When you have a regular monthly cycle, changes can be disconcerting. And that’s not a bad thing - changes in your monthly menstrual cycle can indicate different events, from pregnancy to health concerns. So if you’ve missed a period, it’s always worth seeking to understand why.

As your years advance into your 40s, there’s a new possible explanation for missed periods: Perimenopause. So how can you tell whether you’re pregnant, experiencing perimenopause, or something else entirely? The easy (glib) answer is to wait. But assuming you want to know sooner than that, let’s take a closer look at the symptoms of each. 

Unique Symptoms of Pregnancy

Whether you’re trying to get pregnant or not, a missing or late period will elicit flurries of guesswork and emotion. However, pregnancy symptoms can easily be confused with menopause symptoms.

Symptoms Common to Both Pregnancy and Perimenopause

There’s a huge overlap between the pregnancy symptoms and perimenopause or menopause symptoms. Symptoms that are common to both include:

• Missed (or late) period
• Bloating
• Changes to libido
• Fatigue and poor sleep
• Headaches
• Hot flashes and night sweats
• Incontinence
• Mood changes
• Weight gain

Unique Pregnancy Symptoms

While the two are easily confused because they share such a long list of similar symptoms, there are also some symptoms that are considered unique to pregnancy (i.e. not common with perimenopause.)

Food and Taste Sensitivity

When you’re pregnant your taste buds can change. Foods that were previously your favorites might become repugnant to you. You might also find yourself craving unusual foods or unusual combinations of foods.

Increased Urination

It is considered normal to pee more frequently during a healthy pregnancy. This is due to the hormonal changes in the body in early pregnancy (later, it can be caused by the pressure of your uterus upon your bladder.) When pregnant, your body also produces more fluid than at other times, which can also lead to frequent urination.

Nausea

So-called “morning sickness” can actually happen at any time of the day within 1 month of getting pregnant. It may or may not be accompanied by vomiting.

Swollen and Sensitive Breasts

Early in your pregnancy, hormonal changes can make your breasts more tender. They may even appear swollen. Breast tenderness usually subsides after a few weeks.

Pro-Tip: Take a Pregnancy Test

Hopefully, it goes without saying, but there are tests for pregnancy. Apart from seeing your doctor (which you should do), you can buy an at-home pregnancy test from any pharmacist. If you’re on the fence about whether you’re pregnant or if there’s something else going on (e.g. perimenopause), a pregnancy test will help clear things up.

What Is Perimenopause?

Perimenopause means “around menopause.” The time before menopause is known as perimenopause and it can last anywhere between 1 and 10 years. 

According to the Mayo Clinic, “You may notice signs of progression toward menopause, such as menstrual irregularity, sometime in your 40s. But some women notice changes as early as their mid-30s.”

From a hormonal standpoint, perimenopause is characterized by irregular estrogen and progesterone levels. These changes to your hormone levels can cause many symptoms, which if severe, you might want to seek medical advice. Among those symptoms are changes to your menstrual period.

Perimenopause Symptoms

Let’s look in more detail at some of the major symptoms of perimenopause/the menopausal transition stage of a woman's life.

Changes to Your Period

During perimenopause, you may notice changes in your menstrual cycles. Some of these changes can be extreme opposites of each other, from lighter periods to heavier periods. This is caused by the extreme fluctuation of your hormone levels. 

Some women may experience all of these changes, while others will just experience some. Below are some of the possibilities. If it reads like perimenopause is a bit of a rollercoaster ride, that’s not surprising—many women feel that way!

Less Frequent or Irregular Periods

Because you will start ovulating less as you approach menopause, your entire menstrual cycle may not run like clockwork anymore. This can mean less frequent periods, including skipped months. These infrequencies will increase as perimenopause progresses. This is part of the reason why doctors wait a full 12 months before confirming that you have passed into menopause.

Spotting or Lighter Periods

You might also experience very light menstrual periods or spotting between periods. Considering periods become irregular at this stage, it can be easy to mistake the stage you’re in for menopause. It’s worth tracking your periods and any irregular bleeding in a journal or app so you and your doctor can understand what stage you’re in.

Longer Periods or Heavy Bleeding

As periods become infrequent, sometimes the lining of the uterus has more time to become thicker. This means that when your uterus sheds its lining, there will be a longer and heavier period. If periods become excessively heavy, you may be at risk of anemia, or it might be a symptom of something else. So monitor your cycle and determine if you need to seek medical advice. 

Hot Flashes and Night Sweats

Hot flashes are commonly associated with menopause. According to the Mayo Clinic, “The cause of hot flashes isn't known, but it's likely related to several factors. These include changes in reproductive hormones and in your body's thermostat (hypothalamus), which becomes more sensitive to slight changes in body temperature.”

Night sweats are hot flashes that occur while sleeping. They can have the added complication of disrupting sleep and causing insomnia.

Mood Swings, Weight Gain and So Much More…

Sorry to be a bearer of potentially bad news, but the list of perimenopause symptoms is really long. The good news is not all perimenopausal women experience these symptoms. And they may be less intense for some. The list includes:

• Mood swings & anxiety: Any fluctuation in hormones can have a knock-on effect on your mood. Many report feeling more anxious or having sudden flashes of rage.
• Weight gain: Sudden changes in weight or digestion can also point to perimenopause. If your diet, nutrition, and exercise levels are fairly stable and you find yourself experiencing weight gain, that may be a symptom of perimenopause.
• Vaginal dryness: Vaginal or endometrial atrophy occurs in some women after menopause. The body produces less estrogen after menopause, which can lead to the thinning, drying, and inflammation of the vaginal walls. During perimenopause this process can begin, resulting in dryness.
• Changes in sexual desire or satisfaction: Some women report changes in sexual desire and arousal due to fluctuating hormones.
• Sleep troubles: Apart from night sweats, general sleep can become unpredictable during perimenopause and beyond. It can also be hard to fall asleep, with some experiencing insomnia.
• Bone loss: With declining estrogen levels, your bone density may decrease as you start to lose bone more quickly than you replace it. For some, this can increase the risk of osteoporosis — a disease that causes fragile bones in women.
• Bladder problems: Low estrogen levels may also make you more vulnerable to urinary or vaginal infections. Loss of tissue strength may contribute to urinary incontinence.

Pro-Tip: Check Out Our Perimenopause Quiz

The symptoms of perimenopause may be numerous, but they can also be easily confused with other things going on in our bodies. In real-life situations where you’re juggling all the world throws at you, they can easily become confusing. Perimenopausal women may also wonder:

• Am I just stressed (work, world events, family life, etc.)
• Am I just run down?
• Maybe I’m coming down with the flu/cold/COVID?
• Maybe my body is just a little out of whack?
• Have I let my healthy habits slide a bit?
• Perhaps I’m just PMS-ing!
• Am I pregnant?

This means it can be difficult to say decisively if one is experiencing perimenopause or something else. And the situation can be even more confusing if you’re typically prone to an irregular menstrual cycle. It might be hard to spot the differences.

To help you navigate these uncertainties, we’ve devised a little quiz. Check it out here…

Yes, You Can Become Pregnant During Perimenopause

Even as your menstrual cycle becomes less regular it is important to know that you’re still ovulating (even if it’s infrequent). As long as you’re ovulating and having periods, you can become pregnant. And no form of birth control is 100% effective.

If you want to avoid pregnancy, use birth control until you've entered menopause, i.e. you’ve had no periods for 12 months.

Hey, It’s Time for a Doctor’s Visit When…

If you experience any of the following, it’s worth scheduling a check-up with your doctor to discuss your cycle:

• Heavy periods with a lot of clotting (especially clots larger than a quarter)
• Spotting between periods accompanied by abdominal pain or cramping
• Pain or a burning sensation when peeing
• Unusual vaginal discharge and/or redness and itchiness

Even if you don’t have any of the above symptoms, always visit the doctor in the following situations:

• If you think you’re pregnant or are trying to get pregnant: You should always see a doctor as soon as you think you might be pregnant to be administered a pregnancy test.
• If you experience inconsistent spotting: If spotting seems to happen frequently and randomly, you should definitely look into it.
• Bleeding or spotting begins after unprotected sex: Unprotected sex can put you at risk for STIs and other infections so if you notice spotting after unprotected sex, it’s wise to visit a doctor.

We hope you found this post informative — but remember: we’re not doctors and this post is not medical advice! While all posts are fact-checked and well researched, we always recommend you chat with your doctor about any questions or concerns you might have regarding a medical condition. We’re here to support and educate, but never with the aim of disregarding professional medical advice you’ve been given. Phew, now that that’s out of the way, you can go on living unapologetically free.

With trends in athleisure going from strength to strength, there are many options for staying on trend and also comfortable during your pregnancy. Leggings (whether for everyday wear or maternity wear) are exceptionally cozy and versatile. They can be dressed up or down, worn to work, or as loungewear. Basically: If leggings weren’t your BFF before pregnancy, they’re about to become just that!

Can You Wear Regular Leggings When You’re Pregnant?

Leggings are essentially skin-tight pull-on pants made of stretchy fabric (usually a cotton spandex blend) with a lot of elasticity. That’s why they look so much smaller on the hanger than they do on your body—there’s a lot of stretch. And if you already wear leggings, you’ll know they can stay comfortable when your body expands and contracts. That’s why they’re great for travel/flights, Thanksgiving dinners, and that time of the month when you feel a bit bloated.

So - can you wear your regular (non-maternity) leggings when you’re pregnant? There are no rules, and it’s all about what’s comfortable for you. You may find your existing leggings continue to serve you in the early parts of your pregnancy but start to feel stretched too thin as your body grows. Or you might find that the waistband is no longer comfortable across your baby bump at some point.

It’s worth noting that leggings that are stretched more than they’re intended can begin to lose opaqueness. So you might want to size up if you want to continue wearing your regular leggings in the later stages of pregnancy.

How well your non-maternity leggings serve you during pregnancy can depend on the style and material. Some leggings have more stretch than others. Some have compression that may offer support but may also be too much when you’re pregnant. And some have a mid-rise that may sit uncomfortably across your pregnant belly.

But you be the judge! If your non-maternity leggings feel good, keep rocking them throughout your pregnancy!

How Maternity Leggings Differ From Regular Leggings

Special maternity leggings are more specifically designed for pregnant women. If you’re new to leggings or find your regular non-maternity leggings are getting uncomfortable, you might want to check out some maternity leggings.

Many maternity leggings can look a lot like regular leggings, but they have a few notable differences:

• Waistband: The waistband of maternity leggings is designed with your pregnant belly in mind. This means the waistband won’t cut uncomfortably across your bump. Instead, it will usually sit above the bump (an ultra high rise) or below the bump. Indeed, some will be labeled 'maternity belly support leggings.'
• Tummy panel for your growing belly: The key design difference between regular leggings and maternity leggings is a tummy panel on over-the-bump leggings that usually has extra stretch or extra material so that it can expand with your growing belly.
• Compression: In the right places, compression in maternity leggings can help alleviate some of the muscle pain associated with pregnancy, including swollen ankles and varicose veins. Compression materials put pressure on different parts of the body (the amount of pressure can vary). Some compression garments are all-over compression, and some (like Knix leggings) have compression zones. The purpose of compression pressure is to improve blood circulation, which can help with athletic performance, reduce fatigue and even aid with muscle recovery. 

Styles or Types of Maternity Leggings

Of course, regular leggings come in myriad styles, and the same applies to maternity leggings. There are basic black maternity leggings and sporty workout leggings (or yoga pants.) You can find faux leather maternity leggings, maternity leggings designed to look like skinny jeans, and more. There are also all kinds of lengths, colors, and patterns of maternity leggings to choose from too. 

Over-the-Bump Maternity Leggings

Over-the-bump maternity leggings have an ultra-high rise and are designed to sit high on the waist, completely covering your bump. This is the style of maternity leggings where you’ll notice that tummy panel that’s not a feature of regular leggings. These leggings should last you throughout your pregnancy (and even after), as the waist can be rolled or folded down when you’re not big enough to fill it out. Many pregnant women love the gentle support and feeling of protection that they get from over-the-bump leggings.

Under-the-Bump Maternity Leggings

Inspired by Rihanna’s maternity looks? Under-the-bump leggings have a low-rise waistband, and these leggings sit under your bump. If you want to show your belly or prefer to feel free from constraint, this style is your choice. Good news: Because there’s no tummy panel to worry about, regular low-rise leggings usually work fine as under-the-bump maternity leggings. In our experience, the under-the-bump style can be less comfortable than the over-the-bump style, but that’s all a matter of personal preference! There are no hard and fast rules.

What to Look for in the Best Maternity Leggings

If we’ve sold you on the idea of pregnancy leggings as maternity clothing, you might start to search online and quickly feel overwhelmed by the number of options out there. Of course, you’ll determine your own search criteria, but here’s what we’d look for when shopping for the best maternity leggings:

Ultimate Comfort

Let’s face it: Comfort is important whether you’re pregnant or not pregnant—why else would athleisure be such a powerful fashion movement? But comfort becomes especially important for moms to be. Pay attention to the rise of your maternity leggings (under-the-bump or over-the-bump) and look for materials that are described as buttery soft and super stretchy. If you’re shopping online, read the buyer reviews to make sure the leggings live up to their claims.

Super Stretch, So They Grow With You

Some maternity clothes simply will not last your entire pregnancy. And that’s okay: Sometimes you need occasion wear for a specific event. But, for the most part, you want to invest in maternity clothes that will serve you right through your pregnancy (and even after.) 

So make sure the leggings you choose have enough stretch to grow with your body, especially a stretchy waistband. And while your belly is where you’ll really expand, you may feel swollen or gain weight elsewhere, too, so make sure the legs, ankles, etc., are not too constricted either.

Stomach Panel, Back and Belly Support

If you want the ‘free’ feeling, under-the-bump might be your favorite maternity leggings style. But most want some belly support, and the best maternity leggings offer just that. Belly and back support when you’re pregnant can help offer relief from aches and pains. But, more ineffably, it can also just offer a feeling of safety, reassurance, and protection that you might want when you’re feeling tender. If this sounds appealing, opt for an over-the-bump style of legging and check out the stomach panel to make sure it will offer that protective feeling right the way through your pregnancy.

The Right Kind of Compression and Support

Many leggings (both regular and maternity) offer degrees of compression. The purpose of compression in regular leggings can range from providing a slimming silhouette with light compression around the midriff to helping your muscles recover from athletic activity with compression designed to reduce muscle fatigue. 

The best maternity leggings also benefit from compression. It can help with lower back support and also help bring relief to aching muscles, swollen ankles, and may even help prevent varicose veins. But only maternity leggings will be designed with the unique concerns of pregnant and postpartum bodies in mind. So may sure to read the product descriptions to understand what support is on offer from the particular leggings you are considering!

Versatility: Dress Them Up or Down 

Okay: This is less about the performance of the leggings and more about fashion and wearability. Presumably, moms-to-be don’t want to go overboard buying a bunch of different clothes. So, look for a style of legging that offers maximum versatility. For us, that means the best maternity leggings are seamless maternity leggings in a classic, basic black style. 

While it’s easy to get excited about different patterns, colors, and materials (yes, there are faux leather material maternity leggings!), you’ll find that your classic, black leggings quickly become your BFF—they’ll work for daywear, workwear, and even evening-wear with the right styling and accessorizing. So definitely buy at least one pair basic pair.

Easy to Care For

Who has time for finicky washing instructions? Not us, and probably not moms-to-be either—even more after your wee one arrives. So make sure the care instructions for your leggings are pretty straightforward. You should be able to toss them in your regular laundry and simply hang lay flat to dry. Because most leggings are made with moisture-wicking materials, you’ll usually find they dry pretty quickly. And that should be it! Any more than that, and we’d move on to other options.

Moisture-Wicking Fabric

Your hormones can do a number on you when you’re pregnant. And if you’re expecting during the summer months, expect to feel the heat more than you usually do. The best maternity leggings that will keep you cool and dry are important; this means sweat-wicking and moisture-wicking properties and breathable fabric. UTIs can also be a factor during pregnancy, so staying clean and dry ‘down there’ can also help if you’re prone to UTIs.

Value for Money

Everyone is on their own budget, so you will probably have a price range in mind when you go shopping. If you’re on a budget, we would double down on the recommendation to stick with a basic black legging. This might mean you can spend more on higher quality because you’ll get more wear out of this style. 

Also, remember that quality and comfort are often tied to price, so if you want a pair of maternity leggings that will stand up to your entire pregnancy (and postpartum, too), it might make sense to invest a little more. Value for money doesn’t always mean the cheapest option, and with the best maternity leggings, you'll sometimes find it’s the cheap ones that become transparent or get baggy in unfortunate ways.

Introducing: The Knix BlissFit™ Maternity Legging

Yes, we’re a little biased, but we designed the Knix BlissFit™ Maternity Legging to check all these boxes. Indeed, we think these are the only bottoms you’ll need for your new journey. Designed with your changing body in mind, these go-to seamless leggings are made with super stretchy BlissFit™ fabric for the perfect fit at every stage of your pregnancy. A wide waistband and reinforced lower back ensure you feel comfortable and supported every step of the way.

How they fit: The seamless knit fabric and tummy panel allows extra space and stretches to adapt to body shape. These leggings have a high-waisted style and a full-length leg. Reinforced X-pattern ribbing across the lower back for extra support where you need it most.

• Sizes: S to XXXL
• Colors: Black and indigo
• Care instructions: Machine wash cold with like colors, do not bleach, do not dry clean, do not iron, lay flat to dry.
• Return policy: Our Maternity & Postpartum Collection is eligible for return or exchange within 30 days of delivery.

Earlier in the article, we also urged you to read reviews, so here’s what our customers have to say about the BlissFit™ Maternity Legging:

“This is my 2nd pregnancy and I wish knix had been making these during my first. I love them so much. Putting them on is just like getting a big hug. Pure comfort and ease, when everything else is uncomfortable lol…” - Ana M.

“These maternity leggings have been a lifesaver. All those days when you're too uncomfortable to put on anything else, these are your pants. No other leggings I have compare. I've been wearing them since I was 12 weeks pregnant, and I'm currently 29 weeks. I ordered a large so I had space to grow, and I'm glad I did. I'm currently 5'9" 194lbs, belly measuring at 30 weeks pregnant and they still fit me perfectly as they did when I was 12 weeks (approx 175lbs). The material also hides mild cellulite, so that was huge for me as I don't feel self conscious in them with my pregnancy weight gain. These will be so comfy when I'm post partum too. They are worth every penny!” - Megan K.

“These leggings make me want to do laundry so I can wear them again - they’re that good! So soft, so comfortable and after several washes, they keep their shape & feel just like the first wear. They feel a lot more supportive than other leggings though the support is minimal. They look great, I love the color. I wear a M (my size before pregnancy), 5’6 145 lbs when I started wearing these at 15 weeks barely showing. Today, I’m 33 weeks with a belly measuring 39in around & they still feel great and like they could expand more.” - Nikita

What to Wear Under Maternity Clothes: Leakproof Underwear

Because leggings are skin-tight clothing, you may wonder what to wear beneath them when you’re pregnant. Some women also experience light bladder leaks during and after pregnancy. Understandably that can cause anxiety and discomfort. 

Good news: Leakproof underwear can help absorb any sweat, discharge, or urine leaks, or spotting you may experience during (or after) pregnancy. Here are some great options:

1. Super Leakproof Boyshort

The Super Leakproof Boyshort - switch from relying on disposable panty liners to wearing incredibly comfortable and machine-washable boyshort underwear that will protect you every day of your pregnancy and beyond!

These full-coverage boyshorts provide extra coverage through the hip and bum and sit slightly higher than our bikini silhouette. The ultra-thin & absorbent gusset is 9” long, providing confident coverage in the front and behind. The fabric is designed to feel snug at first but relax with wash and wear for a perfect fit.

• Sizes: XS to XXXXL
• Colors: 18 colors and patterns

Here’s what our customers have to say:

“These, along with either Knix underwear, are all I’ve been wearing since pregnancy started. So comfy and not constricting. These ones I plan on wearing in postpartum. I love Knix, they are totally worth every penny.”

“Love the freedom these leakproof panties provide. They are comfortable and really colorful. They protect from urine leaks very well”

2. Super Leakproof Thong

The Super Leakproof Thong - switch from relying on disposable products to wearing incredibly comfortable and machine-washable underwear.

The thong provides a mid-rise silhouette with minimal bum coverage. The ultra-thin & absorbent gusset is 8-9” long, providing confident coverage in the front and behind. The fabric is designed to feel snug at first but relax with wash and wear for a perfect fit.

• Sizes: XS to XXXXL
• Colors: 19 colors and patterns

What our customers say: “Comfortable, invisible under clothes and keeps you dry all day!”

Shop our entire leakproof collection here.

