Ovulation: Trust me – you WANT IT.
Ovulation is the most important event in your menstrual cycle. It’s how we make progesterone – the most luscious of hormones.
Not ovulating (and therefore not producing progesterone) is one of the main reasons for your period problems – like PCOS, menstrual irregularities and low mood/PMS.
In fact your period health absolutely depends on progesterone – it balances oestrogen towards your period and therefore combats PMS, it helps us sleep, it makes for healthy skin, hair and bones. Not to mention helps us make babies.
When do I ovulate?
The ovulation phase of your cycle will typically occur around day 14 (of a 28-day cycle) and lasts for one day. If you are not sure what a ‘normal cycle is – check out this post.
Right before ovulation there is a surge in the hormone LH (leutenising hormone). This induces your dominant follicle on your ovary to release an egg. If the egg is not fertilised, the follicle turns into the corpus luteum – a temporary gland that secretes the all important progesterone.
Physiologically
During ovulation your cervix is softer, higher and opens, more receptive. You may notice that you feel sexier, more energised and start to find more people attractive. You may notice that your cervical mucous changes and becomes more watery or like eggwhite.
Emotionally
During ovulation we feel confident, dynamic, resilient and have more energy – this is the time to get things done, ask for a raise, start a new creative project! Now who wouldn’t want more of that?
Signs you have ovulated:
Signs that indicate you may have ovulated are if you feel (or see) fertile cervical mucous around day 14. This mucous is different to the rest of the month as it has an eggwhite/slippery/clear consistency. This is because your cervical mucous when fertile is actually more sperm-friendly than other times of the month, and can actually help to feed and nourish the sperm on their long journey to the fallopian tubes.
Another sign that you have ovulated is a rise in basal body temperature after ovulation for three consecutive days. You can measure this first thing in the morning with a thermometer that goes to 2 decimal points – I recommend Daysy fertility tracker, or you can measure progesterone in a blood test from your GP on day 21 of your cycle (of a 28-day cycle). This should be above 25pp/mL to indicate definite ovulation.
OCP = No ovulation
A period it does not mean you have ovulated; and if you are on the Pill – you do not ovulate, ovulation is suppressed on the pill by synthetic hormones.
Nutrients that promote ovulation:
Zinc, B6, magnesium, iodine, selenium, essential fatty acids like omega 3, and the herb Vitex (Chaste Tree) can help to promote ovulation. You must eat enough food to ovulate. If you are not eating enough food or exercising too much this can result in hypothalamic amenorrhea (which can be misdiagnosed as PCOS).
Factors that inhibit ovulation:
Stress, inflammation, thyroid disease, nutrient deficiencies, lack of sleep, under-eating, insulin, PCOS. Did I mention STRESS? Book an appointment to get to the root cause of your hormone issues.
