woman’s age must be taken into account).

So, you have monitored your body for 2-3 cycles and discovered that late ovulation has become the norm for you. If this continues for more than 3 months after stopping the OC (and recovery from hormonal contraception, as is known, takes about 3 cycles), then it’s time to go get examined.

The duration of the recovery period after discontinuation of oral contraceptives is influenced by the duration of their use. The longer a woman takes “contraceptive pills,” the longer it takes for the body to return to normal function. Your goal is to find out whether ovulation is late or not, and then begin treatment.

Diagnosis and treatment

The doctor will prescribe a blood test for hormones and ultrasound monitoring. It will be necessary to check the level of FSH (stimulates the growth of follicles), LH (responsible for the maturation of the egg), estradiol (affects the quality of cervical mucus, where sperm can “live” for a while). It is necessary to find out the level of “male” hormones (they suppress ovulation and slow down the growth of follicles). Then it will become clear why the egg release is delayed. With late ovulation, the endometrium will grow longer, so on ultrasound by the middle of the cycle it may still be thin; by the time the egg is released, it will “ripen”.

Late ovulation – Duphaston and Utrozhestan

The doctor will prescribe a correction with medications if a problem is identified at the hormonal level. Typically, the drugs of choice are Duphaston and Utrozhestan, which must be taken according to an individual regimen, selected based on the concentration of hormones in the blood plasma. The drugs will maintain the required level of progesterone, ensuring. Often late ovulation occurs with multifollicular ovaries, then its stimulation is necessary.

How to calculate the due date if the pregnancy test “worked” after the “due” date?

Late ovulation, a delay after which began later than the scheduled date shifts the due date. You already know when to take a pregnancy test if you ovulate late. This is where you should “dance”, calculating the expected date of birth. Knowing exactly the day of ovulation and conception, you can add 280 days to this day - this is the expected date of birth. Again, this is approximate. After all, not immediately, but after a few days. Practice shows that calculations show the exact date of birth only in 4% of cases. Each pregnancy is also individual and develops with its own characteristics. Therefore, it can be difficult to determine exactly.

Who is more likely to be born if ovulation is “late”?

Sometimes pregnant women try to guess. Is it possible to get pregnant with a “planned” gender? The answer is ambiguous. The cause-and-effect relationship here is as follows. If the baby is conceived strictly on the day of ovulation, there is a higher chance that it will be a boy. If you have had sexual intercourse before, it’s a girl. Reason: sperm with an X chromosome (“girl”) are more tenacious and can wait longer for an egg, even in almost hostile conditions. Gentle “games” die faster. So, if your ovulation schedules jump around, you still have a slightly higher chance of getting pregnant with a girl.

Overall, if you ovulate late this cycle, don't worry. The main thing is that it is there, which means that you can get pregnant in any case. You just need to be patient - and everything will work out!

Normally, the egg is released from the ovary in the middle of the menstrual cycle. If this happens ahead of time, early ovulation is observed.

What does this term mean?

It is believed that with a 28-day cycle, the release of a mature germ cell develops on the 14th day. This is what happens to most women. However, in some cases, ovulation in a 28-day cycle may occur on the 12th day or even earlier.

Women with this form of cycle disorder have a short follicular phase. This is the time from the start of menstruation to the release of the egg from the ovary. Usually its duration is 12-16 days. During this phase, the egg is protected by the follicle, where it grows and matures.

If the duration of the follicular phase is less than 12 days, early ovulation occurs, and pregnancy is less likely in this case. The egg in such a situation is not fully mature and is not ready for fertilization.

Can such a condition occur normally?

This can happen to any woman. But constant premature rupture of the follicle can cause infertility.

On what day of the cycle does early ovulation occur?

It occurs earlier than the 12th day after the start of menstruation. At 12-16 days, the egg is ready for fertilization with a cycle of 25 days.

Why is this happening

The main reasons for early ovulation:

time before the attack;
short follicular phase;
smoking, alcohol and caffeine abuse;
stress;
sudden loss or sudden weight gain;
early ovulation may occur after discontinuation of OCs (oral contraceptives);
sexually transmitted diseases;
a sudden change in normal daily activities;
Irregular menstrual cycle caused by gynecological hormonal diseases.