We hope you found this post informative — but remember: we’re not doctors and this post is not medical advice! While all posts are fact-checked and well researched, we always recommend you chat with your doctor about any questions or concerns you might have regarding a medical condition. We’re here to support and educate, but never with the aim of disregarding professional medical advice you’ve been given. Phew, now that that’s out of the way, you can go on living unapologetically free.

But why does it happen and what can you do about it? Read on...

Postpartum Incontinence: What Is it?

Any involuntary bladder leaks after childbirth are known as “postpartum urinary incontinence”. But this is a broad term that covers a few different kinds of incontinence that a new mother may experience. 

Many women find they experience stress urinary incontinence, which is loss of bladder control when you:

• Laugh
• Sneeze
• Cough
• Exercise
• Lift something heavy or bend over

Learn more about stress incontinence (SUI) here. This is the most common form of incontinence for women to experience after giving birth. In the case of pregnancy and postpartum incontinence, loss of bladder control is usually a common - and temporary - experience.

If you have an overactive bladder, you might experience urge incontinence. Urge incontinence manifests when there is a sudden and urgent need, or ‘urge’, to pee that seemingly comes out of nowhere. 

If this urgent need cannot be immediately acted upon, this feeling can lead to involuntary urine leakage of small amounts of urine. Urge incontinence may be a temporary or persistent experience depending on the cause.

Finally, it’s possible to experience mixed incontinence after childbirth. Mixed incontinence is a combination of stress and urge incontinence.

What Causes Postpartum Incontinence?

The cause of postpartum urinary incontinence may seem obvious… After all, a lot has happened ‘down there’ during childbirth. But experts are not completely clear on what part of childbirth causes postpartum incontinence. It may depend on multiple factors, including:

• Genetics
• Duration of labor
• Vaginal delivery (versus C-section)
• Delivery with forceps or vacuum delivery
• A history of UTIs
• Whether you’ve been pregnant before

Additional Risk Factors

• Are overweight
• Smoker

How Long Will Postpartum Incontinence Last?

Urinary issues related to pregnancy in women usually resolve about 6 weeks after you give birth. You should track your experience of incontinence after childbirth and chat with your doctor if the condition worsens or shows no signs of abating in that time period.

How to Prevent Postpartum Incontinence…

Prevention is often easier than the cure and while there are no hard-and-fast guarantees that you can completely avoid urine leaks after birth, here are some steps you can take to reduce your odds.

Do Kegel Exercises / Pelvic Floor Exercises

These exercises strengthen the pelvic floor muscles, which support the uterus, bladder, small intestine and rectum and will help you manage bladder control problems.

Good news: Kegel exercises or pelvic floor muscle exercises can be done any time, either sitting or lying down. You can even do Kegel exercises when you are eating, sitting at your desk, or when you are resting.

If you’re unsure how to do pelvic floor or Kegel exercises, your doctor or physiotherapist can help you. But basically it’s like pretending you have to urinate and then holding it. You relax and tighten the muscles that control urine flow.

One way to learn the pelvic floor muscles you should activate is to pay attention when you pee: Start to pee and then stop. You should feel the muscles in your vagina, bladder, and anus get tight and move up. These are the pelvic floor muscles. 

Gain a Healthy Amount of Weight

Because being overweight puts you at greater risk of experiencing incontinence during and after pregnancy, it is advisable to not gain excess weight during pregnancy. 

Obviously, some weight gain during pregnancy is perfectly normal, natural and healthy for you and baby. So work with your doctor to determine the right amount of weight and try to maintain a healthy diet and exercise regime (adhering of course to medical advice).

Stop Smoking

Nicotine causes the muscles of the bladder to spasm, which is why it is a risk factor for incontinence (more generally, not just pertaining to pregnancy). Obviously, there’s a whole host of medical reasons to quit smoking as well. If it’s something you’re trying to do, chat with your doctor to get the support and resources you need to do it safely and sustainably.

How to Treat Postpartum Urine Leaks

Invest in Leakproof Underwear

Leakproof underwear will offer you protection from any involuntary urine leakage and help minimize the embarrassment and inconvenience of urinary incontinence. Depending on the style, leakproof underwear can absorb up to 8tsp of liquid.

Manage Your Weight (Healthily)

If you gained a lot of weight during pregnancy, that additional weight can be a factor in experiencing urinary incontinence postpartum. That said, we’re certainly not advocating a crash diet or anything extreme (there’s no expectation from us that your body should “bounce back” immediately after pregnancy.)

Work with your healthcare provider to plan how to manage your weight. Make sure your goals are realistic and sustainable. 

Continue with Those Kegels 

So you did your Kegels during pregnancy and you’re still experiencing postpartum incontinence? Don’t give up! Maintaining a strong pelvic floor is still important and will help your body recover from childbirth. 

See a Physical Therapist / Pelvic Health Specialist

If your body went through a lot during childbirth, don’t feel you have to figure it all out alone. A physical therapist or pelvic health specialist can offer pelvic floor physical therapy to help build strength. 

They will help identify the muscles that have weakened and help you build a strong core, as well as pelvic floor. Plus, if you’ve struggled with Kegels, they’ll set you on the right path. Physical therapy can help more broadly with your recovery from childbirth, as well as address issues like incontinence (fecal or urinary).

Try Bladder Training

Bladder training involves taking bathroom breaks at regularly timed intervals. Keep a log of when you use the bathroom and make sure you’re going at regular intervals. By ensuring your bladder is emptied frequently, you minimize the chances of leakages. Over time and as your pelvic floor muscles strengthen, you can add more time between your bathroom breaks.

Avoid Food & Drink That Irritates the Bladder

You can also adjust your diet to minimize foods and beverages that may irritate the bladder. 

Foods to avoid include:

• Sweeteners, including corn syrup, honey and artificial sweeteners
• Spicy foods
• Acidic foods, like citrus fruits and tomatoes

Beverages to avoid include:

• Alcohol (alcohol is a diuretic, meaning it makes you urinate more often)
• Caffeine
• Carbonated beverages

Note: You should not reduce the amount of water you drink (either during or after pregnancy) thinking that this will help with incontinence. It may result in you becoming dehydrated, or increase risk of a UTI (urinary tract infection). Indeed, when you are pregnant, you should drink between 2 and 3 litres of water per day. 

When You Should Talk to Your Doctor

As you have medical check-ups before and after pregnancy, keep your doctor apprised of any experience of incontinence. They will likely reassure you that it’s highly common for women to experience some light bladder leaks during and after pregnancy.

However, if the condition persists 6 weeks after childbirth or increases rather than diminishes, do bring it up again. If Kegel exercises, leakproof underwear and timed bladder training don’t help, your doctor may want to explore more medical treatments. These may include:

• Vaginal pessary or urinary insert
• Botox
• Medications
• Hormone replacement therapy (HRT)

Surgical options for urinary incontinence may include:

• Sling procedure
• Injectable bulking agents
• Retropubic colposuspension

The sling procedure is the most  common surgical procedure performed in women with stress urinary incontinence. This procedure entails the surgeon using the person's own tissue, synthetic material, or donor tissue to create a ‘sling’ or hammock that supports the urethra. Learn more about it from the Mayo Clinic.

Outlook

But for most women, some loss of bladder control during and after pregnancy is just one of the many temporary changes your body will go through during pregnancy. It may not be what you want to hear, but it can take many months for the body to fully recuperate, so be patient with yourself and your body.

Leakproof underwear will make the realities of postpartum incontinence a little easier to bear. After all, this is a special time of your life and you don’t want to be held back from bonding and enjoying your new addition.

We hope you found this post informative — but remember: we’re not doctors and this post is not medical advice! While all posts are fact-checked and well researched, we always recommend you chat with your doctor about any questions or concerns you might have regarding a medical condition. We’re here to support and educate, but never with the aim of disregarding professional medical advice you’ve been given. Phew, now that that’s out of the way, you can go on living unapologetically free.

Frequent urination can occur in pregnant women due to:

• Increased pressure on your bladder: Your growing baby puts pressure on all surrounding organs, which may lead to decreased distention space for the bladder during filling, leading to increased and frequent urge to empty the bladder.
• Extra fluids in your body: When you are pregnant, your plasma volume increases by ~50%, so the increase in blood flow combined with filtration of fluid through the kidney results in increased bladder filling and urination.    
• Hormonal changes: Hormonal changes during pregnancy, like increased progesterone, cause your blood vessels to dilate. This allows for increased plasma volume and cardiac output due to the decrease in resistance to blood flow. Increased cardiac output means blood flow can get to and from organs (like the kidneys) more quickly and frequently.

What Happens When You Pee *Normally*?

Most of us don’t think twice about peeing until something goes wrong. When you pee, your brain and bladder work together. 

The bladder stores urine until you are ready to release it and the muscles of your pelvic floor and the urethra (the tube connecting your bladder to the outside of your body) contract and relax to keep the urine in the bladder. When those muscles are able to communicate consistently with the brain, keeping the bladder and the urethra in the correct position, you have control of your urine, and urine does not leak outside the body unintentionally.

When you are ready to pee, your brain lets the bladder know. This causes the pelvic floor muscles, the urethra, and the bladder to either relax or contract, which allows urine to exit the bladder and your body through the urethra.

What Can Cause an Urge to Pee (But Nothing Comes Out)?

Ok, so what about those times where you feel the urge to pee, but nothing comes out?

Increased Pressure on the Bladder

Your growing baby and uterus put pressure on all surrounding organs, which may lead to decreased distention space for the bladder during filling. This can cause increased and frequent urge to empty the bladder. Sometimes you may feel the urge to void, even if the bladder has only filled up a little bit. This is due to decreased space for the bladder to fill as your baby develops and your uterus grows. 

Urinary Tract Infection UTI

One of the most common causes of an urge, or constant urge, to pee is a UTI (urinary tract infection). UTIs can occur when bacteria have entered the urinary tract. This bacterial infection causes the bladder to become inflamed and irritated, which can trigger increased contraction frequency of the bladder muscle, discomfort with bladder distention, and pain with peeing.

Ways to prevent UTIs include the following:

• Drink plenty of water
• Urinate before and after having sex
• Wipe from front to back after you pee
• Wear breathable, natural underwear and clothing, changing your underwear daily
• Don’t hold your urine! (i.e., pee when you have to go)

Overactive Bladder

OAB occurs due to abnormalities in the nerves, muscle, and/or the lining of the bladder, which leads to the bladder muscle (detrusor muscle) inappropriately contracting during bladder filling. This causes urinary frequency and urgency and can occur with or without urinary incontinence (involuntary loss of urine).

What Can You Do About Frequent Urination During Pregnancy?

Pregnancy can come with many changes that often do not fully improve until delivery. This includes frequent urination.

If it isn’t time for delivery yet, there are some things you can do to help with urinary frequency during pregnancy:

Lean Forward or Try Double Voiding

The urge to pee again will be exacerbated if your bladder doesn’t fully empty when you use the bathroom. So, make sure you empty your bladder when you pee—leaning forward while on the toilet may help with this. 

Another option is to pee, then wait 10 minutes and pee again. This is known as double voiding. Double voiding might be especially helpful before bedtime if you’re experiencing nocturia (waking up because you need to pee during the night).

Maintain a Healthy (Pregnancy) Weight

Weight gain is a natural and healthy part of pregnancy. You should work closely with your doctor to determine the healthy amount of weight you should gain. Gaining excess weight puts additional stress on your organs and pelvic muscles. That increased pressure can further disrupt your urge to urinate, making you feel the need for more frequent urination.

Do Kegel Exercises to Strengthen Your Pelvic Floor Muscles

These exercises strengthen the muscles that support the uterus, bladder, and urethra, as well as other organs in the pelvis. Kegel or pelvic floor exercises can be done any time, either sitting or lying down. You can even do them when you are eating, working at your desk, or when you are resting.

In describing how to perform Kegels, some equate it to the same technique used to stop urine midstream, or trying to prevent gas from escaping the rectum.

You can assess whether or not you are using the correct muscles by either a) holding a hand mirror in front of the vagina and looking for the perineum to lift up when you contract, or b) by placing one finger inside your vagina and feeling that finger lifted and squeezed when you contract.

Kegels are typically performed by squeezing for 3 seconds and then relaxing for an equal amount of time (3 seconds). This is repeated 10 times, 3 times a day, with an eventual goal of 10 seconds per squeeze.

Typically Kegels can help with stress-predominant urinary incontinence (not overactive bladder incontinence) due to weak pelvic floor muscles, as studies have shown that ~50% of women are satisfied ~1yr after starting pelvic floor muscle training.

However, there are ~14 different causes of urinary incontinence, so if it is not stress urinary incontinence due to weakened pelvic floor muscles, Kegels may not be helpful – in some cases, they could even worsen symptoms. Seeking evaluation and care from your provider is always important and recommended.

Try Wearing Leakproof Underwear

Leakproof underwear will not prevent leaks, but it can help you better manage them. If “leakproof underwear” conjures images of bulky adult diapers, rest assured, they come in a wide variety of styles and are basically indistinguishable from your regular underwear. Plus, they’re great for managing all kinds of leaks - from light bladder leaks, to period blood and even sweat.

When to Seek Medical Advice

If you experience any of the following, check in with your doctor or healthcare provider:

If You Experience Stinging or Burning When Urinating

An increased urge to urinate is one symptom of a urinary tract infection (UTI). Another symptom is a stinging or burning sensation when you pee and a decreased or irregular flow of urine. If you experience this, you should visit your doctor. 

If you have a history of UTIs, you have greater chances of experiencing a UTI during pregnancy. UTIs are typically treated with antibiotics that are safe in pregnancy. However, untreated UTIs can lead to a kidney infection, which can lead to multiple undesired outcomes, including early labor.

Any Unusual Vaginal Discharge

You may have more vaginal discharge than usual when you become pregnant. But it’s also important to know what’s normal and when to seek medical advice. 

Normal vaginal discharge is:

• Clear and white
• Normal or mild smell (not strong or unpleasant)
• Sticky, slippery, or wet

Contact your doctor immediately if:

• You are experiencing vaginal bleeding at any time during your pregnancy
• There is an unpleasant smell from the discharge
• Discharge is yellow, brown, or green, thick, white, clumpy
• You experience itching, irritation, discomfort of the vulva/vagina

Outlook

Always update your healthcare provider on what's happening throughout your pregnancy, as your doctor may want to do further tests.

Urinary issues related to pregnancy usually resolve within the postpartum period. However, some may persist. In the weeks after delivery, pay heed to whether urinary issues begin to subside or increase. Giving birth can contribute to incontinence after pregnancy as muscles can be injured during vaginal delivery. If this happens, do talk to your doctor.

But for most women, some loss of bladder control during pregnancy is just one of the many temporary changes you will go through while pregnant. Rest assured, your body will begin to recover after the baby is born. Seeking pelvic floor physical therapy both during and after pregnancy is a great way to strengthen those muscles after the normal laxity of pregnancy.

Written by Jane Flanagan — Updated on January 30, 2023.

We hope you found this post informative — but remember: we’re not doctors and this post is not medical advice! While all posts are fact-checked and well researched, we always recommend you chat with your doctor about any questions or concerns you might have regarding a medical condition. We’re here to support and educate, but never with the aim of disregarding professional medical advice you’ve been given. Phew, now that that’s out of the way, you can go on living unapologetically free.

It is very common for women to experience “urinary retention” or difficulty passing urine following childbirth. But it is important to pee within 6 to 8 hours of delivery to prevent urinary tract infections (UTIs) and keep the bladder healthy.

The good news is that urinary retention is usually temporary and passes once you recover.

How Childbirth Affects the Bladder

Your bladder can be a little traumatized by you giving birth. The pressure exerted by an exiting baby might force it to shut down temporarily. Or any anesthesia you were administered may have decreased its sensitivity, effectively “numbing” it.

As with any abdominal surgery, swelling and pain can also impact your body’s basic functions. Basically, it can take a while for your body to “reboot” after any kind of trauma.

There’s also a psychological effect; you yourself may be nervous to pee. Peeing after childbirth can sting (in part due to tears and incisions) and this may also fill you with dread that inhibits your ability to urinate.

What to Expect After Childbirth

Expect your nurses to be very interested in when you’re ready to pee and how much urine you pass when you do use the bathroom. They want to feel like your body’s basic functions are returning to normal before they release you.

Again, this is similar to any surgery; they want you to pee, or they want to hear you’ve got gas or your tummy’s rumbling, that your appetite is returning etc. 

Your nurses or doctors will want you to pee within 6 to 8 hours of delivery and after you go, they’ll want to see how much urine you’ve passed. They may also measure the bladder for distension (a.k.a. fullness).

If you do not manage to urinate within the designated time frame, your healthcare providers may use a catheter to drain your bladder of urine. They’ll be on the lookout for signs of a urinary tract infection (UTI) as this is sometimes the reason new mothers cannot pee postpartum.
Even if you manage to pee and are cleared for release, continue to pay attention to urination and any unusual sensations as your body heals. You should feel that you are making a sure return to normal. 

When to See a Doctor

If you’re only able to pee small amounts, if there’s pain or a burning sensation, or if you experience a fever, make sure to book an appointment to see your doctor.

Similarly, if you feel you can’t control leakages and are experiencing incontinence, chat with your doctor.

Urethral Prolapse

While the urethra itself can be bruised during childbirth, this usually heals as swelling is reduced. Other than bruising, no significant sources speak to postpartum urethral damage.

Urethral prolapse (urethrocele) is when the urethra pushes into the vaginal canal or protrudes out of the urethral opening.

Urethral prolapse in female patients is a rare event. It usually occurs in much older women. While pregnancy and childbirth may be precursors to urethral prolapse in later life, there have only been 2 documented cases of postpartum urethral prolapse (source).

How Common Is Postpartum Urinary Retention?

Postpartum urinary retention (PPUR) affects roughly 8% of women who give birth (source). Risk factors for experiencing urinary retention include:

• Being catheterized during labor
• Prolonged labor
• An episiotomy, which is an incision made in the perineum—the tissue between the vaginal opening and the anus—during childbirth
• Epidural analgesia (having regional epidural administered during labor)
• Perineal tear and sphincter rupture can cause urinary retention

How to Help Your Bladder Recover Immediately Postpartum

There are some steps you can take to help your bladder recover after childbirth. 

Sip, Don’t Gulp

Drinking fluids helps kick your systems back into action. Rather than gulping vast quantities of water, sip water continually.

Get Moving (Gently Does It)

Moving around similarly helps your body wake back up. While you may be weak still, begin as soon as you can, even if it’s with short, accompanied walks up and down the ward. 

Take it easy and listen to your body (don’t push through unusual pain). But as you gain strength, your body will respond and your systems will find their rhythm again.

If You’re Shy, Ask for a Little Space

It can be difficult to pee with an audience, so if your nurses are hovering and you’re finding it gives you performance anxiety, don’t feel shy to politely ask for a little space. 

Try Sitz Baths or Ice Packs

If swelling and bruising has caused pain that is making it psychologically difficult for you to urinate, try ice packs or ask your nurse if a sitz bath would help relieve that pain.

Picture a Waterfall…

It may be a little silly (and it’s more a way of overcoming a psychological hurdle) but picturing running water can sometimes help if you’re trying to stimulate your urge to urinate. You can also run a tap. 

Timed Voiding

Urinating on a schedule or double-voiding (where you urinate and then go again 10–15 minutes later) can help make sure your bladder empties.

What About Postpartum Urinary Incontinence?

It is common to experience a little incontinence during pregnancy, due to:

• Increased pressure on the bladder: Your growing baby puts pressure on the bladder and surrounding organs, which can lead to loss of urine or an increased need to urinate in women during pregnancy.
• Extra fluids in your body: During pregnancy, you should drink between 2 and 3 liters of water per day. More fluids make it easier to leak urine.
• Hormonal changes: Hormonal changes during pregnancy cause your pelvic floor muscles to relax, which can lead to incontinence. (Pelvic floor exercises can help strengthen muscles both during pregnancy and postpartum, after delivery.)

This experience can continue after childbirth (i.e., postpartum urinary incontinence) and depending on your delivery, may become worse or begin to dissipate. If postpartum urinary incontinence worsens after childbirth, talk to your doctor as there may have been damage to your pelvic floor muscles. 

It’s also recommended to do (or continue) doing Kegel exercises after childbirth to help your pelvic floor muscles regain their strength after a vaginal delivery.

Do Kegel Exercises to Strengthen Your Pelvic Floor Muscles

These exercises strengthen the pelvic floor muscles, which support the uterus, bladder, small intestine, and rectum and will help you manage bladder control problems.

Good news: Kegel exercises or pelvic floor muscle exercises can be done any time, either sitting or lying down. You can even do Kegel exercises when you are eating, sitting at your desk, or when you are resting.

How Are Kegel Exercises Done?

If you’re unsure how to do pelvic floor or Kegel exercises, your doctor or physiotherapist can help you. But basically it’s like pretending you have to urinate and then holding it. You relax and tighten the muscles that control urine flow.

