With the recent full moon, let’s talk about the physical signs of ovulation!
If you haven’t read my Cycling With The Moon post, check it out to see if you are on the white moon cycle or the red moon cycle – it’s just fun to know and see how your body syncs up with the moon cycles!
What are the physical signs?!
The first major sign is fertile mucus, along with regular periods.
Fertile mucus is not gross! It’s completely healthy and NORMAL. Let’s normalize it, okay? You will definitely notice this fertile mucus as it leaves a circular wet spot in your undies from the high water content. It’s super stretchy, wet and slippery which makes it a lot easier to wipe when using the toilet, too.
Fertile mucus has a purpose, it is meant to nourish sperm and make it easier for them to swim up to your egg to make a baby. This also means its especially important to use protection when you notice it, for a few days before and after to be safe. After ovulation, it dries up within 24 hours and you will feel dry until your period comes.
You will also notice a spike in libido.
This is nature’s way of gently nudging you and letting you know if you want a baby, now is the time to get busy… Please be extra careful if you do not want to become pregnant!
Another sign associated with ovulation is a sharp twinge or sharp cramping on one or both sides of your abdomen.
Also known as “mittelschmerz”, it really helps me to know when ovulation is happening as I often feel it every month. It can be a little twinge or sharp pain that lasts a few hours and is from an egg rupturing from a follicle in one of your ovaries!
One other way of knowing is a spike in basal body temperature for 3 consecutive days post-ovulation.
This is only helpful after the fact and isn’t great for determining what day you will actually ovulate. While the average day for ovulation is Day 14, this isn’t concrete and can vary if you have a longer cycle. The easiest way to determine your possible ovulation date is to count back two weeks from the first day of your period. This should give you an idea and then you can keep track going forward.
Hope this helps! I also use ovulation test strips for more peace of mind. You can also keep track with something like the Daysy Fertility Monitor that keeps track of your temperatures for you, or the Ava bracelet, that doesn’t even require taking your temperature, as it does it for you from your wrist!
Ovulation is wondrous and magical and powerful!
I love keeping track of it and noticing the signs and symptoms associated with when my body decides to ovulate. Check out the best foods to eat for ovulation in this post, and print out a plant based food PDF to hang on your fridge 🙂
Do you notice any other symptoms during this time?! Some people experience nausea, bloating and headaches. Let me know in the comments below 🙂
pin for later:
shop the post:
My skin glows! It looks better than it does any Other time of the month. I need to read your book apparently! I am 36, have PCOS, have 1 angel baby, just have many physical issues.
Thanks for the read!
I too get the ovulation pains. It helps me track my ovulation down to the minute. I did have a few months recently when I would wipe after going to the bathroom to find a light pink color. My doctor wasn’t concerned but I would love to know what you felt about that? (Side note: After reading your book, I feel I am estrogen dominant. I’m just beginning to start implementing the changes! So exciting)