Any hormonal imbalance can disrupt the duration and staging of the menstrual cycle. The maturation of the egg in the ovarian follicle is stimulated by follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and its release is associated with the action of luteinizing hormone (LH). Both of these substances are produced in the pituitary gland under the control of the hypothalamus. A change in the level of these hormones leads to disruption of the ovulatory mechanism.

Premature onset of the ovulatory phase is associated with high FSH levels.

A decrease in ovarian activity inevitably occurs with age. At birth, a girl has about 2 million eggs. During each menstrual cycle, hundreds of them die, and only one matures. The exception is hyperovulation, when more than one egg matures in one cycle.

By the age of 30, a woman has lost more than 90% of all eggs. As menopause approaches, the pituitary gland, through a feedback mechanism, begins to secrete more and more FSH to compensate for the lack of ovulating follicles. This leads to menstrual irregularities.

The consequences of constant early ovulation are the release of immature eggs and infertility.

According to studies, smoking causes disruption of the ovulatory cycle and affects female fertility. When a woman smokes more than 20 cigarettes a day, it is almost impossible for a woman to fully mature her egg. The same can be said about the effects of alcohol and caffeine.

Signs and symptoms

To detect premature egg release, you need to track your cycle for at least 3 months. With a 28-day cycle, ovulation should be expected on days 12-16, with a 30-day cycle - on days 13-17.

If a woman begins to feel the following symptoms shortly after her period, most likely she has entered the ovulatory phase earlier than usual:

increased viscosity of cervical mucus;
soreness of the mammary glands;
increased sexual desire;
aching pain in the abdomen.

Signs of premature egg release can be monitored by determining the level of LH in the urine using.

How else can you determine early ovulation?

Questions about pregnancy with this condition

Is it possible to get pregnant if you ovulate early?

Yes, it is possible, but the probability of such an event is less than normal. With premature ovulation, an immature egg is released from the follicle. She may not be fertilized or may not develop further. Such an egg is difficult to implant into the wall of the uterus, so even a pregnancy that occurs is terminated early.

Early onset of ovulation is a sign of decreased ovarian reserve capacity. The lower they are due to a woman’s age or illness, the earlier she releases the egg from the follicle.

An ovulation test performed early in pregnancy may measure the amount of hCG (these hormones have a similar chemical structure) instead of the LH level, and thus give false information about premature rupture of the follicle and the absence of pregnancy.

Another obstacle to pregnancy, for example, with a long cycle: a woman expects ovulation in the middle of the cycle, but the release of a mature egg has already occurred long ago, and all attempts to get pregnant are unsuccessful.

Can there be a cycle failure after an abortion?

Yes, this happens quite often. You need to wait at least one full cycle after this for ovulatory function to recover.

After a miscarriage, some women consistently ovulate earlier than usual, leading to infertility. This may be due to stress or hormonal imbalance. In this case, you need to consult a doctor.

Treatment

Most infertility problems in women are caused by ovulation problems. Therefore, before starting treatment, you need to consult a doctor and check your hormonal levels.

First of all, it is recommended to reduce the consumption of alcohol, caffeine and smoking. In addition, it is better to sleep in complete darkness. This helps restore FSH levels, which are responsible for the first phase of the cycle. This way the normal cycle is regulated and consolidated, which facilitates conception and implantation of the embryo.

Other measures to restore reproductive function:

complete fortified diet;
auto-training techniques to cope with stress;
sleep at least 7 hours a day;
hardening, physical activity in the fresh air.

Drug treatment includes the prescription of drugs that stimulate the maturation of the egg and its timely release - FSH and LH (Cetrotide). They are administered subcutaneously from the first days of the cycle until the period of normal ovulation. Taking such medications on your own is strictly prohibited.

To normalize ovulation, glucocorticoids are often prescribed, mainly against the background of hyperandrogenism. It is not recommended to suddenly stop taking them. In this case, early ovulation may occur due to Metipred, Prednisolone or other glucocorticoid drugs. Their cancellation can only be carried out by a doctor according to a certain scheme.

If a woman constantly experiences early ovulation on the 8th day of the cycle or a little later, she needs to consult a doctor. This is especially important with a short menstrual cycle - 24 days, since the ability to conceive in this case is sharply reduced.

Sometimes, to restore hormonal levels, for example, with, women take various dietary supplements. Their effect on hormone levels is unknown. Therefore, it is impossible to say whether early ovulation can occur from Ovariamine or some similar means.