One way to learn the pelvic floor muscles you should activate is to pay attention when you pee: Start to pee and then stop. You should feel the muscles in your vagina, bladder, and anus get tight and move up. These are the pelvic floor muscles. 

Wear Leakproof Underwear While You’re Recovering from Giving Birth

Pregnancy and childbirth are not casual undertakings and it’s only natural that your body would feel a little worse for wear after giving birth to a baby. While the media has normalized an expectation that you can bounce back to normal in no time and be “red carpet ready,” it’s not really the case for many women.

Instead, allow yourself time to recover and provide yourself tools to ease that recovery time. Soreness, tenderness, and light bladder leaks will likely be part of that recovery. Leakproof underwear will offer you protection from any involuntary urine leakage and help minimize the embarrassment and inconvenience of postpartum urinary incontinence. 

Do keep your doctor abreast of what’s happening and always be alert to signs of more serious medical concerns. In particular, don’t ignore unusual or persistent pain or bleeding. Other than that, be kind to yourself—you just gave birth!

Written by Jane Flanagan — Updated on March 1, 2022.

We hope you found this post informative — but remember: we’re not doctors and this post is not medical advice! While all posts are fact-checked and well researched, we always recommend you chat with your doctor about any questions or concerns you might have regarding a medical condition. We’re here to support and educate, but never with the aim of disregarding professional medical advice you’ve been given. Phew, now that that’s out of the way, you can go on living unapologetically free.

But this isn’t the entire story. Let’s get into it!

What *Normally* Happens When You Pee 

Your brain and bladder work together to control urinary function. 

The bladder stores urine until you are ready to release it, and the muscles of your pelvis hold the bladder in place. The muscles of the bladder are usually relaxed and hold urine in the bladder, and the neck of the bladder is closed. 

The urethra is the tube that carries urine from the bladder to outside the body. The sphincter muscles are closed around the urethra. When those muscles do their job, you have bladder control, and urine does not leak outside the body by accident.

When you are ready to pee, your brain lets the bladder know. This causes the bladder muscles to contract, which forces urine out through the urethra. The sphincter also opens up when the bladder contracts, allowing the urine to pass through the urethra and leave the body.

Urinary incontinence happens when urine leaks outside your control and your intention to pee.

What Causes Urinary Incontinence During Pregnancy

Involuntary loss of urine in women during pregnancy and childbirth is completely normal. So, too, is taking more trips to the bathroom when you’re pregnant, especially between 18 and 30 months. But why?

• Increased pressure on the bladder: Your growing baby puts pressure on the bladder and surrounding organs, which can lead to loss of urine or an increased need to urinate in women.
• Extra fluids in your body: When you are pregnant, you should drink between 2 and 3 liters of water per day. More fluids make it easier to leak urine.
• Hormonal changes: Hormonal changes during pregnancy cause your pelvic floor muscles to relax, which can lead to incontinence.

These changes can also lead to light bladder leaks. 

Stress Incontinence During Pregnancy

Many women find they experience stress urinary incontinence, which is loss of bladder control when you:

• Laugh
• Sneeze
• Cough
• Exercise
• Lift something heavy or bend over

Learn more about stress incontinence here. In the case of pregnancy, loss of bladder control due to stress incontinence is a common (and usually temporary) experience. A difficult vaginal delivery from a past pregnancy increases the chances of weakened pelvic floor muscles.

Stress urinary incontinence has nothing to do with emotional stress but is about physical exertion. This can be the obvious physical exertion of doing exercise. But stress incontinence can also occur during normal bodily functions and involuntary reactions like coughing, sneezing, and even laughing.

When any of those exertions cause an involuntary loss of bladder control, we’re talking about stress urinary incontinence. And the cause is generally weakened muscles that become weaker when the body is experiencing the ‘stress’ of those exertions, so it fails to hold in your pee.

UTIs and Bladder Control Problems During Pregnancy

Finally, if you have a history of urinary tract infections (UTIs) or have previously had a vaginal delivery, your risk of urinary incontinence during pregnancy is greater. 

Moreover, if you suffered from urinary incontinence before your pregnancy, it will likely continue and perhaps worsen during pregnancy.

What to Do About Urinary Incontinence During Pregnancy

Rest assured, pregnancy incontinence or light bladder leaks are common experiences during pregnancy. The good news is that experiencing incontinence is usually temporary. This doesn’t make it less inconvenient or embarrassing at the moment, but at least you know they’ll probably subside after you give birth and your pelvic muscles recover.

To help you cope here and now with pregnancy incontinence, do the following:

Try Kegel Exercises to Strengthen Your Pelvic Floor Muscles

These exercises strengthen the pelvic floor muscles, which support the uterus, bladder, small intestine, and rectum. They will help you manage bladder control problems.

Good news: Kegel exercises or pelvic floor muscle exercises can be done any time, either sitting or lying down. You can even do Kegel exercises when you are eating, sitting at your desk, or when you are resting. Long term, these exercises can help mitigate the risk of pelvic organ prolapse.

How to Do Kegel Exercises / Strengthen Pelvic Muscles

If you’re unsure how to do pelvic floor muscle exercises (or Kegel exercises), your doctor or physiotherapist can help you. But basically, it’s like pretending you have to urinate and then holding it. You relax and tighten the muscles that control urine flow.

One way to learn the pelvic floor muscles you should activate is to pay attention when you pee: Start to pee and then stop. You should feel the muscles in your vagina, bladder, and anus get tight and move up. These are the pelvic floor muscles. 

Troubleshooting Pelvic Floor Exercices: Don’ts

Like many conversations around women’s health, there can be some misconceptions about exercises for pelvic floor muscles. Here are some of the things that people regularly get wrong about Kegels:

• If you experience pain: Stop right away. This is not the kind of exercise where you should “feel the burn” or “push through the pain.” Exercising pelvic floor muscles should be completely painless; they can even be pleasurable. Make an appointment with your doctor to discuss it if you experience pain.
• Flexing butt or abdomen muscles: Your butt and abdomen should stay relaxed when you flex your pelvic floor muscles.
• Straining while doing the exercises: You should not strain in any way when doing Kegels. This can have a counterproductive result, adding pressure to the pelvic floor muscles instead of strengthening them.
• Relying too much on stopping urine mid-stream: This might be a good way to initially locate the pelvic floor muscles, but doing this regularly can disrupt your ability to urinate and have the opposite effect; weakening your pelvic floor muscles. This is because when you urinate, your brain sends a message to your bladder to loosen the muscles to allow urine to pass out of the body. By holding it in, you’re interrupting that natural process.
• Not asking for help: If you’re having trouble locating the right muscles or are unsure you’re doing Kegels right, you should absolutely ask for help from a physical therapist. Especially if you’re recovering from surgery, childbirth, or another trauma, it can be difficult to engage the right muscles. Most of us have to learn to lift weights at the gym. This is no different. So don’t leave it to guesswork; seek help!
• Stopping! If you’re doing Kegels to manage urinary incontinence or just to maintain your pelvic floor muscles, don’t stop. Incontinence may return if you stop. Stick to a daily routine.

Reduce Certain Beverages & When You Drink to Minimize Pregnancy Incontinence

You’ve probably already reduced or eliminated your caffeine and alcohol intake during pregnancy, but think about cutting back further if you’re experiencing light bladder leaks or pregnancy incontinence. Also, minimize carbonate or sugary beverages, which may aggravate the bladder.

If you experience urinary incontinence more at night, ensure you’re not drinking too much close to bedtime. While it is very important to stay hydrated and drink enough water during pregnancy, you can time it to minimize leaks or increased bathroom breaks at night.

Healthy Weight Gain Will Minimize Pressure on the Bladder and Pelvic Floor

Weight gain is a normal and healthy part of pregnancy. Work with your doctor to determine the healthy amount of weight you should gain. Additional weight may increase the pressure you’re feeling and exacerbate bladder control problems.

Try Timed Bladder Training to Control Urinary Incontinence

Bladder training involves taking bathroom breaks at regularly timed intervals. Keep a log of when you use the bathroom and make sure you’re going at regular intervals. By ensuring your bladder is emptied frequently, you minimize the chances of urine leakage. Over time and as your pelvic floor muscles strengthen, you can add more time between your bathroom breaks.

Wear Leakproof Underwear to Manage Pregnancy Incontinence

Leakproof underwear will offer you protection from any involuntary urine leakage and help minimize the embarrassment and inconvenience of urinary incontinence. Depending on the style, leakproof underwear can absorb up to 8tsp of liquid.

Pregnant Women: When to Seek Medical Advice for Urinary Incontinence

Do mention to your doctor at your regular check-ups if you are experiencing urine leakage or urinary incontinence, just to keep them in the loop on all your pregnancy experiences. 

Beyond keeping your doctor apprised of any experience of urinary incontinence, always seek more immediate medical advice if you experience the following:

If Leaks “Gush” From Your Vagina

This could be amniotic fluid and not urine. If the flow is intermittent and small in volume, leaks are probably urine. When amniotic fluid leaks it usually “gushes” for a sustained amount of time. Any presence of white waxy or dark green substance also indicates it’s amniotic fluid. Amniotic fluid is odorless, while urine smells, well, like urine (an ammonia-like odor).

You Experience Stinging or Burning When Urinating

Urinary incontinence is one symptom of urinary tract infection (UTI). Another symptom is a stinging or burning sensation when you pee and a decreased or irregular flow of urine. If you experience this, you should visit your doctor. If you have a history of UTIs, you have greater chances of experiencing a UTI during pregnancy.

Preventing UTIs

Ways to prevent UTIs include:

• Drink plenty of water
• Urinate before and after having sex
• Wipe from front to back after you pee
• Wear breathable, natural underwear and clothing, changing your underwear daily

UTIs are treated with antibiotics for 3 to 7 days. These antibiotics are safe for your baby. However, untreated UTIs can lead to a kidney infection, which can cause early labor.

Any Unusual Vaginal Discharge

You may have more vaginal discharge than usual when you become pregnant. But it’s also important to know what’s normal and when to seek medical advice. 

Normal vaginal discharge is:

• Clear and white
• Normal or mild smell (not strong or unpleasant)
• Is sticky, slippery, or wet

Some women experience a ‘show’ in the final stages of pregnancy, which is a thicker discharge streaked with pink jelly-like material.

Contact your doctor immediately if:

• You are under 37 weeks pregnant, and vaginal discharge is bright red
• There is an unpleasant smell from the discharge
• Discharge is brown or green
• You experience itching around the vagina

Leaking Urine Causes You Distress

Hopefully, the reassurance that an occasional light bladder leak is completely normal during pregnancy helps settle your mind. However, if you’re distressed about urinary incontinence or if you continue to leak urine after making changes, do discuss it with your healthcare provider.

Outlook

If pelvic floor exercises, leakproof underwear, and timed bladder training don’t help, your doctor may explore the use of a vaginal device (a pessary). Moreover, if you have any risk factors for postpartum incontinence, you can discuss treatment options with your healthcare provider. 

In the weeks after delivery, pay heed to whether incontinence begins to subside or increases. Giving birth can contribute to incontinence after pregnancy as muscles can be injured during vaginal delivery. If this happens, do talk to your doctor.

But for most women, some loss of bladder control during pregnancy is just one of the many temporary changes your body will go through during pregnancy, and your body will begin to recover after the baby is born.

Written by Jane Flanagan — Updated on April 5, 2022.

We hope you found this post informative — but remember: we’re not doctors and this post is not medical advice! While all posts are fact-checked and well researched, we always recommend you chat with your doctor about any questions or concerns you might have regarding a medical condition. We’re here to support and educate, but never with the aim of disregarding professional medical advice you’ve been given. Phew, now that that’s out of the way, you can go on living unapologetically free.

Can you get pregnant on your period? Yes: In order to understand how it's possible, we’ll first explain the time of your menstrual cycle when you’re most likely to get pregnant.

When You’re Most Likely to Get Pregnant

During reproductive ages, the ovary releases an egg every month. This event occurs when ovary follicles rupture and release the oocyte which travels to the fallopian tube and becomes an ovum or egg. 

The rupture of the ovary follicles can cause some light spotting and some can even feel it happen in their body. However, for the vast majority of women, the moment of ovulation usually goes unnoticed. 

The process of ovulation is controlled by the hypothalamus of the brain and through the release of hormones. This means that ovulation can be impacted by hormone levels and stressors.From jet lag to thyroid disorders, the sensitive process of ovulation can be disrupted when your body undergoes changes. Hormonal contraceptives inhibit ovulation to prevent pregnancy. 

After the oocyte is released from the ovary, it moves into the fallopian tube. At this point it is called an ovum or egg. The egg stays in the fallopian tube for about 24 hours, waiting for a single sperm to fertilize it.

If the egg is not fertilized by sperm during that time (and pregnancy does not occur), it disintegrates (breaks down) and menstruation (your menstrual period) begins 11-16 days later.

Signs of Ovulation

Ovulation usually goes unnoticed in many but there are some ovulation symptoms that most women can learn to track or pay attention to. These include:

• Your basal body temperature falls
• Discharge changes: If your cervical mucus is…
• Dry or sticky: It’s unlikely you’re ovulating
• Creamy cervical mucus: Ovulation may be coming
• Wet or watery: Ovulation may start soon
• Wet and stretchy (egg white texture): You may be at your day of ovulation
• Your cervix softens and opens up
• You may experience a slight twinge / cramping called Mittelschmerz 
• Increased libido or sex drive

How Long Do You Ovulate For?

The “fertile window” lasts between 12 and 24 hours. That's how long the egg released by the ovary is viable for fertilization.

Complicating Factors: Why You Can Still Get Pregnant While You Have Your Period

Our bodies don’t necessarily follow “the rules” and many women experience an irregular cycle and/or period. There are some complicating factors:

(1) Sperm Survival

Sperm can live 3-5 days after sexual intercourse and ejaculation. This means that even though you’re not ovulating when you have intercourse, if you are fertile 5 days later the sperm can still fertilize your ovum, resulting in pregnancy.

(2) Your Menstrual Cycle Isn’t a Clock

As we mentioned earlier, a woman’s menstrual cycle is not an exact science. The first day of a menstrual cycle is calculated from the first day of your period. Between women, the length of a menstrual cycle can vary extremely.

• The average menstrual cycle is 28 days (ovulate around day 14)
• A short cycle can be 21 days (ovulate around day 7)
• A long cycle can be 35 days (ovulate around day 21)

Moreover, even at the individual level, cycles can be variable. One woman might, for example, have a very average menstrual cycle of 28 days. 

However, many other factors can throw her cycle off on any given month. These factors could include:

• Stress levels
• Sleep schedule (e.g. insomnia or jet lag)
• Lifestyle and weight
• Smoking
• Sickness
• Perimenopause

If you experience a very short cycle (for whatever reason), considering that sperm can remain active for 5 days after intercourse, there is a chance that pregnancy could occur.

(3) You Might Confuse Other Vaginal Bleeding for Your Period

Another reason you might become pregnant while on your period is that you are experiencing vaginal bleeding that’s not a period. This might cause you to:

1. Think you’re having your period, when you’re not
2. Miscalculate your fertile window because you misidentify a period

Some of the common causes of vaginal bleeding outside of a period include: 

• Trauma or medical examination
• Medications side effects
• Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI), including chlamydia, gonorrhea, and genital warts.
• Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID)
• Uterine fibroids or polyps
• Endometriosis
• Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
• Blood clotting disorders, like von Willebrand disease.
• Other health conditions, like hypothyroidism, liver disease, or chronic kidney disease.
• Cancer

If You’re Trying to Get Pregnant...

Having sex during your period is not going to carry the greatest likelihood of getting pregnant. Of course, you can have sex at any time for pleasurable reasons. But if your goal is becoming pregnant, you’ll want to calculate your ovulation day and have sex during the days around this date.

If You Want to Avoid Getting Pregnant...

If you don’t want to get pregnant, there really is no 100% safe time to have unprotected sex. Even with protection, no method of birth control is 100% failsafe. 

Understanding and tracking your cycle can definitely help you decrease odds of an unwanted pregnancy. Still, most healthcare providers still advocate for the use of a form of birth control or contraception to prevent unwanted pregnancy (and STIs).

To discuss what form of contraception would work for you and your partner, chat with your doctor.

If you’re trying to get pregnant, it’s important to understand when you might be ovulating, as the “fertile window” is when you have the greatest chance of conception. 

Based on your own individual cycle, you should start taking an ovulation test 3 days before your expected ovulation day.

During reproductive ages, the ovary releases an egg every month. The process of ovulation is controlled by the hypothalamus of the brain and through the release of hormones. This means that ovulation can be impacted by hormone levels and stressors.

After the oocyte is released from the ovary, it moves into the fallopian tube. At this point, it is called an ovum or egg. The egg stays in the fallopian tube for about 24 hours, waiting for a single sperm to fertilize it.

If the egg is not fertilized by sperm during that time (and pregnancy does not occur), it disintegrates (breaks down), and menstruation (your menstrual period) begins 11-16 days later.

Ovulation tests can be a useful tool for those trying to conceive and wishing to identify the best time to try to get pregnant.

Ovulation and Pregnancy: The Fertile Window

For many, ovulating is an unnoticed process. However, for those hoping to get pregnant, knowing when you might be ovulating is important. This starts with understanding your cycle length.

Your most fertile days ("the fertile window") are the three days leading up to and including ovulation. This is when getting pregnant is most likely. So, having sex then gives you the best chance of ensuring the egg is fertilized by sperm, so you become pregnant.

But, as previously mentioned, ovulation is a delicate process. Not to mention, the woman's reproductive cycle is just one side of the equation. Sperm health is also key to your chances of getting pregnant.

As most women will attest, cycle length can be impacted by stress, exhaustion, or emotional events (like grief). Moreover, nutrition, smoking, and seasonal changes can also impact ovulation and, therefore, fertility.

When to Take Ovulation Tests

Based on your own individual cycle, you should start testing with an ovulation kit 3 days before your expected ovulation day.

Ovulation tests identify the LH surge (luteinizing hormone) 24-36 hours before ovulation. It’s important to factor in that sperm can survive in a woman’s body for up to 5 days, so if you have sex before you ovulate, there can still be sperm present to fertilize the egg.

Every woman’s cycle is different. Some of us have longer periods than others, for example. So the timing of ovulation and of taking an ovulation test is not always the same in every woman's cycle.

The most commonly referenced menstrual cycle length is 28 days (even though it is not the average menstrual cycle length). It can range between 21 to 35 days in adults and from 21 to 45 days in young teenagers. That's why most women track their own cycle with a periods calculator or diary.

The first day of a cycle is counted from the first day of your menstrual period. You ovulate about 14 days before your period starts.

So, if your average cycle is 28 days and the first day of your cycle is Day 1 of your menstrual period, day 14 in your cycle is your day of ovulation, and your most fertile days are days 12, 13, and 14. These are the days pregnancy is most likely to occur and when you should start testing with an ovulation test.

And if your average cycle is 35 days, ovulation happens around day 21, and your most fertile days are days 19, 20, and 21, and these are the days when you should take an ovulation test.

What Time of Day Should You Take an Ovulation Test?

Depending on the brand of ovulation test strips you’re using, there will be recommendations about how and when to administer the test (and how to read the results). Read these instructions closely before you start taking the tests.

In general, it’s recommended to do the urine test in the morning but not during the first-morning urine. Wait until your second time urinating (and ideally, don’t urinate for about 4 hours before.) Also: don’t drink a lot of water before the test, as this may dilute it.

Some manufacturers of ovulation test strips recommend doing the tests twice a day or even testing multiple times per day. But, again, the specific brand instructions are the ones to follow. Most brands will also have FAQs and even support on their website.

Using a Test Kit: What If Your Menstrual Cycle is Irregular?

If your menstrual cycle is irregular, being able to predict ovulation becomes much more difficult. And it is, therefore, more difficult. To understand when to use those ovulation test kits. Even with a regular cycle, the day of ovulation can move around.

Irregular cycles make it challenging to narrow the right day to use an Ovulation Predictor Kit (or Ovulation Predictor Test) and can add expense to the process. 

If you keep a period diary, it’s worth going by your shortest cycle in the last 6 months as an indication of when you’re likely to ovulate on your current cycle. It’s notable that even on an irregular cycle, the luteal phase is fairly stable and lasts about 14 days. Learn more about the phases of your menstrual cycle here.

You can also look out for the other symptoms of menopause (see the last section), especially a change in your cervical mucus. According to the American Pregnancy Association, “it is best to wait until you start to notice a build-up of fertile-quality cervical mucus before you begin testing.”

It is best to read the instructions and information on your ovulation test closely and follow individual brand instructions.

Are Ovulation Tests Accurate?

Ovulation testing strips are used to detect the levels of luteinizing hormone (LH) that are excreted in the urine. The goal is to identify the LH surge that typically happens 24–36 hours prior to ovulation. 

False-positive test results can occur in about 7% of cycles. It’s also important to factor in that since sperm can survive in a woman’s body for up to 5 days, if you have sex daily or every other day for five days prior to ovulation, this can increase the chances that sperm will be present when ovulation occurs.

