Ovulation
The typical time that a woman begins to think about her ovulation is when she is planning to become pregnant. Ovulation is a very important process in order for conception to take place. If a woman doesn’t ovulate they will not be able to become pregnant, even if they have sex every day. So, what is ovulation? Why is it important? Actually, it is a process which facilitates the exit of matured eggs from the ovary. It lasts for several seconds. As soon as the egg cell leaves the follicle, the ovulation process is complete.
The body of a woman has millions of egg cells in her body at the time of her birth. They are placed in ovaries. Each of them is in its follicle and it is waiting to travel outside of the ovary. Most of the egg cells stay immature or they cannot become impregnated. Lots of them are in follicles in the embryo and within a given amount of time they die. By the time a woman reaches puberty, (the 1st menses), she has between 300-400 thousands eggs in her ovaries. Over the whole reproductive period, 400-500 mature egg cells can be ovulated.
Due to hormones of the 1st phase, several egg cells (from 10 to 15) start maturing and are being increased with follicles at the same time. In general it happens once in a month. In 10 days, there is a dominant among one and a half dozens of awakened follicles. It is bigger than the others and its size is between 15-20 mm. When an egg cell reaches its peak of maturation, a follicle is broken, and the egg cell goes outside to the abdominal cavity. Then, it is caught up by the fringe of uterine tubes and it goes to the uterine cavity. The uterine tubes push it and within 24 hours, the egg cell is ready to be impregnated. The egg cell is dividing to form an embryo, moving toward the uterine cavity to be attached to its wall. Then a pregnancy starts. In case the embryo dies, or it can’t be attached to the womb, hormones of the 2nd lutein phase provoke rejection from the cavity of uterus and menses begin. Sometimes, ovulation of 2 of 3 egg cells (embryo conception) happens. A woman has multiple pregnancy and she gives birth to twins or triplets – fraternal twins.
Typical Signs of Ovulation
If you are planning a pregnancy, it is very important to know the moment of ovulation. There are some signals of ovulation. First of knowing your basal temperature is very useful. One may notice, each month, in the middle of a cycle, the temperature goes down by 0.2-0.3 degrees and the next day it is sharply increased by 0.4-0.6 degrees. Thus, when the basal temperature goes down, ovulation has begun. The sperm of a healthy man will keep viable up to 5 days. So, if a pair had sex several days before ovulation, there is a possibility spermatozoon is waiting for the egg cell to impregnate it. The most favorable period is the ovulation day and 12-15 hours after it. In spite of the fact the egg cell lives 24 hours, a spermatozoon needs enough time to pass the distance in order to meet the egg cell in uterine tubes.
Secondly, one can monitor ovulation by examining vaginal discharges. By the time an egg cell has matured, the discharges look like the white of the egg, slimy and heavy. The best and the exact method to determine the time of ovulation is follicle measuring or Ultrasound monitoring. The 1st investigation is made on the 10th day of a cycle. Then one needs to visit a doctor once in 2 days before menses; after this – once in 2 days before ovulation comes.
There are also subjective symptoms of ovulation – they are; short-time pains or underbelly pricking when the follicle is being broken. This period is also characterized by a strong sexual desire some women have. But it is not recommended to judge only by these symptoms as the reasons for the pains may be different. It is better to follow temperature schedule and Ultrasound monitoring, ovulation test.
Tests
Such tests are very useful to determine ovulation day. It is very easy to use them: paper strips of 5 items. Each strip is divided into 2 parts – a control strip with painted mark and a diagnostic one with a reagent. When you put a strip into a container with urine, it reacts to luteinizing hormone, as opposed to hCG (pregnancy test). A peak of this hormone emission happens 12-36 hours before ovulation. Women start this test, judging on their cycle duration. For example, if it is 28 days, they start doing test from the 11th day. It is desirable to do the test at regular hours and do not drink a lot before it. If a strip with reagent has the same color as a control one, a little bit darker, you have a positive result. If it is lighter, repeat the test the next day.
Ovulation Days (Cycle of Ovulation)
To determine these days, you should know the duration of your menstrual cycle. Each woman has different duration: between 21-35 days.
Each cycle may be conditionally divided into 2 phases: follicular (before ovulation) and lutein one – 12-16 days. The 2nd phase is more stable then the 1st one. The 1st phase may be lengthened or reduced due to the time of follicle maturation to result in heavy hormone process. That is why, pay attention to the 2nd phase. For example, 31 day cycle, the duration of the 2nd phase is 14-15 days. Thus, ovulation will probably come at 16th-17th days of menstrual cycle. If you have 28 days cycle – the nearest ovulation days are 13th-14th days of the cycle. In case you have 21 days, the ovulation may come, beginning with the 9th day.
If your cycle is regular, then ovulation comes on the same days. In the case of the cycle irregularity, you may need to add the appropriate number of days on the one side and the other side by yourself.
In case ovulation doesn’t come….
Many women think ovulation happens each month. In general, young and healthy body has 2-3 unovulatory periods per year. The older a woman, the more cycles without ovulations she has. By 35-40 years old, a woman may have only 5-7 ovulations per year. In case of ovulation absence at all, there is a probability of deviations due to infectious diseases, inflammatory processes, hormonal failure or stress. Seek the advice to gynecologist to detect the real reason. A doctor usually prescribes laboratory tests (hormones, infections and etcetera).
Also you may be directed to do follicle measuring in order to follow follicles development. This investigation also helps to evaluate a condition of womb and ovaries, control changes in endometrium. If a woman is more than 35 years old, a doctor should check her ovarian reserve. After the initial examination, the following investigation and treatment are prescribed. A stimulation method can also be useful.
Stimulation
This procedure is prescribed in case a woman has patulous Fallopian tubes. Otherwise, there is a high chance of extrauterine pregnancy. Stimulation is carried under medical supervision. Depending on the results, a doctor monitors the growth of follicles at Ultrasound diagnostics; as soon as needed dominant follicle size is detected, a doctor injects Pregnyl to provoke ovulation. Medicamental stimulation is a quite effective method of female sterility struggle.
Apart from medicamental stimulation, there is a folk remedy of herbage tincture intake at the 1st half of a cycle: Rhodiola algida and sage tincture. At the 2nd phase it is possible to intake a decoction of boron womb to simulate progesterone production. However, it is dangerous to drink it without medical supervision, as it may lead to hormonal disbalance and other health problems.