Independent restoration of timely ovulation is a complex process, which is difficult to influence only on your own. Therefore, all treatment recommendations boil down to general health promotion and restoration of the functions of the neurohumoral system. This should cause hormonal restoration in a physically healthy woman.

The use of progestogens (Duphaston) is aimed at maintaining an already established pregnancy, that is, at stabilizing the second phase of the cycle. Progestins do not affect the first half of this period and cannot cause early ovulation. The same applies to the popular drug Utrozhestan.

Use of Cetrotidna to prevent early ovulation

This process is most dangerous for women who plan to use assisted reproductive technologies. Indeed, with early ovulation, the eggs may be immature, which means their suitability for artificial insemination may decrease.

Cetrotide blocks the action of gonadotropin-releasing factor, secreted by the hypothalamus and stimulating the production of FSH. Thus, through a chain of chemical reactions, the early release of FSH, which is responsible for the premature release of the egg, is stopped. During ovarian stimulation, which serves as an essential part of preparation for pregnancy, early ovulation is a common occurrence. This drug is used to prevent it.

Gonadotropin releasing hormone stimulates the release of LH and FSH from pituitary cells under the influence of estradiol, the content of which increases towards the middle of the cycle. The result is a surge in LH levels, which causes normal ovulation of the dominant follicle.

The drug is administered subcutaneously. There may be short-term soreness or redness at the injection site. Other side effects include nausea and headache. It should not be used during pregnancy, with renal and liver failure, or in postmenopause. The drug is dosed individually and prescribed only by an experienced doctor at the center of assisted reproductive technologies. Independent use of such hormonal drugs can cause serious disruption at the level of the hypothalamic-pituitary system.

It is not necessary to study medicine to learn to understand and correctly interpret what is happening in your body.

A woman is unpredictable in her actions, she is a “victim” of hormones! Men like this statement; they willingly remember it in various everyday situations, for example, if a friend is in a bad mood. As for scientists, there is no complete unity among them about how strongly female sex hormones affect mood. One thing is certain: without the monthly cycle, women would not have reproductive ability. The most noticeable sign of the monthly cycle is menstruation. But what happens in between? For many women, this issue only begins to concern itself when they stop taking birth control pills because they want to be protected naturally or are planning to have a baby.

Below are the most common questions and their answers.

What part of the cycle are the days favorable for conception?

The egg is capable of fertilization only immediately after ovulation. However, the favorable time for conception lasts longer. Sperm can live in a woman’s body for up to five days (in exceptional cases longer). This means: five days before ovulation and 12-15 hours after it are favorable for conception. It is possible to become pregnant during this time, although the chance of pregnancy is higher on the day of ovulation.

How can you know that ovulation has occurred?

The moment of ovulation is crucial both for birth control and for the desire to become pregnant. Women who protect themselves naturally or using temperature charts know that the morning temperature shortly after(!) ovulation increases by several tenths of a degree (see chart). At the same time, this means: if the curve has reached the top point, then the time favorable for conception is already behind. Therefore, if you want a child, then measuring temperature is not a very suitable method.

Are there other bodily signs of impending ovulation?

Yes. Shortly before ovulation, the uterine os, which enters the vagina, softens and opens slightly. At a time unfavorable for conception, it is hard and protrudes into the vagina, resembling a cherry in shape. This change in the vagina can be felt. Another sign of approaching ovulation is an increase in luteinizing hormone levels (see graph). There is a method for determining ovulation by mucus: at a time favorable for conception, under the influence of estrogen, there is an increased formation of mucus released from the vagina. Shortly before ovulation, mucus looks like raw egg white and stretches into threads. For some women, approaching ovulation may be indicated by pain in the lower abdomen in the middle of the intermenstrual period or very light bleeding.

Does ovulation always occur in the middle of the cycle?

No, most often this happens with a 2 8-day cycle. The duration of the first phase of the egg maturation cycle may vary from woman to woman. The second phase of the cycle after ovulation usually lasts from 12 to 14 days. So, with a 33-day cycle it can occur on approximately the 19-20th day, with a 24-day cycle - on approximately the 10th day.

Is it more difficult for women with short cycles to determine fertile days?

