Here's What You Should Know About Ovulation

Dr. Deborah Smith and her team at Rocky Mountain Fertility Center have a mission to make dreams come true for people struggling to have children. Nationally recognized for use of the most advanced fertility treatments available and higher-than-average success rate, we’re also passionate about patient-first care.

Read what our experts say about the complexities of ovulation, its role in fertility, and the treatments that help if you don’t ovulate regularly.

Understanding ovulation

Ovulation refers to the release of a mature egg from an ovary. Ideally, when you’re trying to achieve pregnancy, the egg then travels down the fallopian tube, is fertilized, and implants in the uterine wall, where the pregnancy develops.

It sounds simple, but many steps must occur before and after ovulation to make pregnancy possible. 

The process actually starts at the beginning of your menstrual cycle when hormones released by your brain stimulate the maturation of an egg. At the same time, the uterine lining begins to thicken in preparation for supporting a pregnancy.

Egg development occurs in a structure within the ovary called a follicle, which releases the egg about 10-16 days before your menstrual period starts. An egg can live for up to 24 hours after ovulation and, if fertilized, implants in the uterine wall.

Only a fertilized egg can implant. Sperm can live for up to five days in the vagina, making fertilization possible from five days before ovulation to a day after. This is sometimes referred to as your “fertile window.”

An unfertilized egg quits producing hormones and dissolves, prompting the shedding of the uterine lining via your menstrual period.  

How do I track ovulation?

Some women experience symptoms during ovulation that are hormone-driven and may include:

• Increased temperature
• Noticeable thinning of cervical mucus
• Bloating
• Nausea
• Breast tenderness
• Increased sex drive
• Mild to moderate pelvic discomfort

If your period occurs regularly, you can also try estimating your ovulation date based on the timing of your menstrual flow. In addition, over-the-counter ovulation kits can detect hormone surges common to the preovulatory phase via a urine sample.

A standard infertility evaluation at Rocky Mountain Fertility Center includes comprehensive hormone testing to identify ovulation. Dr. Smith may also recommend an ultrasound study to gauge follicular development and ovarian egg reserves.

Dr. Smith and her team use the results of your evaluation to develop a treatment strategy that may include ovulation induction.

What is ovulation induction?

About 20% of women experience infertility due to the absence of ovulation (anovulation), which is most common in young women just beginning their menstrual cycles and women entering the early stages of menopause.

Intense stress, extreme exercise routines, poor diets, and other factors may also affect ovulation. Symptoms of anovulation include irregular periods, heavy menstrual bleeding, and infertility.

During ovulation induction, Dr. Smith prescribes hormones (fertility drugs) to help regulate your menstrual cycle, stimulate egg development and ovulation, and increase your chance of pregnancy.

Inducing ovulation sometimes prompts the release of several eggs at once and may be helpful for couples considering in vitro fertilization (IVF) or intrauterine insemination (IUI). Women who have opted to freeze and store eggs for future use also undergo ovulation induction.

Request an appointment online today or call to schedule a visit at Rocky Mountain Fertility Center for more information about fertility evaluation, ovulation induction, and the other services we offer. We’re located in Parker and Englewood, Colorado.