There are a few other reasons your body might indicate an LH surge (luteinizing hormone) that is not accompanied by your ovulating. These include:

• Luteinized Unruptured Follicle Syndrome (LUFS): This is a surge in LH (luteinizing hormone) without the release of an egg.
• Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS): According to the Mayo Clinic, “women with PCOS may have infrequent or prolonged menstrual periods or excess male hormone (androgen) levels. The ovaries may develop numerous small collections of fluid (follicles) and fail to regularly release eggs.”
• Pregnancy: If you're already pregnant, you may register a positive ovulation test but not necessarily be ovulating. If you suspect you're pregnant, take a pregnancy test.

Optimal fertility can vary significantly, even with predictable menstrual cycles. Monitoring menstruation and tracking changes in cervical mucus, libido, pain, or mood can be a helpful way to predict ovulation about 50% of the time.

Positive Ovulation Test? Understanding Ovulation Test Results

Most ovulation home tests are usually very straightforward (not dissimilar to pregnancy tests.) That said, take a moment to read the instructions all the way through before you sit down to pee.

Usually, you pee on a stick or strip (for some brands, you pee in a cap and insert the test stick or ovulation test strip into the cup. There will be a set waiting time, and then an indicator will appear.

Generally (again, defer to the product directions), a test line will appear. The darker the line, the greater an indication that you’re about to ovulate, i.e., dark line = positive result in detecting a surge in LH levels.

Remember: An ovulation home test doesn’t actually detect ovulation; it detects levels of LH (luteinizing hormone), which surges when you ovulate. Indeed, you might think of them as LH tests rather than ovulation tests. However, there are always low levels of luteinizing hormone in your body, so a faint line can appear at any time. This does not usually mean you’re ovulating; you want a dark line.

Using an ovulation test stick with a digital ovulation test readout can help you better interpret the results and detect ovulation more accurately.

Predicting Ovulation: Other Ovulation Signs & Symptoms

Ovulation usually goes unnoticed in many, but there are some ovulation symptoms that most women can learn to track or pay attention to understand when to take an ovulation test:

Your Basal Body Temperature Falls

One of the most objective ovulation symptoms is that your basal body temperature drops a little bit just before ovulation. Approximately 24 hours after ovulation, your basal body temperature rises and stays up for several days. If you're trying to get pregnant, it's advisable to take your temperature regularly around the time of suspected ovulation to understand when it is occurring.

Basal body temperature averages between:

• 97°F (36.1°C) and 97.5°F (36.4°C) before ovulation 
• 97.6°F (36.4°C) and 98.6°F (37°C) after ovulation 

Discharge Changes When You Ovulate

The changes in your cervical mucus over the course of your cycle also hold clues about when you might be ovulating.

If your cervical mucus is:

• Dry, damp, absent, or sticky: It’s unlikely you’re ovulating
• Clear and slippery: The probability of ovulation and, thus, conception is highest 

Your Cervix Softens and Opens Up

As you approach your most fertile time, your cervix softens. This is sometimes known as having a short, high, open, and wet cervix (SHOW). 

You May Experience Slight Twinge or Cramping

Mittelschmerz translates literally as “middle pain” and is the name for the slight twinge or cramp that some women experience when the follicle releases the egg on the day of ovulation during their menstrual cycle.

Some Light Spotting May Occur When You Ovulate

When the ovaries release the egg, a tiny follicle ruptures to allow the egg to be released. This can be a cause of spotting for a day or so.

Increased Libido or Sex Drive

A common sign of ovulation is an increased sex drive. 

Conclusion: Ovulation Predictor Kits Are a Useful Tool

Ovulation tests (aka ovulation predictor kits) are a useful tool for women hoping to get pregnant. However, it’s also worth tracking other signs and symptoms of your menstrual cycle and understanding each stage. 

If you are trying to conceive, having a holistic understanding of your entire cycle and using ovulation tests will help you zero in on the best time to take the test and increase your chances of becoming pregnant.

If you think you might be pregnant, take a pregnancy test.

Written by Jane Flanagan — Updated on January 10, 2023.

We hope you found this post informative — but remember: we’re not doctors and this post is not medical advice! While all posts are fact-checked and well researched, we always recommend you chat with your doctor about any questions or concerns you might have regarding a medical condition. We’re here to support and educate, but never with the aim of disregarding professional medical advice you’ve been given. Phew, now that that’s out of the way, you can go on living unapologetically free.

So, if you're trying to conceive, having sex during your fertile window gives you the best chance of ensuring the sperm is present when the egg is released so that you can successfully become pregnant.

But before we dive into the fertile window, let’s recap what happens when you ovulate.

Ovulation: What Is It?

In order to become pregnant, an immature egg (or oocyte) has to be fertilized by a single sperm. Ovulation is a process that occurs on approximately days 13 to 15 of a 28-day menstrual cycle, during which your ovary releases an oocyte from a follicle. The oocyte then travels to the fallopian tube and awaits fertilization with sperm.

Once ovulation happens, the oocyte can be fertilized. At this point, timing is of the essence. After ovulation, you have about 12–24 hours for fertilization to occur. However, it’s worth noting that sperm can live inside a female body for up to 5 days, so the window for sexual intercourse to result in pregnancy is longer than just a couple of days. 

If the egg isn’t fertilized within 12–24 hours of its release, it begins to disintegrate slowly and will eventually shed along with the uterine lining during menstruation (your next period), approximately 11–16 days later.

Signs That You’re Ovulating

Many women do not have a cycle length of exactly 28 days, so tracking your own menstrual cycle can help you understand on which days of your menstrual cycle that you ovulate. Here are some things to look out for to know if you’re nearing or in the ovulation phase:

• Lower basal body temperature (this typically occurs just before ovulation begins): It averages between 97°F (36.1°C) and 97.5°F (36.4°C) before ovulation, according to Healthlink BC
• Higher basal body temperature (occurs approximately 24 hours after the egg is released and lasts for many days): It ranges between 97.6°F (36.4°C) and 98.6°F (37°C) after ovulation, according to Healthlink BC
• Cervical mucus that is wet and stretchy with an egg-white texture: You may be at your day of ovulation
• Softening of the cervix: Sometimes known as having a short, high, open, and wet cervix (SHOW)  
• Subtle cramping 
• Light spotting
• Increased libido (sex drive) 

Understanding Your Fertile Days

If you want to get pregnant or to learn more about when you're fertile, it really starts with understanding your entire menstrual cycle. Most women are acutely aware of their period (the first day of your period is day 1 of your cycle), but they may be less familiar with the other events.

The first day of your menstrual cycle is counted from when your period starts and ends at the beginning of your next period. The average cycle length is 28 days. Ovulation is a key event and it occurs on approximately day 14 of a 28-day menstrual cycle (the average length).

Your most fertile days (the fertile window) are the 3 days leading up to and including ovulation. This is when you're most likely to get pregnant. So, if you're trying to conceive, having sex during your fertile window gives you the best chance of getting pregnant (i.e., ensuring the egg is fertilized by sperm so pregnancy can occur).

The Typical Menstrual Cycle, Day by Day

Your period marks the first day (day 1) of your cycle. If you have a 28-day menstrual cycle and ovulate regularly, the below is an outline of potential levels of fertility throughout the menstrual cycle.

Days 1–7:

Menstruation (shedding of the uterine lining) = Very low level of fertility 

Days 8–9: 

Post-Menstruation = Low–medium level of fertility 

Days 10–12: 

Pre-Ovulation = Medium level of fertility

Days 13–15: 

Ovulation = Very high level of fertility 

Days 16–18:

Post-Ovulation = Medium–high level of fertility 

Days 19–28: 

Pre-Menstruation = Low level of fertility  

Age and Fertility

Of course, fertility, menstrual cycles, and reproductive health can be impacted by several factors. Lifestyle and health conditions are among the other factors that can impact fertility and likelihood of pregnancy; however, age is one of the biggest natural reasons fertility can be decreased.

Your odds of getting pregnant are highest in your 20s and 30s, as this is when women are technically the most fertile and have the highest quantity of quality eggs. After the age of 35, the chances of becoming pregnant begin to decline. And by the time a woman turns 40, her chances of getting pregnant decrease to 10%, per menstrual cycle.

How to Know When Your Fertile Window Occurs

Ovulation predictor kits can be a useful tool for those trying to conceive and wishing to identify the best time to try to get pregnant: The fertile window. You should start testing 3 days before your expected ovulation day.

An ovulation predictor kit identifies the luteinizing hormone (LH) surge that happens 24–36 hours before the ovulation period. It’s important to factor in that sperm can survive in a woman’s body up to 5 days, so if you have sex before you ovulate, there can still be some present to fertilize the egg.

Every Cycle Is Different

Every woman’s cycle is different. Some of us have regular periods, longer periods, shorter cycles, or irregular cycles, for example. So the timing of when a woman ovulates is not always the same.

So, if your average menstrual cycle length is 28 days and the beginning of your cycle is day 1 of your menstrual period, day 14 in your cycle is your day of ovulation. Your most fertile days—and your fertile window—are days 12, 13, and 14. These are the days pregnancy is most likely to occur and when you should start testing with an ovulation calculator or test.

And if your average cycle is 35 days, ovulation happens around day 21 and your most fertile days are days 19, 20, and 21. These are the days when you should start testing with an ovulation calculator or test in order to increase your chances of pregnancy.

Other Signs & Symptoms of Ovulation

Ovulation usually goes unnoticed in many. But, as mentioned above, there are some symptoms of ovulation that most women can learn to track or pay attention to in order to understand their fertile window.

Your Basal Body Temperature Falls

One of the most objective symptoms is that your basal body temperature drops a little bit just before your egg is released from your ovary. Then, 24 hours later, your basal temperature rises and stays up for several days. If you're trying to get pregnant, it's advisable to take your temperature to understand when you're ovulating and potentially fertile.

According to Healthlink BC, your basal body temperature averages between 36.1°C (97°F) and 36.4°C (97.5°F) before you ovulate. It averages 36.4°C (97.6°F) to 36.4°C (97.6°F) after you ovulate. 

Discharge Changes When You Ovulate

The changes in your cervical mucus over the course of your menstrual cycle also hold clues about when you might be ovulating and more likely to experience pregnancy.

If your cervical mucus is...

• Dry or sticky: It’s unlikely you’re ovulating
• Creamy cervical mucus: Ovulation may be coming
• Wet or watery: Ovulation may start soon
• Wet and stretchy (egg-white texture): You may be at your day of ovulation

Your Cervix Softens and Opens Up

As you approach your most fertile time, your cervix softens. This is sometimes known as having a short, high, open, and wet cervix (SHOW). 

For a step-by-step guide to checking your cervix position, visit this guide on Flo’s website. 

You May Experience Slight Twinge or Cramping

Mittelschmerz translates literally as “middle pain” and is the name for the slight twinge or cramp that some women experience when the follicle releases the egg on the day of ovulation during their menstrual cycle.

Some Light Spotting May Occur When You Ovulate

When the ovaries release the immature egg (or oocyte), a tiny follicle ruptures to allow it to be released. This can be a cause of spotting for a day or so.

For some women, spotting that occurs around the time of ovulation is light red or pink in color. This is because we also produce more cervical fluid around the time of ovulation and the blood gets mixed with that fluid, causing it to be a lighter shade.

Increased Libido or Sex Drive

The most well-known sign of ovulation is an increased sex drive. It’s important to know that this does not mean you’ll only want to have sex during ovulation. But it may definitely mean that you may experience an increased libido when ovulation occurs.

Conclusion

Learning about your fertile window and tracking when it occurs can be an important step if you’re planning to get pregnant. Ovulation tests and fertility monitors give you a good ability to predict ovulation and the best days to conceive. However, there are other symptoms that you should also monitor and track to understand your fertile window.

Not only will being aware of these give you increased familiarity with your own menstrual cycle, but it will also give you good information to discuss with your doctor if you have any issues becoming pregnant.

Written by Jane Flanagan — Updated on April 5, 2022.

We hope you found this post informative — but remember: we’re not doctors and this post is not medical advice! While all posts are fact-checked and well researched, we always recommend you chat with your doctor about any questions or concerns you might have regarding a medical condition. We’re here to support and educate, but never with the aim of disregarding professional medical advice you’ve been given. Phew, now that that’s out of the way, you can go on living unapologetically free.

Even during these years, your level of fertility fluctuates throughout your menstrual cycle and relies on ovulation. Several factors can impact a woman’s fertility, so it’s important to be in tune with what’s happening in your body to improve your chances of getting—or not getting—pregnant.

You Are Least Fertile During Menstruation

Simply put, your least fertile days are during the menstruation phase of your menstrual cycle. To be more precise, according to the Human Reproduction Journal, the chances of getting pregnant are lowest on Day 4 of your menstrual cycle (2% probability, but not zero!).

In order to become pregnant, an immature egg (or oocyte) has to be fertilized by a single sperm. Ovulation is a process that occurs on approximately days 13 to 15 of a 28-day menstrual cycle, during which your ovary releases an oocyte from a follicle. The oocyte then travels to the fallopian tube and awaits fertilization with sperm.

Once ovulation occurs, the oocyte can be fertilized by sperm. At this point, timing is of the essence. After ovulation, you have about 12–24 hours for fertilization to occur. However, it’s worth noting that sperm can live inside a female body for up to 5 days, so the window for intercourse to result in pregnancy is longer than just a couple of days. 

If the egg isn’t fertilized within 12–24 hours of its release, it begins to disintegrate slowly and will eventually shed along with the uterine lining during menstruation (your period), approximately 11–16 days later.

Your Menstrual Cycle, Day by Day

Your period marks the first day (Day 1) of your cycle. It’s important to note that sperm can survive in the female reproductive system for up to 5 days, so if ovulation occurs less than 5 days after intercourse, it is possible to get pregnant. If you have a 28-day menstrual cycle and ovulate regularly, the below is an outline of potential levels of fertility throughout the menstrual cycle.

• Days 1–7: Menstruation (shedding of the uterine lining) = Very low level of fertility 
• Days 8–9: Post-Menstruation = Low–medium level of fertility 
• Days 10–12:  Pre-Ovulation = Medium level of fertility
• Days 13–15: Ovulation = Very high level of fertility 
• Days 16–18: Post-Ovulation = Medium–high level of fertility 
• Days 19–28: Pre-Menstruation = Low level of fertility  

Signs That You’re Ovulating

Many women do not have a cycle length of exactly 28 days, so tracking your own menstrual cycle can help you understand on which days of your menstrual cycle that you ovulate. . Here are some things to look out for to know if you’re nearing or in the ovulation phase of your cycle:

• Lower basal body temperature (this typically occurs just before ovulation begins): It averages between 97°F (36.1°C) and 97.5°F (36.4°C) before ovulation, according to Healthlink BC
• Higher basal body temperature (occurs approximately 24 hours after the egg is released and lasts for many days): It ranges between 97.6°F (36.4°C) and 98.6°F (37°C) after ovulation, according to Healthlink BC
• Cervical mucus that is wet and stretchy with an egg white texture: You may be at your day of ovulation
• Softening of the cervix: Sometimes known as having a short, high, open, and wet cervix (SHOW)  
• Subtle cramping 
• Light spotting
• Increased libido (sex drive)  

The Fertile Window: Take Note If You’re Trying to Get Pregnant

For those trying to get pregnant knowing when you might be ovulating is important. Your most fertile days ("the fertile window") are the 5 days leading up to and including ovulation. The fertile window is when you’re most likely to conceive and have the greatest chance of getting pregnant. 

So, having sex during your fertile window gives you the best chance of ensuring the sperm is present when the egg is released so that you can successfully beome pregnant.

Age and Fertility

Of course, fertility can be impacted by several factors. Lifestyle andhealth conditions can impact fertility; however, age is one of the biggest natural reasons fertility can be decreased.

Your odds of getting pregnant are highest in your 20s and 30s, as this is when women are technically the most fertile and have the highest quantity of qualityeggs. After the age of 35, the chances of becoming pregnant begin to decline And by the time a woman turns 40, her chances of getting pregnant decrease to 10%, per menstrual cycle..

Using Birth Control to Prevent Pregnancy

There are many ways to mitigate the chances of becoming pregnant if you do not want to be. There are over-the-counter and prescription contraceptives available as well as natural methods.

Some common forms of birth control include:

• The birth control pill
• Intrauterine Device (IUD)
• Female or male condom
• The fertility awareness method

How the Birth Control Pill Works

"The pill” is a form of oral contraception that uses synthetic hormones to prevent pregnancy. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), the pill is 99.7% effective with perfect use. With typical use, however the failure rate decreases to ~93%.

The pill releases synthetic hormones into the female body that prevent ovulation and thin the uterine lining.. So, even if an oocyte was released, it would have nowhere to implant, making pregnancy much more difficult. Many birth control pills are available on the market, each with different hormones, doses, and varying side effects. It’s important to talk to your doctor and do your research before choosing a birth control pill.

How IUDs Work

An IUD is a small contraceptive device that’s inserted into the uterus. The device stays in the female body from 3 to 10 years before they need to be replaced.

IUDs can be made from copper or a flexible plastic and work by preventing the sperm from fertilizing the egg. There are non-hormonal and hormonal IUDs. Hormonal IUDs also release a hormone that prevents ovulation, implantation, and/or fertilization, whereas non-hormonal IUDs create a uterine environment that prevents implantation and fertilization.

Female and Male Condoms

Condoms are a commonly used form of contraception that not only prevent pregnancy but can protect against sexually transmitted infections (STIs) as well. They do this by forming a physical barrier that prevents sperm and sperm fluid (seminal fluid) from entering the vaginal canal and fertilizing an egg.

With perfect use, condoms are said to be 98% effective at protecting against unwanted pregnancy. More often than not, however, human error leads to this statistic lowering to 85%. 

Fertility Awareness Method 

You can use your fertile window as a way to manage the chances of becoming pregnant. Your most fertile days ("the fertile window") are the 5 days leading up to and including the day of ovulation.

Using a calendar, you can track your menstrual cycle over the course of several months. Based on the average length of your cycle, you can somewhat accurately predict your fertile window and plan when to have (or abstain) from unprotected sex to increase (or decrease) your chances of getting pregnant. This is sometimes known as the “calendar method” or “rhythm method.” 

Remember that there are several factors that affect your cycle from month to month. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), failure rates for this method range from 2%–23%. 

It’s still best to avoid having unprotected sex if you don’t want to get pregnant. Contraception is the next best thing to avoiding unwanted pregnancy, second to abstinence.

Other Factors That Cause Infertility in Women

Ovulation is a intricate process. Your cycle can be impacted by factors like stress, exhaustion, or lifestyle choices like nutrition, alcohol use and smoking. 

However, there can also be underlying health reasons that lead to infertility, as well. Irregular periods or absent periods could be an indicator that ovulation is not occurring. If you experience this you should always visit a doctor.

Medically reviewed by Dr. Chimsom T. Oleka, M.D, Written by Jane Flanagan — Updated on November 1, 2021.

We hope you found this post informative — but remember: we’re not doctors and this post is not medical advice! While all posts are fact-checked and well researched, we always recommend you chat with your doctor about any questions or concerns you might have regarding a medical condition. We’re here to support and educate, but never with the aim of disregarding professional medical advice you’ve been given. Phew, now that that’s out of the way, you can go on living unapologetically free.

If you're trying to get pregnant, or simply seeking a better understanding of your body and menstrual cycle, it's valuable to learn about fertility and to understand your fertile days, i.e. when you're most likely to conceive.

Understanding Your Cycle and Fertile Days

If you want to get pregnant or to learn more about when you're fertile it really starts with understanding your entire menstrual cycle. Most women are acutely aware of their period (the first day of your period is the first day of your cycle), but they may be less familiar with the other events in their menstrual cycle.

The first day of your menstrual cycle is counted from the first day of your period and ends at the beginning of your next period. The average cycle length is 28 days, but can vary from 21 days to 35 days. Ovulation is a key event in your cycle and it occurs approximately day 14 of an average 28-day menstrual cycle.

Your most fertile days ("the fertile window") are the 5 days leading up to and including ovulation. Ovulation can occur for up to 48 hours, which results in a total of 7 possible fertile days. This is when you’re most likely to get pregnant. Having sex during this phase gives you the best chance of ensuring the egg is fertilized by sperm so you can become pregnant.

It’s worth noting that many women do not have a cycle length of 28 days and even if they do have a regular cycle, when you ovulate can be impacted by many factors, from stress to jetlag, smoking and illness. Rather than just tracking your period and going by day X of your cycle, it can be helpful to track ovulation symptoms as well.

Ovulation: What Is it?

During the age of reproduction, the ovary releases an egg every month. This event occurs when ovarian follicles rupture and release an oocyte which travels to the fallopian tube and becomes an egg or ovum. 