According to medical textbooks, i.e. theoretically, the average monthly cycle is 28 days, ovulation occurs on the 14th day, and menstruation lasts from three to five days. But in life, cycles are often longer or shorter, with heavy or light bleeding, and with ovulation between the 10th and 20th day. This is all normal. Regular ovulation is unlikely only if the cycle lasts less than 24 days. It is also unlikely that ovulation will occur on clearly defined days. In addition, it is difficult to determine days favorable for conception in cycles lasting more than 35 days.

Do eggs ripen anew every month?

No. Women do not regularly produce new eggs; their “reserve” is laid down at birth: in each ovary, approximately 400,000 eggs are waiting to mature. When, during puberty, sex hormones give the first impulse to the maturation of the egg, many of the eggs laid at birth have already been lost; at the age of 35, only about 35,000 remain per ovary. This is still quite enough to give birth to many children. But at the same time, the eggs of a 35-year-old woman are more sensitive than those of a 20-year-old woman, and may have some defects.

If the egg and sperm meet at the right moment, why does pregnancy not always occur?

The likelihood that sex at a time favorable for conception will definitely lead to pregnancy is only about one in four, because the egg shell may be defective or the sperm may be too weak and sluggish. It happens that fertilization occurs, but for some reason the embryo does not develop and dies, so that the woman does not even notice that she was pregnant.

Is it possible to shift the cycle?

What happens when the egg is mature but ovulation does not occur?

Cycles without ovulation happen in the life of every woman. During such cycles, one of the eggs also matures and estrogen is produced. But the decisive signal, namely the increased release of luteinizing hormone produced by the pituitary gland, which causes ovulation, is not given. Accordingly, the corpus luteum is not formed, and therefore the corpus luteum hormone (progesterone) is not produced. In such cycles, the follicle that contains the egg continues to grow and the lining of the uterus (endometrium) swells. At a certain point, the follicle bursts, but the overripe egg is no longer capable of fertilization. Estrogen stops activating the uterine lining, and menstruation begins.

Is it possible to get pregnant during menstruation?

In the first days of menstruation, when there is a lot of blood in the vagina, under no circumstances, since blood creates an acidic environment unfavorable for the existence of sperm. But if menstruation lasts longer than usual, its last days become “dangerous” again - especially when ovulation occurs early and sperm are quite active. For example, sexual intercourse occurred on the seventh day of the menstrual period, and ovulation occurred on the tenth day - this can lead to pregnancy.

Does the cycle change as a result of sterilization?

From a medical point of view, the hormonal nature does not change at all. The fact is that during sterilization, only the oviducts (uterine, or fallopian, tubes) are mechanically blocked, and this does not affect hormonal processes in the brain and ovaries. All hormones are still produced in exactly the same way as before sterilization. Menstruation occurs in the same way. True, sometimes sterilization creates such emotional stress that this factor can temporarily disrupt the hormonal balance.

How does the cycle work?

The first day of the cycle is considered the first day of menstruation: Already during bleeding, during the so-called pre-cycle, several vesicles - egg follicles - begin to mature in the ovary. As a rule, only one of them develops, the others die. In the second week of the cycle, the egg follicle becomes larger and larger until its diameter reaches about two centimeters, the mature follicle eventually bursts and releases: this is the so-called ovulation. The mature egg now moves towards the oviduct, which "sweeps" it towards itself with its fan-shaped end. If there are no sperm in the oviduct at the moment, the body “processes” the unfertilized egg in the following days. If there are sperm in the oviduct and fertilization occurs, then this occurs immediately after ovulation, in the upper wide part of the oviduct. After this, the fertilized egg, with the help of the muscles of the oviduct and the thinnest cilia of the ciliated epithelium, moves further towards the uterus. These processes are controlled by hormones produced in different places:

In the hypothalamus. It is the main sensor of impulses in the brain and releases so-called gonadotropins at regular intervals.
In the pituitary gland. The gland of the cerebral appendage is affected by hormonal impulses of the hypothalamus, and it produces, in particular, luteinizing hormone, which causes ovulation, as well as follicle-stimulating hormone, which is responsible for the growth of the egg follicle in the first half of the menstrual cycle.
In the ovary. The maturing egg follicle produces estrogen. The larger the follicle, the more estrogen it produces. Under the influence of estrogen, the uterine mucosa increases in thickness already in the first half of the cycle. When estrogen levels eventually reach a maximum, the pituitary gland responds by increasing the release of luteinizing hormone: ovulation occurs. After ovulation, estrogen production drops. Now progesterone has a greater influence on the cycle. This hormone is produced by the corpus luteum - the empty shell of the egg follicle. It prepares the lining of the uterus for a possible pregnancy. If the egg is fertilized and implanted in the lining of the uterus approximately one week after fertilization, the body begins to produce the pregnancy hormone (human chorionic gonadotropin). This hormone stimulates the corpus luteum. Thus, the mucous membrane of the uterus is preserved - and the fetus can develop in it. If the egg was not fertilized, then during the second half of the cycle the production of the corpus luteum hormone drops again: the mucous membrane wrinkles, menstruation begins, that is, a new cycle begins.

Ovulation refers to certain days when the female body is most predisposed to fertilization. That is why it is very important for everyone who dreams of a long-awaited pregnancy to know all the features of this natural process, as well as to be able to calculate the day of ovulation.

Ovulation and conception calendar online

Calculating ovulation online is one of the fastest, most accurate and effective ways to determine fertile (favorable for conception) days yourself. To do this, a conception calculator is used, which calculates and displays fertile days over a period of four months.

To calculate ovulation online, you must enter the following data:

First day menstrual bleeding of the cycle you are interested in (if you are interested in the days of ovulation in this and the next three months, then you must enter the first day of the last menstruation; if you want to find out which days of the previous cycles you ovulated, you must enter the first day of menstruation of the corresponding cycle);
Average duration of menstruation;
Duration of a regular cycle. If the cycle irregular, it is necessary to first analyze the duration of the cycle for the last 6 months, and determine the minimum and maximum number of days of the cycle. We tick the “irregular cycle” box, enter the minimum number of days of the cycle in the left window, and the maximum in the right window that appears;
The duration of the corpus luteum phase, which is usually determined by a laboratory method based on the level of the hormone progesterone, averages 12-16 days (the default duration in the program is 14 days).

After this, you just need to click the “Calculate” button, after which the program will display an exact calendar, which will indicate the days of expected ovulation (with percentage probability), as well as the days of safe and conditionally safe sex. Ovulation online using such a calculator is calculated with fairly high accuracy.

How does ovulation occur?

Normally, a woman's menstrual cycle, which is counted from the first day of bleeding to the first day of the next period, lasts from 28 to 35 days.

On average, favorable days for conception (also called fertile days) occur in the middle of the cycle, and include 1-2 days before ovulation, the ovulation period itself and 1 day after ovulation. The average duration of the fertile state is 7 days.

That is, the fertile period begins at the moment of a jump in LH levels. If during this time the sperm does not fertilize the egg, it simply dies, and a new one matures only in the next cycle.

Corpus luteum phase (luteal phase)

After the end of ovulation (follicular phase), the maturation period begins corpus luteum - luteal phase, which is characterized by a decrease in the level of the hormone LH and an increase in the production of progesterone. The corpus luteum is responsible for the production of hormones necessary to maintain the normal course of pregnancy. If pregnancy does not occur, the corpus luteum dies, progesterone levels decrease, which provokes the onset of menstruation.

Normally, the duration of the luteal phase ranges from 12-16 days. Insufficiency of the corpus luteum phase (duration of 10 days or less) or its duration of more than 16 days indicates hormonal disorders, which may result in early pregnancy loss.

Let us remember that the corpus luteum phase begins the day after the end of ovulation and lasts until the onset of menstruation. That is, to calculate the duration of the corpus luteum phase, you need to know the duration of your menstrual cycle, the middle part of which falls on ovulation, and the days following it - on the luteal phase.

In a healthy woman, ovulation occurs every month (and sometimes twice), but there are two to three months a year when the egg does not mature - such cycles are called anovulatory, and they are also considered a variant of the norm.

How to calculate the ovulation calendar?

Physiological signs of ovulation

Gynecologists say that every woman can notice the signs of ovulation and calculate conception - to do this, you just need to carefully monitor your body.

