You can know you are ovulating by several signs your body gives:
- One of the most noticeable signs is a change in cervical mucus to a clear, wet, stretchy consistency similar to raw egg whites. This helps sperm swim to the egg and indicates you are in your fertile window.
- A mild increase in basal body temperature (BBT) occurs just after ovulation, rising about 0.5 to 1°F (0.3 to 0.6°C). Tracking your BBT for several months can help predict ovulation.
- Some women experience mild cramping or pain (mittelschmerz) on one side of the lower abdomen during ovulation, caused by the egg releasing from the ovary.
- Additional signs may include breast tenderness, spotting, a higher and softer cervix upon checking internally, increased libido, and in some cases a sharper sense of smell.
- Ovulation predictor kits that detect luteinizing hormone (LH) in urine can also confirm ovulation.
These signs can vary between women, and not everyone will experience all of them. Tracking these symptoms along with calendar methods can improve the accuracy of identifying ovulation.