The rupture of the ovarian follicles can cause some light spotting. Some can even feel it happen, as it can present itself as pelvic cramping. However, for the vast majority of women, the moment usually goes unnoticed.

Once the oocyte reaches the fallopian tube and becomes an egg, it stays there for about 24 hours.

If the egg is not fertilized by sperm during that time (and pregnancy does not occur), it disintegrates (breaks down) and menstruation (your menstrual period) begins 11-16 days later.

It's worth noting that a man's sperm can live 3-5 days after sexual intercourse. This means that even though you’re not ovulating when you have intercourse, if you are fertile 5 days later the sperm can still potentially fertilize your ovum, resulting in pregnancy.

What’s Age Got to Do With it?

Of course, fertility is impacted by many factors. Lifestyle and other health conditions can have an effect on fertility. 

But one of the biggest factors that impacts pregnancy is age. Your odds of getting pregnant are highest in your 20s and 30s, as this is when women are technically the most fertile and have  higher quality eggs.

According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), after age 37, a woman's odds of becoming pregnant decreases rapidly. By the time a woman turns 40 there is a less than 5% chance of getting pregnant within each menstrual cycle.

Signs of Ovulation

Ovulation usually goes unnoticed for many but there are some symptoms that most women can learn to track or pay attention to so you can keep an ovulation calendar. Ovulation symptoms can include a change in your basal body temperature, cervical mucus, and more. 

Your Basal Temperature Falls

One of the most objective symptoms is that your basal body temperature drops a little bit just before your egg is released from your ovary. Then, 24 hours later, your basal temperature rises and stays up for several days. If you're trying to get pregnant, it can be very helpful to track your period and that way track ovulation and symptoms that go along with it. 

To better understand when you’re ovulating, you can also track your basal body temperature—though, one important consideration is measuring your temperature every morning at the exact same time. Throughout the day, our body temperature changes for a number of reasons: the ambient temperature, if you’ve exercised, or just eaten a meal. 

Taking your temperature at the same time each day as you wake up will give you consistent temperatures so you can spot a difference when you’re ovulating. 

According to Healthlink BC your basal body temperature averages between 36.1°C (97°F) and 36.4°C (97.5°F) before you ovulate. It averages 36.4°C (97.6°F) to 36.4°C (97.6°F) after you ovulate. 

Discharge Changes When You Ovulate

The changes in your cervical mucus over the course of your menstrual cycle also hold clues about when you might be ovulating. 

It's hard to track your cervical mucus if you are wearing different color and texture underwear every day. It can be helpful to use a white thin pantyliner so you can observe the changes going on with your vaginal discharge so you can better understand your cervical mucus.

If your cervical mucus is...

• Dry or sticky: It’s unlikely you’re ovulating
• Creamy cervical mucus: Ovulation may be coming
• Wet and stretchy (eggy white texture): You may be at your ovulation day

Your Cervix Softens and Opens Up

As you approach your most fertile time, your cervix softens. This is sometimes known as having a short, high, open and wet cervix. 

For a step-by-step guide to checking your cervix position, visit this helpful guide. It can be challenging to understand how to examine your cervix and know what you’re feeling. Some of the other ovulation symptoms may be easier to track and that’s totally OK!

You May Experience Pelvic Cramping

Mittelschmerz translates literally as “middle pain” and is the name for the slight twinge or cramp that some women experience when the follicle releases the egg on the day of ovulation during their menstrual cycle.

For many women, there is no sensation whatsoever. 

According to the Mayo Clinic “Mittelschmerz pain occurs on the side of the ovary that's releasing an egg (ovulating). The pain may switch sides every other month, or you may feel pain on the same side for several months.”

Some Light Spotting May Occur When You Ovulate

When the ovaries release the egg, a tiny follicle ruptures to allow the egg to be released. This can be a cause of spotting for a day or so.

For some women, spotting that occurs around the time of ovulation is light red or pink in color. This is because we also produce more cervical fluid around the time of ovulation and the blood gets mixed with that fluid, causing it to be a lighter shade.

Increased Libido or Sex Drive

The most well-known sign of ovulation is an increased sex drive. It’s important to know that this does not mean you’ll only want to have sex during ovulation, but you may experience an increased libido when ovulation occurs.

How Long Do You Ovulate For?

Ovulation or the “fertile window” lasts between 12 and 24 hours. That's how long the egg released by the ovary is viable for fertilization.

How to Know Your Fertile Window: Ovulation Predictor Kits

In addition to tracking the signs of ovulation listed above, there’s another step you can take to predict your fertile window. This is especially helpful for those who want to increase their chance of getting pregnant and need to identify their "fertile window."

An ovulation predictor kit is a test that detects the presence and concentration of luteinizing hormone (LH) and/or estrogen in your urine. Between 12-48 hours on average before ovulation, there is a brief surge in LH levels. Ovulation predictor kits may be especially helpful for women who want to have the best chance of pregnancy. 

If you miss your period, then you could be pregnant! You can confirm this with a urine pregnancy test. If you're planning to get pregnant it's always worth talking with your doctor to ensure you and your partner are setting yourselves up for success.

Some of the things you should discuss:

• Stopping birth control: If you've been on birth control, you should discuss how to stop taking it to prepare for conception. 
• Supplements and lifestyle changes: Your doctor will advise you to start supplements, like folic acid, or a prenatal vitamin before you get pregnant (and continuously during pregnancy, as well). 
• Current medications: If you're on any other medications, you'll want to discuss them with your doctor in light of a possible pregnancy.
• Fertility questions: If there are suspected fertility problems, you may want to get ahead of them at the start of fertility testing. If fertility testing needs to be done earlier, your health care provider can help navigate your care. Otherwise, fertility testing is only initiated after 12 months of trying to conceive for women under 35 years old, and 6 months for women over the age of 35 years old. 

Sources:

https://www.acog.org/womens-health/faqs/having-a-baby-after-age-35-how-aging-affects-fertility-and-pregnancy

https://www.healthline.com/health/womens-health/stages-of-menstrual-cycle

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC27529/ 

https://www.plannedparenthood.org/learn/birth-control/fertility-awareness/whats-temperature-method-fams

https://myhealth.alberta.ca/Health/pages/conditions.aspx?hwid=hw202058 

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/21957-cervical-mucus 

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/mittelschmerz/symptoms-causes/syc-20375122 

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We hope you found this post informative—but remember: we’re not doctors and this post is not medical advice! While all posts are fact-checked and well researched, we always recommend you chat with your doctor about any questions or concerns you might have regarding a medical condition.

We’re here to support and educate, but never with the aim of disregarding professional medical advice you’ve been given. Phew, now that that’s out of the way, you can go on living unapologetically free.

This is both a simple and difficult question. On the one hand, there’s a very clear answer about when a woman is most likely to get pregnant. On the other, pregnancy and fertility is highly tied to each woman’s cycle and that can be highly individual to each woman, and even variable for every individual woman.

Understanding Your Cycle and Fertile Days

If you want to learn more about fertility, it really starts with understanding your entire menstrual cycle. Most women are acutely aware of their period (the first day of your period is the first day of your cycle), but they may be less familiar with the other events in their entire menstrual cycle.

The first day of your menstrual cycle is counted from the first day of your period and ends at the beginning of your next period. The average cycle length is 28 days. Ovulation is a key event in your cycle and it occurs on approximately day 14 of an average 28-day menstrual cycle.

The Fertile Window: Take Note If You’re Trying to Get Pregnant

For those trying to get pregnant, knowing when you might be ovulating and identifying your fertile days is important. 

Your most fertile days (the “fertile window") are the 5 days leading up to and including ovulation. The fertile window is when you’re most likely to conceive and have the greatest chance of getting pregnant. 

So, having sexual intercourse during your fertile window (your most fertile days) gives you the best chance of ensuring the sperm is present when the egg is released so that you can successfully become pregnant.

It’s worth noting that many women do not have an average cycle length of 28 days. And even if they don't have irregular cycles, when you ovulate can be impacted by many factors, from stress and jet lag to smoking and illness. So, rather than thinking in terms of day X of your cycle, look for the ovulation symptoms described below to identify your fertile days.

What’s Age Got to Do With It?

Of course, fertility can be impacted by several factors. Lifestyle and health conditions can impact fertility; however, age is one of the biggest natural reasons fertility can be decreased.

Your odds of getting pregnant are highest in your 20s and 30s, as this is when women are technically the most fertile and have the highest quantity of quality eggs. 

After the age of 35, the chances of becoming pregnant begin to decline And by the time a woman turns 40, her chances of getting pregnant decrease to 10% per menstrual cycle.

Ovulation: What Is It?

During reproductive ages, the ovary releases an oocyte (immature egg) every month. Ovulation occurs when ovary follicles rupture and release the oocyte, which travels to the fallopian tube and becomes an ovum. 

The rupture of the ovary follicles can cause some light spotting and some can even feel it happen in their body. However, for the vast majority of women, the moment usually goes unnoticed.

After the oocyte is released from the ovary, it moves into the fallopian tube. At this point it is called an ovum. The egg stays in the fallopian tube for about 24 hours, waiting for a single sperm to fertilize it.

If the egg is not fertilized by sperm during that time (and pregnancy does not occur), it disintegrates (breaks down) and menstruation (your next period) begins 11–16 days later.

Signs of Ovulation in the Menstrual Cycle

Ovulation usually goes unnoticed in many, but there are some symptoms that most women can learn to track or pay attention to so you can keep an ovulation calendar. These include your basal body temperature, cervical mucus, and more...

Your Basal Body Temperature Falls

One of the most objective ovulation symptoms is that your basal body temperature drops a little bit just before your egg is released from your ovary. Then, 24 hours later, your basal temperature rises and stays up for several days.

If you're trying to get pregnant, it's advisable to take your temperature to understand when you're ovulating and when your fertile window is.

According to Healthlink BC, your basal body temperature averages between 36.1°C (97°F) and 36.4°C (97.5°F) before you ovulate. It averages 36.4°C (97.6°F) to 36.4°C (97.6°F) after you ovulate. 

Cervical Mucus Changes When You Ovulate

The changes in your cervical mucus over the course of your menstrual cycle also hold clues about when your ovulation window might be.

If your cervical mucus is...

• Dry or sticky: It’s unlikely you’re ovulating
• Creamy cervical mucus: Ovulation may be coming
• Wet or watery: Ovulation may start soon
• Wet and stretchy (eggy white texture): You may be at your day of ovulation

Your Cervix Softens and Opens Up

As you approach your most fertile time, your cervix softens. This is sometimes known as having a short, high, open, and wet cervix (SHOW). 

For a step-by-step guide to checking your cervix position, visit this guide on Flo’s website. 

You May Experience Slight Twinge or Cramping

Mittelschmerz translates literally as “middle pain” and is the name for the slight twinge or cramp that some women experience when the follicle releases the egg on the day of ovulation during their menstrual cycle.

For many women, there is no sensation whatsoever. 

According to the Mayo Clinic “Mittelschmerz pain occurs on the side of the ovary that's releasing an egg (ovulating). The pain may switch sides every other month, or you may feel pain on the same side for several months.”

Some Light Spotting May Occur When You Ovulate

When the ovaries release the oocyte, a tiny follicle ruptures to allow it to be released. Ovulation can be a cause of spotting for a day or so.

For some women, spotting that occurs around the time of ovulation is light red or pink in color. This is because we also produce more cervical fluid around the time of ovulation and the blood gets mixed with that fluid, causing it to be a lighter shade.

Increased Libido or Sex Drive

The most well-known sign of ovulation is an increased sex drive. It’s important to know that this does not mean you’ll only want to have sexual intercourse during ovulation and your fertile window. But it may definitely mean that you may experience an increased libido when ovulation occurs.

According to a report on Psychology Today, "ovulating women do clearly increase their sexual desire, and they do increase the frequency with which they have (sexual intercourse) with their current partners.”

How Long Do You Ovulate For?

Ovulation lasts between 12 and 24 hours. That's how long the egg released by the ovary is viable for fertilization. Tracking ovulation is helpful in identifying your fertile days. 

How to Know Your Fertile Window: Ovulation Predictor Kits

In addition to tracking the signs of ovulation listed above, there’s another step you can take to predict your fertile days: Ovulation tracking. 

Using an ovulation calculator is especially helpful for those who want to increase their chance of getting pregnant by helping identify the fertile window and ovulation day.

An ovulation predictor kit (also sometimes called an OPK) is a test that detects the presence and concentration of luteinizing hormone (LH) in your urine. Between 12–48 hours on average before ovulation, there is a brief surge in luteinizing hormone levels, which helps you identify your fertile time. 

Ovulation predictor kits may be especially helpful for women who want to have the best chance of pregnancy by identifying their fertile days and ovulation window. 

You'll know if pregnancy has occurred by administering a pregnancy test. Or if your next period doesn't come when it's due according to your period calculator.

If you're planning to get pregnant, it's always worth seeking professional medical advice from a doctor or fertility specialist to ensure you and your partner understand your reproductive health and are setting yourselves up for success.

Written by Jane Flanagan — Updated on April 5, 2022.

We hope you found this post informative — but remember: we’re not doctors and this post is not medical advice! While all posts are fact-checked and well researched, we always recommend you chat with your doctor about any questions or concerns you might have regarding a medical condition. We’re here to support and educate, but never with the aim of disregarding professional medical advice you’ve been given. Phew, now that that’s out of the way, you can go on living unapologetically free.

However, once they’re ready to try, questions come up: When does ovulation restart after a miscarriage, is it safe to try to conceive, and what are the chances of miscarriage happening again?

How Soon Does Your Menstrual Cycle Restart After Miscarriage?

You will usually have your first period about 4–6 weeks after a miscarriage or pregnancy loss. However, ovulation may occur (and you may be able to get pregnant) just 2 weeks after a miscarriage.

Your reproductive years are from the first menstrual cycle (menarche) to the final menstrual cycle (menopause). Ovulation can occur approximately between days 13-15 of a 28-day cycle. Ovulation is when your ovary releases an oocyte from a follicle. The oocyte then travels to the fallopian tube and awaits fertilization with sperm.

After ovulation, you have about 12–24 hours for fertilization to occur. However, it’s worth noting that sperm can live inside a female body for up to 5 days, so the window for intercourse to result in pregnancy could be longer than anticipated and is dependent upon when ovulation occurs. 

If the egg is not fertilized during that time, it disintegrates (breaks down), and menstruation (your period) begins approximately two weeks (14 days) 11–16 days later.

Tracking ovulation can be helpful. Some doctors recommend waiting until your period has restarted so that the date of a new pregnancy after a miscarriage can be more accurately calculated based on your menstrual cycle. In general, we would advise you to work closely with your healthcare provider at this time.

Ovulation Test Kits

Optimal fertility can vary significantly, even with predictable menstrual cycles. Monitoring menstruation and tracking changes in cervical mucus, libido, pain, or mood can be helpful in predicting ovulation about 50% of the time.

One of the ways to track ovulation following a miscarriage is to use an ovulation predictor kit (OPK).

OPK kits are used to detect the levels of luteinizing hormone (LH) that are excreted in the urine. The goal is to identify the LH surge that typically happens 24–36 hours prior to ovulation. False-positive test results can occur in about 7% of cycles. It’s also important to factor in that since sperm can survive in a woman’s body up to 5 days, if you have sex daily or every other day for five days prior to ovulation, this can increase the chances that sperm will be present when ovulation occurs.

Other Signs & Symptoms

Ovulation usually goes unnoticed in many. Outside of menstrual cycle tracking, there are some symptoms that most can learn to track or pay attention to in order to help understand when to take ovulation tests:

Your Basal Body Temperature Falls

One of the most objective ovulation symptoms is that your basal body temperature drops a little bit just before ovulation. Approximately 24 hours after ovulation, your basal body temperature rises and stays up for several days. If you're trying to get pregnant, it's advisable to take your temperature regularly around the time of suspected ovulation to understand when it is occurring.

According to Healthlink BC, basal body temperature averages between:

• 97°F (36.1°C) and 97.5°F (36.4°C) before ovulation 
• 97.6°F (36.4°C) and 98.6°F (37°C) after ovulation 

Discharge Changes 

The changes in your cervical mucus over the course of your cycle also hold clues about when you might be ovulating.

If your cervical mucus is:

• Dry, damp, absent or sticky: It’s unlikely you’re ovulating
• Clear and slippery: The probability of ovulation and thus conception is highest 

Your Cervix Softens and Opens Up

As you approach your most fertile time, your cervix softens. This is sometimes known as having a short, high, open, and wet cervix (SHOW). 

You May Experience Slight Twinges or Cramping

Mittelschmerz translates literally as “middle pain” and is the name for the slight twinge or cramp that some women experience when the follicle releases the oocyte on the day of ovulation during your menstrual cycle. 

According to the Mayo Clinic, “Mittelschmerz pain occurs on the side of the ovary that's releasing an egg (ovulating). The pain may switch sides every other month, or you may feel pain on the same side for several months. Keep track of your menstrual cycle for several months and note when you feel lower abdominal pain. If it occurs midcycle and goes away without treatment, it's most likely mittelschmerz.”

Some Light Spotting May Occur

When the ovaries release the egg, a mature tiny follicle ruptures to allow the egg to be released. This may be a cause of spotting for a day or so.

Increased Libido or Sex Drive

A common sign of ovulation is an increased sex drive. 

Getting Pregnant After Miscarriage

There are two perspectives to consider when asking the question of whether you're ready for pregnancy following a miscarriage: Are you emotionally ready, and are you physically ready to start trying again?

Emotional Readiness

While your body might return to normal soon after a miscarriage or pregnancy loss, at an emotional level, there’s usually grieving involved in the recovery process.

It’s important to take the time to mourn your loss and give adequate time for grieving. If this is a particularly difficult loss for you (and/or your partner), you might want to seek professional grief counselling or therapy to work through the complex emotions.

It’s important to acknowledge that this loss is different for everyone, though comfort may be found in talking to others who’ve been through the same thing. At the end of the day, don’t compare your timeline to others. Take the time you (and your partner) need to grieve and recuperate before trying to conceive again.

Physical Readiness

Your healthcare provider will probably tell you to abstain from sex for two weeks after a miscarriage to prevent infection and allow adequate time to heal. This can be individualized, so it is important to discuss the timing of return to sexual activity with your health care provider. 

Depending on the cause of your miscarriage, they might make other specific recommendations about your care and when you should try again.

The WHO recommends waiting about six months before trying to conceive again. However, according to the American College of Obstetrics and Gynaecologists (ACOG), there is no reason to wait that long for many women. They say:

“You can ovulate and become pregnant as soon as two weeks after an early pregnancy loss. If you do not wish to become pregnant again right away, be sure to use a birth control method. You can use any contraceptive method, including having an intrauterine device inserted, immediately after an early pregnancy loss. If you do wish to become pregnant, there is no medical reason to wait to begin trying again. You may want to wait until after you have had a menstrual period so that calculating the due date of your next pregnancy is easier.”

Outlook for Pregnancy After Miscarriage

Miscarriages are more common than many realize and 2-5% of couples trying to conceive will experience repeat pregnancy loss.

According to the Mayo Clinic: “Miscarriage is usually a one-time occurrence. Most women who miscarry go on to have healthy pregnancies after miscarriage. A small number of — will have repeated miscarriages.”

“The predicted risk of miscarriage in a future pregnancy remains about 20% after one miscarriage. After two consecutive miscarriages, the risk of another miscarriage increases to about 28%, and after three or more consecutive miscarriages, the risk of another miscarriage is about 43%.”

The likelihood of an early pregnancy loss increases for older women. According to the ACOG, early pregnancy loss occurs in more than one-third of pregnancies in women over 40.

When Should You Try Again to Get Pregnant?

It is a very personal decision if and when you try to get pregnant after a miscarriage. Work closely with your healthcare provider to make sure you’re ready—emotionally and physically—to try getting pregnant after miscarriage.

Medically reviewed by Dr. Chimsom T. Oleka, M.D, Written by Jane Flanagan — Updated on November 1, 2021.

We hope you found this post informative — but remember: we’re not doctors and this post is not medical advice! While all posts are fact-checked and well researched, we always recommend you chat with your doctor about any questions or concerns you might have regarding a medical condition. We’re here to support and educate, but never with the aim of disregarding professional medical advice you’ve been given. Phew, now that that’s out of the way, you can go on living unapologetically free.

However, on rare occasions (i.e. undergoing fertility treatment), fertilization and implantation of a second embryo may occur during an ongoing initial pregnancy. 

In this article, we’ll explain the key phases of a menstrual cycle and then look more closely at what happens during ovulation. Then we will dive deeper with simple terms, into current theories surrounding the complex and rare occurrence of superfetation, which by definition is when a woman becomes pregnant during a different ovulatory cycle, while already pregnant.

Your Menstrual Cycle: The Structures and their Phases

Your monthly menstrual cycle can be divided into 3 phases occurring in two different structures at the same time.