Features of discharge. Vaginal discharge is a constant occurrence in every woman, but in different phases of the menstrual cycle it has a different character. So, before ovulation they become transparent and liquid, or viscous, and the consistency resembles the white of a chicken egg. In addition, during this period, some women experience brownish or bloody discharge (so-called spotting). If ovulation has not occurred, the discharge is sticky, creamy or completely absent.
Discomfort in the lower abdomen. The release of the egg may be accompanied by unpleasant sensations in the area of the ovary in which the dominant follicle matured. They can last from a few minutes to several days, and resemble the “tugging” of the abdomen before menstruation.
Swelling and pain in the mammary glands. Under the influence of hormones, many women's breasts may become sensitive or sore before the release of an egg.
Increased libido. Scientists have proven that it is on the eve of ovulation that women experience the greatest sexual desire - this is explained by the natural instinct of reproduction (thus the body tries to increase the chances of pregnancy).
General changes in health. Such signs are individual for each woman - this may be an exacerbation of taste and olfactory sensations, increased performance, or, conversely, irritability and increased emotionality.

Calendar method

First of all, it should be noted that each woman has an individual conception calendar, which can be calculated based on the characteristics of the body.

With a regular cycle, if your periods literally go by the clock, the question of how to calculate ovulation usually does not pose a big problem, because for this you will have to carry out the simplest calculations. For example, if a woman’s cycle lasts 28 days, you can simply divide this figure by two: 28/2 = 14. That is, in this case, days starting from the 12th will be considered fertile.

However, this method cannot be called extremely accurate. Very often, for a number of reasons, the menstrual cycle can be shortened or lengthened; accordingly, the timing of the release of the egg also shifts, and when it is completely ineffective. That is, it is best not to rely on your own calculations, but to use a more convenient online ovulation calculator or measure your basal temperature.

Basal temperature

Measuring basal temperature (BT) is one of the most effective methods that is best suited for women with irregular cycles. To understand how to calculate the day of ovulation in this way, you should know some features of the female body.

During the menstrual cycle, basal temperature changes several times - this occurs under the influence of hormones. At the beginning of the cycle it is quite low, and during ovulation it increases significantly, reaching 37-37.3 C, and remains at this level until the next menstruation. True, to accurately determine the days of conception, it is very important to follow a number of rules:

You need to take your temperature in the morning at the same time, after a full night's sleep (at least 6 hours), without getting out of bed.
Use the same thermometer, preferably mercury.
The thermometer is inserted into the anus, vagina or placed under the tongue, after which you need to lie quietly for 5 minutes.
To obtain accurate results, BT should be measured over at least two cycles and the results recorded.

It should be noted that in this way you can calculate ovulation online. There are special resources and programs on the Internet that calculate fertile days automatically (a woman only needs to enter her BT indicators there daily).

Read more about measuring basal temperature in the section.

Ovulation test

Ovulation tests are special strips similar to those used to detect pregnancy. True, the marker in this case is the LH hormone, not hCG. Measurements are carried out in a similar way (immersing strips in urine), and should begin 2-3 days before expected ovulation.

The instructions for the test indicate which day of the cycle is best to start measuring, depending on the length of the cycle, but with irregular periods it is almost impossible to determine this time.

Read about instrumental and instrumental methods for determining ovulation

Laboratory methods

One of the ways to create an ovulation calendar, calculate fertile days and get pregnant quickly is to get tested for the main female hormones. These include:

FSH - given on the 3-5th day of the menstrual cycle;
LH - on days 3-8 or 21-23;
Prolactin - on days 3-5 or 19-21;
Estradiol - on days 4-7 and 6-10;
Progesterone - 6-8 days.

The concentration of these hormones varies depending on the phase of the cycle, so based on the test results, you can accurately determine the day for conception.

If you ask specialists the question of how to determine ovulation most effectively, as in any cycle, the answer will be clear - monitoring follicle growth using ultrasound.

To do this, it is necessary to carry out several ultrasound procedures: the first - on the 7-8th day, the second - on the 10-12th, the third - at the request of the woman or the doctor’s recommendation. A sign of ovulation is usually the size of the dominant follicle, which is 18-21 mm. In addition, you can subsequently check whether the follicle has ruptured - if a corpus luteum has formed in its place, it means that ovulation was normal.

Men often joke about women's logic, but how much do they know about a woman's body and its functioning? It happens that the fairer sex themselves are at a loss as to what is happening to them.

One of the important moments in a woman’s life is conception, pregnancy and birth of a child. The process of conception is based on the expectant mother’s knowledge of the body, or more precisely, the monthly cycle, consisting of several phases. A review of information about the duration of the cycle, which differs from the “standard” one, will be useful both for those who want to get pregnant and for those frightened by myths about the abnormality of such a cycle.

