What is ovulation?
At the time of a period the ovary starts to develop a dominant ‘follicle’ (a small sac containing the egg). After about 14 days this follicle has grown in size, the egg has matured and is then ‘released’ or ovulated. The egg then survives for around 24 hours during which time it moves along the fallopian tube and awaits fertilisation by sperm – this is your fertile time.
When does ovulation occur in the cycle?
The time from the start of your period to ovulation varies from woman to woman. On average, ovulation occurs about 8 –14 days after the day your last period started. However, it can range between 9 and 18 days depending on the length of your menstrual cycle.
How can I work out when I ovulate?
The simplest way to work out when you ovulate is to subtract 14 days from the number of days in your cycle. If there are 28 days from the start of your period to the start of the next period, you can expect to ovulate on day 14.
Should I use temperature charts or hormone kits to time ovulation?
The problem with using temperature charting or hormone kits is that they only tell you after the event that you have ovulated. As the ideal time for intercourse is before ovulation, these tests do not assist you to conceive and therefore are not recommended at IVFAustralia.