Structures:

• The ovary
• The uterus

Phases:

The Ovary

1. Follicular
2. Ovulation
3. Luteal

The Uterus

1. Secretory
2. Proliferative
3. Menstruation  

The most commonly referenced menstrual cycle is 28 days. However, the normal range for many adult women of reproductive age is 21-35 days.

Many also experience irregular menstrual cycles, which can be caused by a variety of differing factors. Tracking the menstrual cycle can be helpful in collecting information and detecting any abnormalities or deviations from your normal menstrual baseline.

What Is Ovulation?

In women of reproductive age, the ovary releases a follicle (oocyte) each month, around days 13–15 of a 28-day menstrual cycle. 

After the oocyte is released from the ovary (ovulation), it moves into the fallopian tube. The rupture of the ovarian follicle during ovulation can cause some light spotting, and some can even feel it happen.

Ovulation is controlled by the release of specific hormones like (i.e. luteinizing hormone (LH) from the pituitary gland (also in the brain) at a specific time within the menstrual cycle. The predictability of ovulation can be affected by other hormone levels as well as stressors. 

What Happens After Ovulation?

After ovulation, the oocyte moves through the fallopian tube for 12–24 hours, waiting to be fertilized by sperm. Your sex drive may also increase during ovulation. It’s worth noting that sperm can live inside a female body for up to 5 days, so the window for getting pregnant is longer than just a couple of days. 

If the egg is not fertilized during that time, it disintegrates (breaks down), and menstruation (your period) begins approximately two weeks (14 days) later.

Ovulation and Pregnancy: ‘The Fertile Window’

For those trying to get pregnant and have a baby, knowing when you might be ovulating is important. Your most fertile days ("the fertile window") are the five days leading up to and including ovulation. The fertile window is when you’re most likely to get pregnant. So, having sex during your fertile window gives you the best chance of ensuring the egg is fertilized by sperm, so you become pregnant.

Taking Advantage of the Fertile Window

As previously mentioned, ovulation is a calculated process. Not to mention, the woman's reproductive cycle is just one side of the equation, i.e. knowing when you're likely to get pregnant is only part of the picture. Sperm health is also key in your chances of getting pregnant.

When you ovulate, an egg is released from a mature follicle in your ovary. The ruptured t follicle transforms into a structure known as the corpus luteum, which exists for two weeks post-ovulation.

The corpus luteum releases mainly progesterone which works to maintain the lining of your uterus (the endometrium) in preparation for implantation of a fertilized egg.

When Does Ovulation Happen?

Every person’s cycle is different. Some have longer periods than others. So the timing of ovulation is not always the same in every woman's cycle, and there can also be a normal variation between cycles in the same person.

A normal menstrual cycle in an adult can be anywhere between 21 to 35 days and21 to 45 days in teens. Tracking your menstrual cycle can be extremely helpful in understanding your normal.

How Do You Count Your Menstrual Cycle?

Your menstrual cycle range is counted from the first day of one menstrual period to the first day of the next menstrual period. Typically ovulation is counted backwards and is about 13-15 days before the first day of your menstrual period flow.

When Are Your Most Fertile Days?

If your average menstrual cycle is 28 days and the first day of your cycle is day 1 of your menstrual period, ovulation typically occurs between days 13-15. Thus, you want to have sex every day or every other day, five days before your fertile window (day 13-15) and continue through your fertile window.

If your average menstrual cycle length is 35 days, ovulation typically happens between days 20-22. Therefore, sexual intercourse should begin five days prior to day 20.

Signs of Ovulation

Ovulation often goes completely unnoticed by women. However, when you ovulate, there are some trackable signs.

Ovulation Symptoms

• Your basal body temperature falls: Your basal body temperature drops a little bit just before the egg is released from your ovary. Then, 24 hours after the egg's release, your body temperature rises, and the temperature stays up for several days.
• Cervical mucus changes: The changes in your discharge over the course of your menstrual cycle also hold clues about fertility and when you might be ovulating. If your cervical mucus is:
• Dry, absent, thick, sticky: ovulation is less likely
• White, creamy: Ovulation may be coming
• Clear, slippery and stretchy (cervical mucus is an egg white texture): The probability of ovulation and thus conception is highest.
• Your cervix softens and opens up: As you approach your most fertile time, your cervix softens. This is sometimes known as having a short, high, open, and wet cervix (SHOW) and is a sign of high fertility. 
• You may experience a slight twinge or cramping: “Mittelschmerz” translates literally as “middle pain” and is the name for the slight twinge or cramp that some women experience during ovulation (when the follicle releases the egg).
• Spotting: When the ovary releases an egg, a mature follicle ruptures to allow the egg to be released. This may be a cause of spotting for a day or so.

What Usually Happens When You Get Pregnant?

When you get pregnant, a fertilized egg is implanted in your uterine lining (the endometrium) and grows into an embryo.

The corpus luteum produces progesterone to maintain the lining of the uterus (endometrium)  in a way that facilitates implantation and growth for 14 days. If human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) is produced by the developing placenta, this stimulates the corpus luteum to continue progesterone production, until the placenta itself takes over the production of progesterone.  HCG is detected in urine during a pregnancy test.

Hormonal Changes

The hormonal fluctuations after becoming pregnant are different (and rightfully so!) from your usual menstrual cycle. 

Pregnancy hormones usually “interrupt” the usual menstrual cycle so that the lining can remain intact for the developing embryo.

These hormonal changes help prepare the woman’s body for a developing fetus and a healthy pregnancy).

According to this article in the New York Times, “Ordinarily, the release of eggs [ovulation] ceases once a woman is pregnant, and the hormonal and physical changes of pregnancy work together to prevent another conception.”

There is a Rare Exception: Superfetation

Theoretically, based on pregnancy physiology, it would be impossible or highly unlikely for a woman to ovulate after getting pregnant. 

However, it is speculated that it is possible to overcome the natural physiological barriers to superfetation with advanced reproductive therapies (i.e. fertility medications used to improve chances of pregnancy).

Superfetation is, by definition, what happens when a woman becomes pregnant, during a different ovulatory cycle, while already pregnant. Superfecundation is a similar but different term that refers to the fertilization of two eggs during the same ovulatory period via separate instances of sex (same or differing partners) or artificial insemination during the ovulatory period.

While it’s common to certain animals (e.g., rodents, rabbits, horses, sheep, kangaroos, badgers, and mink), it is rare in humans. 

How Does Superfetation Occur?

Theoretically, in order for superfetation to occur, a series of unlikely events must happen. These include:

1. Spontaneous ovulation during pregnancy.
2. Additional sperm would have to be present in the fallopian tube or would have to travel through a pregnant uterus.
3. The endometrium must be able to accept a second pregnancy.

The first step alone is unlikely to happen because the hormones released during pregnancy typically block future ovulatory cycles. Of the few cases of superfetation reported, the cause of this has usually been that the person was undergoing advanced reproductive therapies, i.e. fertility treatment.

To give you a real sense of how rare this is, according to a 2008 paper published in the European Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, there have only been 10 cases recorded in medical history. 

Other Factors That Can Disrupt Your Menstrual Cycle

Odds are most of us have experienced a late or missed period related to stress at least once.

Your menstrual cycle is a very calculated and hormone-dependent process that can be disrupted by fluctuations in hormone levels due to stress and other causes. 

Though you shouldn’t panic, some of the factors that can disrupt your menstrual cycle can also be cause for medical concern. Here are some examples.

• Stress & anxiety: Increased stress may trigger many reactions, including stress hormone (cortisol) fluctuations. Increased levels of cortisol in response to stress may cause changes to your health, including irregularities in menstrual bleeding. For some, breakthrough bleeding may be a sign that you're experiencing high levels of emotional stress.
• Exhaustion: Feeling jet-lagged or suffering from insomnia? Healthy sleep habits are key, and sleep deprivation can impact the regularity of your menstrual cycle.
• Diet & eating disorders: Nutrition is key for general wellbeing, including reproductive health. People with eating disorders or energy deficiencies due to decreased or inadequate daily caloric intake may find their cycles disrupted.
• Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS): Women with PCOS may have infrequent or prolonged menstrual periods in combination with increased androgen levels (i.e. testosterone). The ovaries may develop numerous tiny follicles due to their inability to mature follicles and ovulate regularly.
• Uterine fibroids or polyps: Fibroids are benign growths that can cause heavy and irregular bleeding and disrupt your cycle. They can also cause pain and discomfort.
• Birth control: Hormonal birth control essentially regulates how the uterus bleeds while also preventing pregnancy.
• Common infections: Infections such as sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) may cause period irregularities. It’s worth noting that most are treatable when diagnosed early. However, some can become serious and impact future fertility if symptoms are ignored, or an asymptomatic infection is undetected.
• Medications: Certain medications may cause abnormal vaginal bleeding. Your pharmacist should advise you of any side effects of medication.
• Perimenopause: This is the stage prior to menopause (when periods cease completely) and is usually characterized by irregular menstrual cycles as periods gradually stop. Menopause is diagnosed when there has been an absence of the menstrual cycle for 12 months (1 year).

When to See a Doctor to Have Symptoms Medically Reviewed

If you experience any of the following, it’s worth scheduling a checkup with your doctor for medical advice:

• Heavy periods with a lot of clotting (especially clots larger than a quarter)
• Irregular periods outside of the normal menstrual cycle range or a significant deviation from your normal cycle.
• Spotting between periods with or without abdominal pain or cramping
• Pain or a burning sensation when peeing
• Unusual vaginal discharge and/or redness and itchiness

Don't Ignore These Signs and Symptoms

Even if you don’t have any of the above symptoms, always visit the doctor in the following situations:

• If you think you’re pregnant or are trying to get pregnant: To be administered a pregnancy test and have an ultrasound performed to confirm the intrauterine location of the pregnancy.
• If you experience inconsistent spotting: That occurs frequently and randomly and may or may not be associated with cramping and/or pain.
• Bleeding or spotting after unprotected sex: Unprotected sex can put you at risk for STIs and other infections.
• Post-menopausal vaginal bleeding: You’ve been through menopause, and you experience vaginal bleeding.

Medically reviewed by Dr. Chimsom T. Oleka, M.D, Written by Jane Flanagan — Updated on November 1, 2021.

We hope you found this post informative — but remember: we’re not doctors and this post is not medical advice! While all posts are fact-checked and well researched, we always recommend you chat with your doctor about any questions or concerns you might have regarding a medical condition. We’re here to support and educate, but never with the aim of disregarding professional medical advice you’ve been given. Phew, now that that’s out of the way, you can go on living unapologetically free.

Ovulation occurs during your reproductive years—basically from when your period (menarche) begins to when it ends (menopause). It’s defined by an event, on approximately day 13 to 15 of a 28-day menstrual cycle, during which your ovary releases an oocyte from a follicle. The oocyte then travels to the fallopian tube and awaits fertilization with sperm.

Once ovulation occurs, the oocyte can be fertilized by sperm. At this point, timing is of the essence. After ovulation, you have about 12-24 hours for fertilization to occur. However, it’s worth noting that sperm can live inside a female body for up to 5 days so the window for intercourse to result in pregnancy is longer than just a couple of days.  

If the egg isn’t fertilized within 12-24 hours of its release, it begins to slowly disintegrate and will eventually shed along with the uterine lining during menstruation (your period), approximately 11-16 days later.

What Interrupts Ovulation?

Ovulation may not happen for a variety of reasons—some natural and some not. It might depend on what phase you’re at in your menstrual cycle or there could be an underlying medical issue like Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), other endocrinopathies like thyroid disease, or elevated prolactin levels, nutritional deficiencies, or perimenopause.

If you’ve been trying unsuccessfully to get pregnant for over a year (under the age of 35yo or over 6 months over the age of 35yo) you could potentially be dealing with infertility issues. If this is the case, you are not alone and there are a variety of treatments available to help. According to the Mayo Clinic, an estimated 10-18% of couples have trouble getting pregnant or having a successful delivery. 

Other major factors that affect ovulation include:

• Age: After age 35, a woman's odds of becoming pregnant decreases rapidly. 
• Smoking: Smoking accelerates ovarian follicle (where the eggs are) depletion, encourages loss of reproductive function. Menopause occurs 1-4yrs earlier in smokers compared to non-smokers
• Weight: Obesity (as per guidelines in which abdominal fat and waist circumference are the main contributors to excess) is associated with dysfunctional ovulation 
• STIs: Sexually transmitted diseases can damage the fallopian tubes making future pregnancies more difficult because the sperm is unable to get to the released egg (oocyte)

How Do You Know When You’re Ovulating?

Ovulation and your “fertile window” is a single phase in the ovarian part of your menstrual cycle, so understanding the phases and length of your cycle is key.

The most commonly referenced menstrual cycle length is 28 days (even though it is not the average menstrual cycle length), as most women will have slightly longer or shorter cycles. There are three phases that your ovary goes through to prepare for the possibility of fertilization and pregnancy, ovulation being one of them. (Again, please keep in mind the time frames below are averages and most women will experience time frames longer or shorter than average).

1. Menstruation (a phase of the uterus that occurs during the follicular phase of the ovary): More popularly referred to as your period, menstruation (or menses) marks the first day of your cycle. If an egg has not been fertilized, your uterus sheds its lining from the previous month’s cycle. This is your period.
2. Follicular Phase: The follicular phase of your cycle starts on the first day of your period (day 1 of your cycle) and ends with ovulation (approximately day 13-15 of a cycle of 28 days).
3. Ovulation: This phase occurs after the Follicular Phase ends around day 13-15 of your cycle, in a 28-day cycle. The day of ovulation is distinctly defined by the act of the oocyte bursting through the ovarian capsule, out of the ovarian follicle, traveling through the fallopian, and becoming available for fertilization by sperm. The 3 days leading up to and including ovulation is when the baby-making magic happens.
4. Luteal Phase: This phase lasts approximately two weeks after ovulation (day 17-28 in a 28-day cycle). During this phase, the egg begins to break down and disintegrate. If an egg isn’t fertilized before it starts to breaks down, it will shed with the next menses, and the cycle begins again.

Signs of Ovulation

 It can be difficult for some women to tell whether or not they are ovulating as the signs and symptoms tend to be more subtle. However, for others, it’s more noticeable. Here are some things to look out for to know if you’re nearing the day of ovulation or in the ovulation phase of your cycle: 

• Lower basal body temperature (this typically occurs just before ovulation begins)
• Higher basal body temperature (occurs approximately 24 hours after the egg is released and lasts for many days)
• Cervical mucus that is wet and stretchy with an egg white texture 
• Subtle cramping or pain can sometimes occur when the follicle releases the egg (you may experience this on alternating sides of your abdomen each month. This cramping is also known as mittelschmerz.)
• Light spotting can result when the follicle ruptures to release the egg
• Increased libido (sex drive). 

When Do You Ovulate? Signs of Ovulation

If you are not ovulating, it doesn’t mean there is necessarily something “wrong”. For example, if you are in the menstrual, follicular, or luteal phase of your menstrual cycle, not ovulating is normal and nothing to worry about. 

However, if you notice any of the following signs or symptoms, it could mean there is an underlying medical or emotional issue that could potentially prevent ovulation and you should consult a medical professional. 

• Longer than normal menstrual cycle (i.e. 35 days or more in adults and 45 days, or more in teens)
• Shorter than normal menstrual cycle (i.e. 21 days or less)
• Irregular or absent periods
• Heavy periods with large, quarter-sized clotting
• Irregular periods
• Spotting between periods along with abnormal abdominal pain or cramping
• Inability to get pregnant, especially if you’ve been trying for 6 months to a year

The Best (and Worst) Times in Your Menstrual Cycle To Get Pregnant

Whether you’re trying to get pregnant (or trying not to get pregnant) knowing when you are most fertile is very important. If you and your partner are trying to have a baby, you can increase your chances of conceiving by having sex at the right time.

On the flip side, if you are trying not to get pregnant, understanding when your “fertile window” is can help avoid pregnancy by abstaining from sex at those times. Having said that, if you want to take the stress factor out of it completely, nothing beats protection like a condom, IUD, or another form of birth control to prevent an unwanted pregnancy. We recommend you discuss birth control options with your healthcare provider.

Getting Pregnant During Your Period Is Highly Unlikely

Abdominal cramps, constipation, and bloating are some of the most common symptoms women feel during the (approximately) 5-7 days of their period and are caused by the shedding of the uterine lining (a.k.a. the endometrium).

Is it possible to get pregnant on your period?  Yes, if you have unprotected sex, it is possible to get pregnant during your period. However, the likelihood is low compared to other parts of the menstrual cycle. This is also the time many women understandably “are not in the mood” to have sex. 

Your period happens as long as the egg from the previous menstrual cycle hasn’t been fertilized. So getting your period is also a pretty reliable sign you are not pregnant. During the approx 5-7 days of your period, you shed your uterine lining through your vagina and the unfertilized, disintegrating egg is released along with it.

Getting Pregnant Right After Your Period Is Likely

On average, menstruation lasts 5-7 days. In the week or so after your period, the follicular phase continues and your ovaries prepare to release an egg. If you have sex during this window, it’s somewhat likely you could get pregnant. 

The reason for this is that sperm can survive 3-5 days after sexual intercourse. This means that even though you’re not technically ovulating when you have sex, it is still possible to get pregnant if an egg is released within 3-5 days of intercourse.

Getting Pregnant During Ovulation Is Highly Likely

The chances of getting pregnant are highest during your “fertile window". The fertile days occur during the 3-5 days leading up to and including ovulation. Having unprotected sex during ovulation will increase the chances of sperm being able to fertilize an egg, and that you'll get pregnant.

It’s important to note here that ovulation is simply half of the equation—sperm health is the other. If you’re trying to conceive and are having trouble getting pregnant, it’s worth consulting a doctor to see what other factors may impact your fertility. Remember, your partner’s sperm health could also affect your ability to get pregnant.

Another important consideration is that ovulation can vary month to month depending on a variety of emotional factors, like stress, exhaustion, emotional events (like grief), and nutrition. 

Unlike the acutely obvious signs of menstruation, the signs of ovulation are often more subtle. If you aren’t able to identify your ovulation phase, consider using a tool like an ovulation predictor kit or a fertility app to help predict your “fertile window.”

If you have trouble knowing when you’re ovulating, there are tools to help:

Ovulation Predictor Kits Can Help You Identify When You’re Ovulating

36-40 hours (on average) before ovulation, there is a brief surge in luteinizing hormone (LH). Ovulation predictor kits (also sometimes called an OPK) detects the presence and concentration of luteinizing hormone (LH) in your urine about 12-24 hours before ovulation takes place. Ovulation predictor kits may be especially helpful for women who are trying to conceive and want to improve their chances of getting pregnant.

When used correctly, ovulation predictor kits are approximately 80% accurate in detecting ovulation with 5 days of testing and 95% accurate with 10 days of testing. Typically testing should begin at least 2 days before the expected day of ovulation and continued until the LH surge or through day 20.

Fertility Apps Can Also Help Track Your Menstrual Cycle & Increase Chances of Getting Pregnant

Of course - there’s an app for that! Indeed, there are many fertility apps available to help you predict your most fertile days right from the palm of your hand. They all use a similar algorithm to collect data, track changes in your cycle, and predict ovulation periods. 

Keep in mind that fertility apps are not an exact science and don’t replace regular check-ins with your doctor. They also typically work best for women who have regular periods. 

Getting Pregnant After Ovulation Is Almost Impossible

If the egg doesn’t get fertilized in the 12 to 24 hours following ovulation, the likelihood you’ll get pregnant decreases dramatically. During the two weeks after ovulation (the Luteal Phase), the egg breaks down and the follicle in the ovary where the egg was released becomes the corpus luteum.

The corpus luteum releases a hormone called progesterone. Progesterone causes a few changes in the body that are designed to support a pregnancy if one has occurred:

• Thickening of the uterine lining in preparation for it to receive a fertilized egg (zygote) 
• Thickening of your cervical mucus, which also creates a plug that blocks any sperm from entering the uterus.
• Sending a signal to the ovaries not to release any more eggs.

When to See a Doctor

The most commonly referenced menstrual cycle lasts 28-days and the likelihood of getting pregnant varies depending on the phase you’re in, when and if you ovulate, and when you're having sex. After all, it takes two to do the baby tango: An egg and a sperm. 

When your cycle is ‘regular’, if you have sex in the few days leading up to and including ovulation, you’re most likely to conceive. During other times of your menstrual phase, your chances of conception are lower (but not zero!) 

As we’ve seen, there are a variety of reasons ovulation doesn’t occur when it’s supposed to - some physical and others emotional, or stress-related. If you are concerned about irregularities in your cycle, missed periods, want to get pregnant or are trying to conceive, or want to explore birth control options, it’s always worth talking with your family doctor!

Medically reviewed by Dr. Chimsom T. Oleka, M.D, Written by Jane Flanagan — Updated on September 20, 2021.