Is a 24-day cycle normal or a cause for concern?

I really don’t want to go to the doctor when something goes wrong in my body. But how can you understand whether this is the norm or a deviation? A woman’s body is a delicate matter that responds to all changes in mood, amount and strength of stress, nutrition, stress and even climate. And inconstancy is a common thing for every woman. It surrounds you always and everywhere. No stability. What to do when the body reacts to the instability of the rhythm of life by shortening the cycle?

It is believed that the normal duration of the menstrual cycle of a healthy woman is 28 days; most contraceptive drugs are aimed at this duration, which after 4 weeks cause monthly bleeding. However, this does not mean that a longer or shorter cycle is a pathology. Modern medical professionals have found that the main thing is regularity, and the duration of the cycle can vary from 21 to 34 days. The main reasons for duration deviations may be:

age;
change of work and rest modes;
nutrition;
taking medications;
presence of bad habits;
stressful situations;
changes in intimate life.

A common number that women note as the length of their monthly cycle is 24 days. This duration is the norm and is definitely not an obstacle in planning a pregnancy, so you don’t need to spend 24 hours looking for treatment for this. In the absence of pathological symptoms and normal amount, color, consistency of discharge, there is no reason to worry. Women who want to get pregnant ask an important question: if the cycle is 24 days, when will ovulation occur?

Ovulation and its onset

The importance of ovulation is due to the fact that there are always several days that are favorable for conceiving a child, when the possibility of getting pregnant is 30-35%. Ovulation is the process of the release of an egg from the ovary into the fallopian tube after the rupture of the follicle. This occurs as the content of a special luteinizing hormone increases. A sharp increase in its concentration causes ovulation within 24 hours. It divides the cycle into 2 parts of approximately equal duration. That is, if a woman has a 24-day menstrual cycle, ovulation should be expected from days 10 to 14.

Most representatives of the fair sex notice some signs of ovulation and, focusing on them, track its onset and duration. With a regular cycle, you can almost accurately determine days favorable for conception. The information will be useful not only to those who want to get rid of menstruation through pregnancy, but also to those who do not want to use contraception. The “symptoms” of ovulation include:

tingling and short-term pain in the lower abdomen;
increased volume and consistency of vaginal discharge;
decrease in basal temperature;
increase in progesterone concentration.

But it is still not always possible to feel or notice these signs. And if the cycle has shifted from 26-28 days to 24 days, then it is completely difficult to catch the moment of ovulation. To determine when menstruation began, there are several methods, a detailed description of which will help you choose the appropriate one.

Methods for calculating the ovulation period

Experts have identified several ways to detect ovulation, which include calendar, ultrasound, test and monitoring of rectal (basal) temperature.

The calendar method is based on the fact that ovulation occurs in the middle of the cycle, and with a regular menstrual cycle of 24 days, it will occur on days 11-12. If the cycle length has recently increased or decreased to 24 days, the method may lead to erroneous calculations. In addition, to determine menstruation by calendar, it is necessary to monitor the cycle for 8-12 months. At home, the method can be replaced by the method of measuring basal temperature. Before ovulation, it decreases, and its sharp jump to 37.6-38.5 C indicates the onset of ovulation. For diseases accompanied by an increase in general body temperature, the method should be abandoned. The method is considered more reliable than the previous one, although it requires a little more effort.

To determine the onset of ovulation during a 24-day menstrual cycle, you can use pharmacy tests, the mechanism of action of which is based on calculating the concentration of the latinizing hormone. Based on a comparison of the test and control lines of the test, a conclusion is made about the onset of ovulation.

The ultrasound method is the most accurate, and therefore a reliable assistant in determining the period of ovulation. When the cycle shifts to the 24-day mark, you should use it. If the process is irregular, then an ultrasound should be performed 10-11 days after the start of menstruation. During the study, the condition of the follicles is diagnosed, their sizes are determined and the day of ovulation is calculated.

Combining several methods will allow you to most accurately determine the period of ovulation. It’s still worth listening to your feelings, since menstruation is the key to women’s health, successful conception, happy motherhood and proper intimate life. And the duration of the cycle is an individual indicator for each woman. The main thing is that it is regular and without unpleasant symptoms. Be healthy!