How can I tell I'm Ovulating?

Question

I have recently stopped the Deprovera shot & think I've already had my 1st period (1st one in 8yrs..yeah me).

Prior to the shot, I've never had any discharge or pain other than the first few days of my period - so how can I tell if/when I'm ovulating? I have never been regular either, so I'm not sure if counting days, or taking temps will work :s

Answer 1

There is actually an ovualtion testing kit u can buy at the supermarket/chemist that can help with this one. also u could still look for signs such as mucus and pain as after all these years ur periods may have setteled into a regular pattern, or changed and u may have symptoms. also the temp method could work, give it a go, mind u i havent used it, i find it a bit odd to be taking my temp there lol. and as for counting the days it might be worth it to get a rough idea of the week u might ovulate. if this is because ur trying to get preg my best adivce is to have sex every other day all month, then ur bound to get it and ur partners sperm will still be quality. not so if u had sex every day in many cases.
have a look at http://www.ovulation-calendar.com/
and the temp method is at:
http://www.babybellyboutique.com/temperature101.htm
hope this helps

Answer 2

Counting days does *not* work even if you are perfectly regular. That would tell you how long your cycles are, but not when or even *if* you are ovulating.

You can use basal body temperatures to determine *if* you are ovulating, but that won't help you get pregnant. By the time you know you have ovulated, it is probably already too late to have sex and conceive. This is because the egg only lives a few hours (occasionally up to 24 hours). When your BBT tells you that you have ovulated, it would be an average of 12 hours earlier. Even if the egg hasn't yet died, by the time sperm would reach the outer part of the Fallopian tubes (where fertilization takes place) it would be several *more* hours. Not a very good chance.

Keep in mind that for this, you need to take *basal body temperature*. It will not work to just take your temperature whenever you feel like it--it has to be first thing in the morning before you get out of bed and before you do *anything* (even talk on the phone). It should be after at least 3 hours straight of sleep and at *about* the same time every morning (but not at 4 am as one answerer keeps saying!!--unless that is your normal waking time).

You need, rather, to determine when you are *about* to ovulate. You can do this most accurately by charting your fertility signs--particularly your cervical fluid. For detailed information on how to do this, read _Taking Charge of Your Fertility_ by Toni Weschler. It is easy to read and written by an expert.

An ovulation calendar will *not* be able to tell you if you are ovulating. It can't even really tell you when; it can *only* tell you when an average woman would ovulate--not something very useful in your situation!! And ovulation predictor kits are also not something that would work well for you. They could show ovulation when you aren't ovulating, and they could cost you a fortune because your cycles aren't regular.

Also, please keep in mind that some women don't have normal cycles for a full year after using hormonal birth control.

I hope this helps. Good luck!!

Answer 3

Many women who have an irregular period aren't ovulating. There are a number of ways that you can determine if you are ovulating or not.

The first and easiest way is to get a blood test from your doctor.

You can also buy an at home ovulation predictor kit, although these aren't always 100% accurate.

You can also chart your body basal temperature. On the day of ovulation, and every day after that until the beginning of your next cycle, your temperature is one degree higher than normal. It is recommended that you take your temperature before you get out of bed in the morning, and at the same time as movement affects the reading.

You can also examine the position of your cervix. When you are ovulating, your cervix is low and soft like the inside of your cheek. At all other times, your cervix is high and hard like the tip of your nose.

When you are ovulating, you may feel slight twinges around your ovaries

When you are ovulating, you may notice a difference in your cervical mucus. It should be clear and sticky, and you may be able to spread as much as 5cm string between your thumb and your forefinger. Gross, I know! It needs to be sticky to draw the sperm.

I'm going to include the link to a trying to conceive forum. I think you'll find it really helpful :) There are many supportive women, some of who are going through the same frustrations in TTC as you are :

Answer 4

different methods can be use, some work different from others?, well first of all if your not having your cycles on time than that's the first indicater that you might not be ovulating every month, so you might ovulate everyother month, than you can tell if you have discharge, but it's not the normal discharge that a woman might have it will be very slippery and creamy, you might have pains on your side for a couple days than they will go away, you might can use a opk but sometimes they give false positive if you have pcos and don't know it? and you can take your temp right after your period stops cause normally you will ovulate between 7-14 days later, it depends on how long your cycle is 28-35 days long, so to make a long story short if your trying to get pregnant then take one of those methods and if your not than use condoms because you will get pregnant if you can't find out when ovulation is, i hope that help you?

Answer 5

There are a few physical symptoms that might be indicators.

1) You might have a dull (period-like) pain on one side of your lower abdomen or the other (indicating the release of an ovum); 2) Your cervix will become covered with a slightly slippery semi-clear mucus that when stretched between thumb & forefinger will extend up to 2" (think kids playing with boogers - gross, I know but an accurate description!). This will last 1-3 days before/after ovulation & is a VERY good indicator;
3) Your body temperature will elevate slightly when you wake up (must take your temp before sitting up or getting out of bed every AM).

Answer 6

Even if you are not regular , try counting any way and check cirvical mucus. If around day 12-14 you notice an increase in cervical mucus you are probably ovulating. IF not keep checking until you do. Also buy an ovulation test and when you think the cervical mucus has increased take the test just to be sure. It works just like a pregnancy test.

Answer 7

usually about 3-4 days before you ovulate you get cervical mucus which gets stretchier and more of it closer to ovulation most women on the day of ovulation they sometimes have ALOT of cervialc mucus and experience a sort of period pain that is felt on the ovary if your trying to get pregnant there are ovualtion kits you can try im doing them now and they are great !!! you buy them at the drug store or any shop that sells pregnancy stuff... you buy an ovulation kit for 5 days it comes with 5 peeing cups and 5 tests you do one test a day for 5 days at the same time every day.... it sort of looks like a pregnancy test but for ovualtion.... it comes up positive when you are at your highest and that means you are going to ovulate in 24 - 36 hours so you have sex on the day you get a positive and the day after....its worked for alot of women thats just an easier thing to try so that when you know you are most fertile you can plan a romantic evening and just enjoy the night instead of worrying the WHOLE month about making sure that you and your husband had sex on certain days so goodluck and for the future CONGRATS

Answer 8

since you are not/were not regular in teh past, counting days probably won't help - it is hard to count days when one cycle is 28 days and the next is 39 and everything in between

you will need to either take your basal body temperature and/or baby attention to changes in discharge. This site is helpful in tracking your fertile times and knowing what to look for and how to tell if you are ovulating - good luck!

http://www.ovulation-calculator.com/

Answer 9

I've been through all of this.. my fertility doc told me taking temps and checking mucus is a big waste of time. he was right. go to the drugstore and get some ovulation test kits (sold along the pregnancy test kits) About 12 days after your period starts, begin using the tests. you pee on them just like a pregnancy test. they are very accurate. my 2 beautiful kids are living proof.

Answer 10

check out ezpregnancy.com the have ovulation test strips very cheap! I get my pregnancy test strips through them.