We hope you found this post informative — but remember: we’re not doctors and this post is not medical advice! While all posts are fact-checked and well researched, we always recommend you chat with your doctor about any questions or concerns you might have regarding a medical condition. We’re here to support and educate, but never with the aim of disregarding professional medical advice you’ve been given. Phew, now that that’s out of the way, you can go on living unapologetically free.

The luteal phase is the second half of your cycle. It starts after ovulation and ends with the first day of your period. Learn more about the phases of your cycle here.

The 101: What Is Ovulation?

Ovulation occurs during your reproductive years—basically from when your period (menarche) begins to when it ends (menopause). It’s defined by an event, on approximately day 13 to 15 of a 28-day cycle, during which your ovary releases an oocyte from a follicle. The oocyte then travels to the fallopian tube and awaits fertilization with sperm.

The rupture of the ovary follicles can cause some light spotting and some can even feel it happen in their body. However, for the vast majority, the moment when women ovulate usually goes unnoticed.

The process of ovulation is controlled by the hypothalamus of the brain and through the release of hormones. This means that ovulation can be impacted by hormone levels and stressors. From jet lag to thyroid disorders, the sensitive process of ovulation can be disrupted when your body undergoes changes. Hormonal contraceptives inhibit ovulation to prevent pregnancy. 

After the oocyte is released from the ovary, it moves into the fallopian tube. At this point it is called an ovum or egg. The egg stays in the fallopian tube for about 24 hours, waiting for a single sperm to fertilize it.

If the egg is not fertilized by sperm during that time (and pregnancy does not occur), it disintegrates (breaks down) and menstruation (your menstrual period) begins 11–16 days later.

Ovulation and Pregnancy: The Fertile Window

For many, ovulating is an unnoticed process. However, for those hoping to get pregnant, knowing when you might be ovulating is important.

Your most fertile days (the “fertile window") are the 3 days leading up to and including ovulation. This is when you’re most likely to get pregnant. So, having sex then gives you the best chance of ensuring the egg is fertilized by sperm so you become pregnant.

But, as previously mentioned, ovulation is a delicate process. Not to mention, the woman's reproductive cycle is just one side of the equation. Sperm heath is also key in your chances of getting pregnant.

As many will attest, your cycle can be impacted by stress, exhaustion, or emotional events (like grief). Moreover, nutrition, smoking, and seasonal changes can also impact ovulation and therefore fertility.

This is one of the reasons birth control doesn’t just focus on ovulation. When the realities of life kick in, the fertile window can be a bit of a moving target. As we all know, our bodies don’t always follow the rules ;)

How Do You Know When Ovulation Occurs?

Ovulation and your fertile window is a single phase in the ovarian part of your menstrual cycle, so understanding the phases and length of your cycle is key.

The most commonly referenced cycle length is 28 days (even though it is not the average cycle length, as most women will have slightly longer or shorter cycles). There are 3 phases that your ovary goes through to prepare for the possibility of fertilization and pregnancy, ovulation being one of them. (Again, please keep in mind the time frames below are averages and most women will experience time frames longer or shorter than average).

1. Menstruation (a phase of the uterus that occurs during the follicular phase of the ovary): More popularly referred to as your period, menstruation (or menses) marks the first day of your cycle. If an egg has not been fertilized, your uterus sheds its lining from the previous month’s cycle. This is your period.
2. Follicular phase: The follicular phase of your cycle starts on the first day of your period (day 1 of your cycle) and ends with ovulation (approximately day 13–15 of a cycle of 28 days).
3. Ovulation: This phase occurs after the follicular phase ends around days 13–15 of your cycle, in a 28-day cycle. The day of ovulation is distinctly defined by the act of the oocyte bursting through the ovarian capsule, out of the ovarian follicle, traveling through the fallopian tube, and becoming available for fertilization by sperm. The 3 days leading up to and including ovulation is when the baby-making magic happens.
4. Luteal phase: This phase lasts approximately 2 weeks after ovulation (day 17–28 in a 28-day cycle). During this phase, the egg begins to break down and disintegrate. If an egg isn’t fertilized before it starts to break down, it will shed with the next menses, and the cycle begins again.

When Does Ovulation Happen in the Menstrual Cycle?

As mentioned, every woman’s cycle is different. Some of us have longer periods than others, for example. So the timing of ovulation is not always the same in every woman's cycle.

A cycle can range between 21 to 35 days in adults and from 21 to 45 days in young teenagers. That's why most people track their own cycle with a period calculator or diary.

The first day of a cycle is counted from the first day of your menstrual period. You ovulate about 14 days before your period starts.

So, if your average cycle is 28 days and the first day of your cycle is day 1 of your menstrual period, day 14 in your cycle is your day of ovulation, and your most fertile days are days 12, 13, and 14. These are the days pregnancy is most likely to occur.

Or, if your average cycle is 35 days, ovulation happens around day 21 and your most fertile days are days 19, 20, and 21.

Ovulation Symptoms

Ovulation signs usually go unnoticed, but there are some ovulation symptoms that most women can learn to track or pay attention to. Ovulation symptoms include your basal body temperature, cervical mucus, and more...

Your Basal Body Temperature Falls

One of the most objective ovulation symptoms is that your basal body temperature drops a little bit just before the oocyte is released from your ovary. Then, 24 hours after the oocyte is released, your basal body temperature rises and stays up for several days. If you're trying to get pregnant, it's advisable to take your basal body temperature to understand when you're ovulating.

According to Healthlink BC:

• 36.1°C (97°F) to 36.4°C (97.5°F) BEFORE ovulation and
• 36.4°C (97.6°F)  to 37°C (98.6°F) AFTER ovulation 

If you're trying to get pregnant, take your temperature daily and keep track of your body temperature in a journal or app.

Cervical Mucus Changes When You Ovulate 

The changes in your cervical mucus over the course of your menstrual cycle also hold clues about when you might be ovulating.

If your cervical mucus is...

• Dry or sticky: It’s unlikely you’re ovulating
• Creamy cervical mucus: Ovulation may be coming
• Wet or watery: Ovulation may start soon
• Wet and stretchy (egg white texture): You may be at your day of ovulation 

It’s worth noting that cervical mucus is just one component of vaginal discharge, which can also include vaginal lubrication, arousal fluid, and more.

Again, making such observations is not an exact science and no woman is an exact clock. But if you keep a period diary and ovulation calendar, it might be worthwhile to also note any observable changes in cervical mucus. Over time, you may see a pattern emerge.

Your Cervix Softens and Opens Up

Ovulation symptoms include a softening of the cervix as you approach your most fertile time. This is sometimes known as having a short, high, open, and wet cervix (SHOW). 

For a step-by-step guide to checking your cervix position, visit this guide on Flo’s website. 

You May Experience a Slight Twinge or Cramping

Mittelschmerz translates literally as “middle pain” and is the name for the slight twinge or cramp that some women experience when the follicle releases the oocyte on the day of ovulation during their menstrual cycle.

For many women, there is no sensation whatsoever. So, it isn't as obvious as some of the other ovulation symptoms.

The pain will occur on 1 side of your lower abdomen. Because you have ovaries on 2 sides, the ovulation pain will switch sides each month, distinguishing it from the uterine cramping associated with menstruation.

According to the Mayo Clinic, “Mittelschmerz pain occurs on the side of the ovary that's releasing an egg (ovulating). The pain may switch sides every other month, or you may feel pain on the same side for several months. Keep track of your menstrual cycle for several months and note when you feel lower abdominal pain. If it occurs mid-cycle and goes away without treatment, it's most likely mittelschmerz.”

If the pain is more severe, you should seek medical advice from a healthcare professional.

Some Light Spotting May Occur When You Ovulate

When the ovaries release the oocyte, a tiny follicle ruptures to allow it to be released. This can be a cause of spotting for a day or so.

For some women, spotting that occurs around the time of ovulation is light red or pink in color. This is because we also produce more cervical fluid around the time of ovulation and the blood gets mixed with that fluid, causing it to be a lighter shade.

Increased Libido or Sex Drive

The most well-known sign of ovulation is an increased sex drive. This is thought to be an evolutionary reaction to increase the likelihood of pregnancy. It’s important to know that this does not mean you’ll only want to have sex during ovulation. But it may definitely mean that you may experience an increased libido when ovulation occurs.

According to a report on Psychology Today, "ovulating women do clearly increase their sexual desire, and they do increase the frequency with which they have sex with their current partners.”

How Long Do You Ovulate For?

Ovulation, or the fertile window, lasts between 12 and 24 hours. That's how long the egg released by the ovary is viable for fertilization.

What Interrupts Ovulation?

Ovulation may not happen for a variety of reasons—some natural and some not. It might depend on what phase you’re at in your cycle or there could be an underlying medical issue like polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), other endocrinopathies like thyroid disease, or elevated prolactin levels, nutritional deficiencies, or perimenopause.

If you’ve been trying unsuccessfully to get pregnant for over a year (under the age of 35, or over 6 months over the age of 35) you could potentially be dealing with infertility issues. If this is the case, you are not alone and there are a variety of treatments available to help. According to the Mayo Clinic, an estimated 10–18% of couples have trouble getting pregnant or having a successful delivery. 

Other major factors that affect ovulation include:

• Age: After age 35, a woman's odds of becoming pregnant decreases rapidly. 
• Smoking: Smoking accelerates ovarian follicle (where the oocytes are) depletion, encouraging loss of reproductive function. Menopause occurs 1–4 years earlier in smokers compared to non-smokers.
• Weight: Obesity (as per guidelines in which abdominal fat and waist circumference are the main contributors to excess) is associated with dysfunctional ovulation.
• Sexually transmitted infections (STIs): Sexually transmitted infections can damage the fallopian tubes making future pregnancies more difficult because the sperm is unable to get to the released egg.

How to Know Your Fertile Window: Ovulation Test Kits

In addition to tracking the signs of ovulation and common ovulation symptoms listed above, there’s another step you can take to predict ovulation. Using a tool to calculate ovulation is especially helpful for those struggling with getting pregnant, who need to identify the fertile window.

An ovulation predictor kit (also sometimes called an OPK, which stands for ovulation predictor kit) is a test that detects the presence and concentration of luteinizing hormone (LH) in your urine. Between 12–48 hours on average before ovulation, there is a brief surge in luteinizing hormone levels.

Ovulation predictor kits may be especially helpful for women trying to get pregnant or increase their fertility awareness, but also who have irregular cycles and irregular ovulation. However, the body can find ways to fool such ovulation tracking methods...

According to the American Pregnancy Association, “When taken correctly, ovulation predictor kits are approximately 99% accurate in detecting the LH surge that precedes ovulation. However, these tests cannot confirm whether ovulation actually occurs a day or two later. Some women may have a surge in the LH hormone without releasing an egg. This condition is known as luteinized unruptured follicle syndrome (LUFS).”

Your Ovulation Calculator

Tracking ovulation, learning the ovulation signs, and understanding when you ovulate (and even being able to feel ovulation happening) means you can predict when you’re likely to be fertile. More generally, it helps you become more familiar with your own body. This can help you appreciate the wondrous complexity of your body, but also notice any changes that might need medical attention.

Note: Online calculators give approximate ovulation dates and fertile times for women who have regular periods. These tools assume regular menstrual cycles, so if—like many women—you have irregular periods, they may not be reliable in helping you to pinpoint the day on which you ovulate.

If you're hoping to get pregnant, it's also important to talk to your healthcare provider about your overall health. Ideally, bring your partner with you. You may both have questions about the process and family planning impacts you both.

Some of the things you should discuss:

• Stopping birth control: If you've been on birth control, you should discuss how to stop taking it
• Supplements and lifestyle changes: Your doctor may advise you to take some supplements, like folic acid, before you get pregnant
• Current medications: If you're on any other medications, you'll want to discuss them with your doctor in light of a possible pregnancy
• Fertility questions: If there are suspected fertility problems, a male partner will also need fertility testing

Don't be shy about asking questions. Good luck!

Written by Jane Flanagan — Updated on April 5, 2022.

We hope you found this post informative — but remember: we’re not doctors and this post is not medical advice! While all posts are fact-checked and well researched, we always recommend you chat with your doctor about any questions or concerns you might have regarding a medical condition. We’re here to support and educate, but never with the aim of disregarding professional medical advice you’ve been given. Phew, now that that’s out of the way, you can go on living unapologetically free.

The luteal phase is the second half of your menstrual cycle. It starts after ovulation and ends with the first day of your period. 

The 101: What Is Ovulation?

During reproductive ages in the human menstrual cycle, the ovary releases an egg every month. This event occurs when ovary follicles rupture and release the oocyte which travels to the fallopian tube and becomes an ovum or egg. 

The rupture of the ovary follicles can cause some light spotting and some women can even feel it happen. However, for the vast majority of women, the moment of ovulation goes unnoticed.

The process of ovulation is controlled by the hypothalamus of the brain and through the release of hormones. This means that ovulation can be impacted by hormone levels and stressors. From jet lag to thyroid disorders, the sensitive process of ovulation can be disrupted when your body undergoes changes. Hormonal contraceptives inhibit ovulation to prevent pregnancy. 

After the oocyte is released from the ovary, it moves into the fallopian tube. At this point it is called an ovum or egg. The egg stays in the fallopian tube for about 24 hours, waiting for a single sperm to fertilize it.

If the egg is not fertilized by sperm during that time (and pregnancy does not occur), it disintegrates (breaks down) and menstruation (your menstrual period) begins 11–16 days later.

Ovulation and Pregnancy: The Fertile Window

For many women, impending ovulation is an unnoticed process in their menstrual cycles. However, for women hoping to get pregnant, knowing when you might be ovulating is key to optimizing natural fertility and family planning.

Your most fertile days (the “fertile window") are the 3 days leading up to and including ovulation. This is when you’re most likely to get pregnant. So, having sexual intercourse then gives you the best chance of ensuring the egg is fertilized by sperm so pregnancy occurs.

But, as previously mentioned, ovulation and the menstrual cycle as a whole is a delicate process. Sperm heath is also key in your chances of getting pregnant. Not to mention, the woman's reproductive cycle is another variable factor. 

As most women will attest, your menstrual cycle can be impacted by stress, exhaustion, or emotional events (like grief.) Moreover, nutrition, cigarette smoking, and seasonal changes can also impact ovulation and therefore fertility.

This is one of the reasons birth control doesn’t just focus on ovulation. When the realities of life kick in, the fertile window can be a bit of a moving target. As we all know, our bodies don’t always follow the rules and irregular ovulation is a fact of life ;)

When Does Ovulation Happen in the Menstrual Cycle?

Every woman’s cycle is different. Some of us have longer periods than others, for example. So the timing of ovulation is not always the same in every woman's cycle.

But generally a woman’s entire menstrual cycle is on average 28 days. That said, it can range between 21 to 35 days in adults and from 21 to 45 days in young teenagers. That's why most women track their own cycle with a period calculator or diary—especially if they're hoping to achieve pregnancy.

The first day of a menstrual cycle is counted from the first day of your menstrual period. You ovulate about 14 days before your period starts.

If your average menstrual cycle is 28 days and the first day of your cycle is day 1 of your menstrual period, day 14 in your cycle is your day of ovulation, and your most fertile days are days 12, 13, and 14. These are the days pregnancy is most likely to occur.

If your average menstrual cycle is 35 days, ovulation happens around day 21 and your most fertile days are days 19, 20, and 21.

What Are the Telltale Signs of Ovulation?

Your Basal Body Temperature Falls

Your basal body temperature drops a little bit just before an oocyte is released from your ovary. Then, 24 hours after it is released, your basal body temperature rises and stays up for several days. 

According to Healthlink BC your temperature averages between:

• 36.1°C (97°F) to 36.4°C (97.5°F) BEFORE ovulation and
• 36.4°C (97.6°F) to 37°C (98.6°F) AFTER ovulation 

Fertility awareness-based methods (i.e., the rhythm method) of natural family planning rely on "tracking a woman's menstrual cycle, monitoring basal body temperature and watching for changes to cervical mucus," according to Cleveland Clinic.

However, fertility awareness-based methods necessitate paying close attention to your menstrual cycles for the best chance of success optimizing natural fertility. 

Cervical Mucus Changes When You Ovulate

As mentioned, the changes in your cervical fluid over the course of your menstrual cycle also hold clues about when you might be ovulating.

If your cervical mucus is...

• Dry or sticky: It’s unlikely you’re ovulating
• Creamy: You may start ovulating soon
• Wet or watery: You may start ovulating soon
• Wet and stretchy (egg white texture): You may be at your day of ovulation

It’s worth noting that cervical mucus is just one component of vaginal discharge, which can also include vaginal lubrication, arousal fluid, and more.

Again, making such observations is not an exact science and no woman’s body is a clock. But if you keep a period diary and ovulation calendar, it might be worthwhile to also note any observable changes to cervical mucus. Over time, you may see a pattern emerge.

Your Cervix Softens and Opens Up

As you approach your most fertile time, your cervix softens. This is sometimes known as having a short, high, open, and wet cervix (SHOW). 

For a step-by-step guide to checking your cervix position, visit this guide on Flo’s website. 

You May Experience Slight Twinge or Cramping

Mittelschmerz translates literally as “middle pain” and is the name for the slight twinge or cramp that some women experience when the follicle releases the oocyte on the day of ovulation during their menstrual cycle.

For many women, there is no ovulation pain whatsoever. 

The pain will occur on one-side of your lower abdomen. Because you have ovaries on 2 sides, the pain will switch sides each month, distinguishing it from the uterine cramping associated with menstruation.

According to the Mayo Clinic “Mittelschmerz pain occurs on the side of the ovary that's releasing an egg (ovulating). The pain may switch sides every other month, or you may feel pain on the same side for several months. Keep track of your menstrual cycle for several months and note when you feel lower abdominal pain. If it occurs mid-cycle and goes away without treatment, it's most likely mittelschmerz.”

If the ovulation pain is more severe, you should seek medical advice from a healthcare professional.

Some Light Spotting May Occur When You Ovulate

When the ovaries release the oocyte, a tiny follicle ruptures to allow it to be released. This can be a cause of spotting for a day or so.

For some women, spotting that occurs around the time of ovulation is light red or pink in color. This is because we also produce more cervical fluid around the time of ovulation and the blood gets mixed with that fluid, causing it to be a lighter shade.

Increased Libido or Sex Drive

The most well-known sign of ovulation is an increased sex drive. This is thought to be an evolutionary reaction to increase the likelihood of pregnancy. It’s important to note that this does not mean you’ll only want to have sex during ovulation. But it may definitely mean that you may experience an increased libido when ovulation occurs.

According to a report on Psychology Today, "ovulating women do clearly increase their sexual desire, and they do increase the frequency with which they have sex with their current partners.”

How Long Do You Ovulate For?

Ovulation, or the fertile window, lasts between 12 and 24 hours. That's how long the egg released by the ovary is viable for fertilization.

How to Know Your Fertile Window: Ovulation Predictor Kits

In addition to tracking the signs of ovulation listed above, there’s another step you can take to predict ovulation. This is especially helpful for those struggling with getting pregnant, who need to identify the fertile window.

An ovulation kit (also sometimes called an OPK, which stands for ovulation predictor kit) is a test that detects the presence and concentration of luteinizing hormone (LH) in your urine. Between 12–48 hours on average before ovulation, there is a brief surge in LH levels.

Ovulation predictor kits may be especially helpful for women trying to get pregnant or increase their fertility awareness, but who have irregular cycles. However, again the body can find ways to fool such methods...

According to the American Pregnancy Association, “When taken correctly, ovulation tests are approximately 99% accurate in detecting the LH surge that precedes ovulation. However, these tests cannot confirm whether ovulation actually occurs a day or two later. Some women may have a surge in the LH hormone without releasing an egg. This condition is known as luteinized unruptured follicle syndrome (LUFS).”

Your Ovulation Calculator

"Fertile windows are different for every woman and can be different from month to month in the same woman. Learn more about your fertility if you are trying to get pregnant,” the Office on Women's Health suggests.

Learning when you ovulate means you can predict when you’re likely to be fertile. More generally, it helps you become more familiar with your own body. This can help you appreciate the wondrous complexity of your body, but also notice any changes that might need medical attention from a healthcare provider.

Online calculators give approximate ovulation dates and fertile times for women who have regular periods.

Written by Jane Flanagan — Updated on April 5, 2022.

We hope you found this post informative — but remember: we’re not doctors and this post is not medical advice! While all posts are fact-checked and well researched, we always recommend you chat with your doctor about any questions or concerns you might have regarding a medical condition. We’re here to support and educate, but never with the aim of disregarding professional medical advice you’ve been given. Phew, now that that’s out of the way, you can go on living unapologetically free.

A woman's menstrual cycle is the monthly cycle of changes that the body goes through to prepare for the possibility of getting pregnant.

The release of an oocyte (immature egg) from the ovary is an essential part of this process.

The 101: What Is Ovulation?

During reproductive ages, the ovary releases an oocyte every month. This event occurs when ovary follicles rupture and release the oocyte which travels to the fallopian tube and becomes an ovum or egg. 

