What is ovulation?

"What is ovulation and how to determine it?" This question is relevant for those women who are planning to conceive or, on the contrary, prefer to abstain from pregnancy for now. The fact of pregnancy or, more precisely, conception is the fusion of a sperm with a mature female egg. The egg undergoes a process of preparation - maturation in the ovaries, and then leaves them. The period of release of an egg ready for fertilization is called ovulation. The word has a Latin root meaning egg (ovum).

In order to find out what ovulation is, you should follow the entire process from beginning to end. The ovaries contain a specific round formation - a follicle. It is in it that the egg is located, going through a development cycle. The follicle containing the cell matures and develops along with it for about two weeks. As it develops, the vesicle constantly produces female hormones - estrogens. Estrogens, in turn, affect the mucous membrane of the uterus, as if preparing it for possible conception. After two weeks, when the cell is ready, the vesicle bursts, releasing the mature egg. The fallopian tube has thin protein outgrowths - fimbriae, which capture the mature cell and move it along with the fluid leaking from the burst follicles into the peritoneal cavity. Eggs from the abdominal cavity quite quickly enter the uterine, fallopian tube, which is also called the oviduct. It is in the lumen of the fallopian tube that the decisive "meeting" of a mature cell and a spermatozoon can occur. Each cyclic period is characterized by the maturation of many follicular vesicles (up to several thousand), but only one of many thousands "ovulates". It turns out that only one - a single egg - can be fertilized. An exception is the development of two mature follicles, so there is a chance to give birth to twins (fraternal). While a mature cell is looking for a meeting with the most active of many millions of its fellow spermatozoons, the follicular vesicle also transforms into a corpus luteum. The follicle contains lutein cells, which have a characteristic yellowish tint, they also begin to quickly multiply and secrete progesterone. The process of formation of the corpus luteum also lasts about two weeks, which is the second phase of the menstrual period. Now you know what ovulation is, but how to recognize it, read below.

What are the subjective sensations of ovulation?

• Characteristic painful sensations, pulling, tingling, usually in the lower abdomen;
• Increased sexual arousal;
• Some changes in vaginal discharge - more abundant (estrogen is in effect);
• There may be slight bloating and swelling of the labia;
• Slight swelling of the whole body;
• Unusual sensitivity of the skin, especially in the chest area;
• Slight enlargement of the mammary glands, possibly painful.

How to determine ovulation?

Ovulation is determined using special test strips that show the level of lutein. Luteinizing hormone (LH) is very actively secreted during ovulation, and its level is significantly increased. LH is also present in urine, with the help of which the test can show how high the hormone content is in it.

Classically, the ovulation period occurs between the 12th and 15th day of a standard 28-day cycle. If the menstrual period is shorter, for example, 21 days, then ovulation can occur on the seventh day from the beginning of the cycle.

The fact of conception interrupts ovulation. If conception does not occur, the mature cell dies in the oviduct and is excreted during menstrual bleeding. Then the cycle repeats.

Many women know what ovulation is, this information helps to plan pregnancy more carefully and consciously or to prevent it in a timely manner, and thus avoid abortion.