The rupture of the ovary follicles can cause some light spotting and some women can even feel it happen. However, for the vast majority of women, the moment of ovulation goes unnoticed.

The process of ovulation is controlled by the hypothalamus of the brain and through the release of hormones. This means that ovulation can be impacted by hormone levels and stressors.

From jet lag to thyroid disorders, the sensitive process of ovulation can be disrupted when your body undergoes changes. Hormonal contraceptives inhibit ovulation to prevent pregnancy. 

When Does Your Menstrual Period Come In?

After the oocyte is released from the ovary, it moves into the fallopian tube. At this point it is called an ovum or egg. The egg stays in the fallopian tube for about 24 hours, waiting for a single sperm to fertilize it.

If the mature egg is not fertilized during that time (i.e., pregnancy doesn’t occur), it disintegrates (breaks down) and menstruation (your next period) begins 11–16 days later.

Ovulation and Fertility: The Fertile Window

For many women, ovulating is an unnoticed process. However, for women hoping to get pregnant, knowing when you might be ovulating is important.

Your most fertile days (the “fertile window") are the 5 days leading up to and including ovulation. The fertile window is when you’re most likely to conceive and have the greatest chance of getting pregnant. 

So, having sexual intercourse during your fertile window (your most fertile days) gives you the best chance of ensuring the sperm is present when the egg is released so that you can successfully become pregnant.

It’s worth noting that many women do not have an average cycle length of 28 days. And even if they don't have irregular cycles, when you ovulate can be impacted by many factors, from stress and jet lag to smoking and illness. 

Moreover, nutrition, smoking, and seasonal changes can also impact ovulation and therefore fertility. So, rather than thinking in terms of day X of your cycle, look for the ovulation symptoms described below to identify your fertile days.

This is one of the reasons birth control doesn’t just focus on ovulation. When the realities of life kick in, the fertile window can be a bit of a moving target. As we all know, our bodies don’t always follow the rules ;)

When Does Ovulation Occur in the Menstrual Cycle?

Every woman’s cycle is different. Some of us have longer periods or menstrual cycles than others, for example.

But generally a woman’s entire menstrual cycle is an average length of 28 days. That said, it can range between 21 to 35 days in adults and from 21 to 45 days in young teenagers. That's why most women track their menstrual cycles and cycle length with a period calculator or diary.

The first day of a menstrual cycle is counted from the first day of your period. You ovulate about 14 days before your period starts.

If your average menstrual cycle is 28 days, ovulation occurs around day 14, and your most fertile days are days 12, 13, and 14. 

If your average menstrual cycle is 35 days ovulation happens around day 21 and your most fertile days are days 19, 20, and 21.

What Are the Telltale Signs of Ovulation?

Your Basal Body Temperature Falls

Your basal body temperature drops a little bit just before your ovary releases an egg. Then, 24 hours after the egg's release, your basal body temperature rises and stays up for several days. 

According to Healthlink BC your temperature averages between:

• 36.1°C (97°F) to 36.4°C (97.5°F) BEFORE ovulation  and
• 36.4°C (97.6°F)  to 37°C (98.6°F) AFTER ovulation 

"To use the basal body temperature method: Take your basal body temperature every morning before getting out of bed. Use a digital oral thermometer or one specifically designed to measure basal body temperature. Make sure you get at least 3 hours of uninterrupted sleep each night to ensure an accurate reading," the Mayo Clinic suggests.

"For the most accurate results, always take your temperature using the same method. Try to take your temperature at the same time each day, when you first wake up."

Cervical Mucus Changes When You Ovulate

The changes in your discharge over the course of your menstrual cycle also hold clues about when you might be ovulating.

If your cervical mucus is...

• Dry or sticky: It’s unlikely you’re ovulating
• Creamy: Ovulation may be coming
• Wet or watery: Ovulation may start soon
• Wet and stretchy (egg white texture): You may be ovulating

It’s worth noting that cervical mucus is just one component of vaginal discharge, which can also include vaginal lubrication, arousal fluid, and more.

Again, making such observations is not an exact science and no woman’s body is a clock. But if you keep a period diary and ovulation calendar, it might be worthwhile to also note any observable changes to cervical mucus. Over time, you may see a pattern emerge.

Your Cervix Softens and Opens Up

As you approach your most fertile time, your cervix softens. This is sometimes known as having a short, high, open, and wet cervix (SHOW). 

For a step-by-step guide to checking your cervix position, visit this guide on Flo’s website. 

You May Experience Slight Twinge or Cramping

They say there’s a word in German for everything. Well, here’s proof: Mittelschmerz. It translates literally as “middle pain” and is the name for the slight twinge or cramp that some women experience when the follicle releases the oocyte.

For many women, there is no sensation whatsoever. 

If there is a sensation, the pain will occur on one side of your lower abdomen. Because you have ovaries on 2 sides, the pain will switch sides each month, distinguishing it from the uterine cramping associated with menstruation.

According to the Mayo Clinic, “Mittelschmerz pain occurs on the side of the ovary that's releasing an egg (ovulating). The pain may switch sides every other month, or you may feel pain on the same side for several months. 

“Keep track of your menstrual cycle for several months and note when you feel lower abdominal pain. If it occurs mid-cycle and goes away without treatment, it's most likely mittelschmerz.”

If the pain is more severe, you should seek medical advice from a healthcare professional.

Some Light Spotting May Occur When You Ovulate

When the ovaries release the oocyte, a tiny follicle ruptures to allow it to be released. This can be a cause of spotting for a day or so.

For some women, spotting that occurs around the time of ovulation is light red or pink in color. This is because we also produce more cervical fluid around the time of ovulation and the blood gets mixed with that cervical fluid, causing it to be a lighter shade.

Increased Libido or Sex Drive

The most well-known sign of ovulation is an increased sex drive. It’s important to note that this does not mean you’ll only want to have sexual intercourse during ovulation. But it may definitely mean that you may experience an increased libido.

According to a report on Psychology Today, “ovulating women do clearly increase their sexual desire, and they do increase the frequency with which they have sex with their current partners.”

How Long Do You Ovulate For?

Ovulation lasts between 12 and 24 hours. That's how long the egg released by the ovary is viable for fertilization.

How to Know Your Fertile Window: Ovulation Test Kits

In addition to tracking the signs of ovulation listed above, there’s another step you can take to predict ovulation: Ovulation predictor kits. 

This is especially helpful for those who need to identify the fertile window and understand their reproductive health, such as people struggling with getting pregnant or using fertility awareness-based methods.

The Importance of Luteinizing Hormone

An ovulation kit (also sometimes called an OPK, which stands for ovulation predictor kit) is a test that detects the presence and concentration of luteinizing hormone (LH) in your urine. Between 12–48 hours on average before ovulation, there is a brief surge in luteinizing hormone levels. Then, hormone levels drop. 

Ovulation kits may be especially helpful for women trying to get pregnant but have irregular cycles. However, the body can find ways to fool such methods...

According to the American Pregnancy Association, “When taken correctly, ovulation tests are approximately 99% accurate in detecting the LH surge that precedes ovulation. However, these tests cannot confirm whether ovulation actually occurs a day or 2 later. 

“Some women may have a surge in the LH hormone without releasing an egg. This condition is known as luteinized unruptured follicle syndrome (LUFS).”

Your Ovulation Calculator

Learning when you ovulate means yo can predict when you’re likely to be fertile. More generally, using an ovulation calculator helps you become more familiar with your own body and your cycle’s length.

This can help you appreciate the wondrous complexity of your body, but also notice any changes that might need medical attention.

Written by Jane Flanagan — Updated on April 5, 2022.

We hope you found this post informative — but remember: we’re not doctors and this post is not medical advice! While all posts are fact-checked and well researched, we always recommend you chat with your doctor about any questions or concerns you might have regarding a medical condition. We’re here to support and educate, but never with the aim of disregarding professional medical advice you’ve been given. Phew, now that that’s out of the way, you can go on living unapologetically free.

However, it’s worth noting that implantation bleeding isn’t the only explanation. So if you notice spotting, don’t jump to the instant conclusion that you’re pregnant. While this may be a sign of the beginning of pregnancy, it could mean other things too...

What Is Implantation Bleeding?

Approximately every month, a woman’s uterine lining thickens to prepare for pregnancy. If impregnation does not occur, the uterus sheds that lining. This shedding is what we call a period or menses.

Most women have a period on a predictable cycle typically anywhere from every 21-35 days (for adults). The normal duration of a period is usually 5-7 days. Every woman’s cycle is different and some women experience irregular periods, heavier periods, and/or spotting between periods.

Let’s understand a little bit more about implantation bleeding.

The Uterus, Fallopian Tubes, and More...

During your reproductive years—basically from when your period (menarche) begins to when it ends (menopause)—you ovulate once per month. This event, on approximately day 13 to 15 of a 28-day menstrual cycle, is when your ovary releases an oocyte from a follicle. The oocyte then travels to the fallopian tube and awaits fertilization with sperm.

Once ovulation occurs, the oocyte can be fertilized by sperm. At this point, timing is of the essence. After ovulation, you have about 12-24 hours for fertilization to occur. However, it’s worth noting that sperm can live inside a female body for up to 5 days so the window for intercourse to result in pregnancy is longer than just a couple of days. 

If the egg is not fertilized during that time, it disintegrates (breaks down) and menstruation (your period) begins 11-16 days later.

But if the egg is fertilized, it travels through the fallopian tube toward the womb, or uterus, where it will implant in the uterine wall or endometrium. Doctors refer to the fertilized egg as an embryo after fertilization 

Implantation bleeding is thought to happen when the fertilized egg (embryo) attaches to the lining of the uterus (endometrium), sometimes causing little blood vessels to burst. 

The endometrium recovers easily from implantation, but some women experience light spotting or brown discharge as a result of the event in their early pregnancy.

It’s worth noting that many women who are pregnant do not experience implantation bleeding as one of the telltale early signs of pregnancy. So some spotting or bleeding is neither a guarantee you’re pregnant, nor one that pregnancy hasn't occurred.

Implantation Bleeding Versus Menstrual Bleeding

It’s easy for women to confuse implantation with a period. This can lead to further confusion about the date of conception. And it's possible that implantation bleeding is similar to a normal period. However, there are key differences that can be helpful when trying to distinguish between the two. Remember, after all, that women experience their period or menstrual cycle very differently from each other.

However, for the vast majority of women who experience implantation bleeding or spotting, there are some notable differences, which we’ll outline in the table below.

When Does Implantation Bleeding Happen?

According to the American Pregnancy Association, “About 6-12 days after conception (when the sperm joins with the egg), the embryo will implant itself into the wall of the uterus. This movement may break down some blood vessels within the uterus wall and cause some bleeding.”

This timing explains why so many women confuse implantation bleeding for an early period. Menstruation (your period) occurs around 11-14 days after ovulation. Implantation bleeding typically happens within the week before your period is expected.

Other Symptoms That Accompany Implantation Bleeding

Implantation can also be accompanied by other symptoms. Again, it is worth reiterating that implantation can go wholly unnoticed for many women. 

These symptoms might also be confused for usual premenstrual symptoms. Women, who are used to experiencing their monthly cycle and period with these symptoms, may not realize pregnancy has occurred.

According to the American Pregnancy Association, some of the symptoms that can accompany implantation bleeding include:

• Light or faint cramping (less than a normal period cramp)
• Mood swings
• Headaches
• Nausea
• Breast tenderness
• Lower backaches

Implantation Bleeding or Period: How to Tell…

Given the timing and list of accompanying symptoms, it’s evident it can be very difficult to tell the difference between implantation bleeding and your period. 

The absolute best way to tell if the bleeding is your period is to wait a few days and take a pregnancy test (or have one administered by your doctor). The timing of your last sexual encounter can also help. If it was more than two weeks ago, it’s unlikely you’re experiencing implantation bleeding.

According to the American Pregnancy Association, “Often, taking a pregnancy test before the missed period or during implantation bleeding is just too soon for tests to offer conclusive results. Ideally, waiting a week after the spotting or missed period is most desirable as the results should prove more accurate.”

However, even if the light bleeding is not implantation bleeding, that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s your period either. Intermenstrual bleeding may be caused by many things. And there are other reasons women could experience spotting. Let’s look at some of the other things that might cause spotting.

Brown Discharge, Light Bleeding or Spotting: There Can Be Other Causes…

As we said at the start of this article, implantation bleeding is just one explanation of spotting between periods. Spotting does not mean pregnancy, necessarily.

The truth is there are many possible explanations of light bleeding or spotting between periods. Some of these, you’ll be able to rule out on your own (e.g. if you’re not on medication). But others will require a doctor’s visit to test for and rule out. 

This list is not exhaustive, but these are the most common causes of light bleeding or spotting between periods.

Other Menstrual Cycle Related Causes

• Light or Irregular Periods: If your menstrual period is light or irregular, you may experience light bleeding, like spotting, or irregular bleeding, i.e. bleeding in between periods. This can be due to hormonal changes or many other causes.
• Ovulation: When an ovary releases an egg, a tiny follicle ruptures and allows the egg to be released. This can also be a cause of light bleeding or spotting for a day or so.

Birth Control & Hormonal Contraceptives

• Hormonal Contraceptives & Birth Control Pills: According to Medical News Today, light bleeding between periods can occur in the first 3-6 months of taking a new birth control pill. Doctors sometimes refer to this as breakthrough bleeding. It is not necessarily normal, but it is common and should resolve with continued use and avoidance of missed pills.
• Morning-After Pill: According to the Mayo Clinic, the morning-after pill can cause bleeding between periods or heavier uterine bleeding.
• Intrauterine Device (IUD): Some women with an IUD for birth control may also experience irregular uterine bleeding, spotting, or breakthrough bleeding.

External Causes

• Trauma or Medical Examination: If you’ve experienced any vaginal trauma (rough sex, speculum exam during a doctor visit, etc), you may also experience brief vaginal bleeding or spotting.
• Certain Medications: Certain medications may cause abnormal vaginal bleeding or spotting. Your pharmacist should advise you of any side effects of medication.
• Stress: Increased stress may trigger many reactions. Stress may cause all kinds of changes in your body, including irregularities in your menstrual cycle. Some women may experience vaginal spotting due to high levels of stress.

Common Infections

The following infections may cause irregular bleeding or spotting between periods. It’s worth noting that most infections are treatable. However, infections can become more serious if symptoms are ignored.

• Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI), including chlamydia, gonorrhea, trichomoniasis 
• Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID), an infection of the upper female reproductive system.

Other Causes

• Uterine fibroids or Polyps: Symptoms of these benign tumors can include irregular or heavy periods and abnormal uterine bleeding.
• Endometriosis: According to the Mayo Clinic, women with endometriosis may experience occasional heavy menstrual periods or irregular bleeding (intermenstrual bleeding).
• Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS): PCOS is a syndrome that includes abnormal uterine bleeding/irregular menstrual cycles, elevated androgen levels, and/or signs of elevated androgen levels and leads to unpredictable and infrequent ovulation.
• Blood Clotting Disorders, like von Willebrand disease.
• Other health conditions, like hypothyroidism, liver disease, or chronic kidney disease.
• Cancer: Cancer or pre-cancer of the cervix, uterus, or (very rarely) fallopian tube can cause spotting or abnormal bleeding.

Perimenopause & Menopause

• Perimenopause: The time before menopause is known as perimenopause. During perimenopause, hormone levels fluctuate greatly. These hormonal changes can have an effect on ovulation and your entire menstrual cycle. Some women notice irregular or skipped periods and abnormal spotting during perimenopause.
• Vaginal dryness, due to lack of estrogen after menopause, can cause vaginal bleeding.
• Cancer: According to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, spotting in postmenopausal women can, in some cases, be an early sign of cancer and should always be investigated further.

When to Seek Medical Advice

Many of us can be reluctant to consult medical professionals about menstrual or intermenstrual concerns, including spotting. However, if you’re experiencing unusual spotting or stress and anxiety due to uncertainty, it’s always worth talking to your healthcare provider.

If there’s nothing to worry about, they’ll be able to set your mind at ease. However, there are times when spotting or bleeding between periods could be a cause for concern. And if that’s the case, the sooner you see a doctor, the better.

If spotting is accompanied by any of the following symptoms, it always warrants getting some medical advice.

• Heavy periods with a lot of clotting
• Irregular periods
• Abdominal pain or cramping
• Pain or a burning sensation when peeing
• Unusual vaginal discharge and/or redness and itchiness

Even if you don’t have any of the above symptoms, don’t ever ignore spotting, abnormal vaginal bleeding, or abnormal uterine bleeding in the following situations:

• If you think you’re pregnant: You should always see a doctor as soon as you think you may be pregnant to be administered a pregnancy test.
• When it happens often: If spotting seems to happen frequently and randomly, you should definitely look into it.
• If it begins after unprotected sex: Unprotected sex can put you at risk for STIs and other infections, so if you notice spotting after unprotected sex, it’s wise to visit a doctor.
• You are on medication: If spotting can be a side-effect of any medication you are on, you should seek out professional help.
• Spotting occurs post-menopause: It is never considered normal for anybody post-menopause to experience spotting or vaginal bleeding.

What to Expect at Your Doctor’s Visit

If you suspect you might be pregnant, you should visit your doctor as soon as possible to be administered a pregnancy test. If you receive a positive pregnancy test (especially if it is a blood test taken at the doctor's, versus a take-home test kit from the drug store) then you are most certainly pregnant. 

But, if spotting between periods is not explained by implantation or pregnancy, your doctor will want to know the following:

• How long has it been happening:
• Is it something you’ve always experienced or did it start recently?
• How often does it happen: 
• Does it follow a specific pattern? Monthly, multiple times per month, every couple of months? 
• Are there triggers to the bleeding? 
• Does it always happen after sex or exercise etc.?
• How long does it last:
• 1-2 days or more?
• How heavy was the bleeding:
• If you used menstrual products, which ones did you use and how many?
• Any bleeding through the product onto your clothes or underwear?
• Was there anything unusual about the blood: 
• Color, texture, or odor?
• Did you also experience pain while you were bleeding?
• Was there anything you did that seemed to make the spotting worse or better?

The doctor may also examine you. The tests ordered will depend upon your age, the information you provide them about the bleeding, and other factors. They’ll also likely order bloodwork to check your blood count and see if you’re anemic.

Other diagnostic tests may include:

• Endometrial biopsy: An endometrial biopsy is used to screen for abnormal cells in the uterus. Learn more from Johns Hopkins Medicine.
• Hysteroscopy: A hysteroscopy allows your doctor to visualize inside your uterus through a camera in order to diagnose and treat some causes of abnormal bleeding. Learn more from The Cleveland Clinic.
• Pelvic Ultrasound: A pelvic ultrasound allows quick radiographic visualization of the female pelvic organs and structures including the uterus, cervix, vagina, fallopian tubes, and ovaries. Learn more from Johns Hopkins Medicine.

Track Your Cycle in a Journal or App

It’s a really good idea to start tracking your cycle and any other non-period bleeding in a journal or app. This can help you understand the rhythms of your own body and track the likelihood of pregnancy. Remember, everybody has their own cycle and flow and it may be affected by many factors, both internal and external.

When you’re tracking, pay attention to spotting, but also other symptoms, including:

• Vaginal discharge
• Cramps or abdominal pain
• Breast tenderness 

You can even make notes about sudden increases in libido or mood changes. Remember that spotting may be a symptom of many different causes.

If spotting continues, seek medical advice. Have the information you've tracked in your diary medically reviewed by your doctor. This will help you speak to your doctor with more certainty and provide them with valuable information to help with a diagnosis.

For women trying to get pregnant, tracking their cycle in an app or journal will also help track ovulation and understand the "fertile window". Your most fertile days ("the fertile window") are the 5 days leading up to and including ovulation. Having sex during the fertile window gives you the best chance of pregnancy.

In Conclusion

If you’re spotting before or in place of your period, implantation bleeding is one possible explanation, and therefore may be one of your early pregnancy symptoms. However, people can experience spotting for many reasons. Spotting or bleeding may be caused by implantation. But it’s also possible there’s another explanation.

While implantation can cause spotting, there’s a long list of other reasons women may experience spotting. It’s also possible to confuse implantation bleeding or spotting with a period.

The best course of action is to wait a few days and take a pregnancy test or see your doctor. If spotting is ever accompanied by pain, nausea, cramping or if the bleeding becomes heavy, it’s advised to seek medical advice immediately.

Medically reviewed by Dr. Chimsom T. Oleka, M.D. Written by Jane Flanagan — Updated on March 5, 2023.

We hope you found this post informative — but remember: we’re not doctors and this post is not medical advice! While all posts are fact-checked and well researched, we always recommend you chat with your doctor about any questions or concerns you might have regarding a medical condition. We’re here to support and educate, but never with the aim of disregarding professional medical advice you’ve been given. Phew, now that that’s out of the way, you can go on living unapologetically free.