What are the symptoms a few days before ovulation?

After a woman's secondary characteristics begin to appear, her breasts will develop, her hips will widen, and her menstruation will begin. At this time, the development of the uterus is accompanied by ovulation, preparing for the birth of new life. Ovulation matches the menstrual cycle. There is a short ovulation period between the end of menstruation and the beginning of the next menstruation, during which the body will have certain reactions. Let’s find out.

What are the symptoms before ovulation?

1. Increased body temperature

A woman's basal body temperature during ovulation will be slightly higher by about 0.3℃, but it is basically difficult for her to detect unless she uses a thermometer.

2. Vigorous energy and increased sexual desire

Correspondingly, due to the natural instinct to conceive the next generation, women during ovulation will become energetic and have a particularly strong sexual desire.

3. Changes in leucorrhea

During ovulation, the amount of leucorrhea will increase and become clear and watery, with egg white-like mucus in strips. This period is when women are most likely to get pregnant.

4. Decreased appetite

Studies have shown that women's food intake during ovulation is the lowest in their menstrual cycle. This is most likely a manifestation of human natural instinct. Female animals during ovulation will focus more on finding the opposite sex for mating rather than finding food.

5. Minor physical discomfort

Due to the rupture of the follicle and hormonal changes, some women may experience mild physical discomfort, such as pain on one side of the lower abdomen or a small amount of vaginal bleeding, also known as ovulation bleeding. This is a normal phenomenon of ovulation and there is generally no need to worry if the situation is not too serious. In addition, some women may experience breast pain, which may even last until the next menstrual period.

How to calculate the ovulation period most accurately?

Women who want to successfully conceive, in addition to understanding the symptoms before ovulation, also need to know how to calculate the ovulation period in a timely manner. So how to calculate the ovulation period most accurately? The details are as follows:

1. Self-test with ovulation test strips

Ovulation test strips predict ovulation by detecting the peak level of luteinizing hormone (LH). Within 24 to 48 hours before a woman ovulates, the luteinizing hormone (LH) in her urine will reach a peak level, and the result of self-testing with an ovulation test strip will show a positive result.

The specific testing method is usually explained on the ovulation test paper packaging (you must strictly follow the instructions to minimize errors). Unlike early pregnancy test strips, morning urine cannot be used, and urine samples should be collected at the same time every day as much as possible. Water intake should be reduced 2 hours before collecting urine, because diluted urine samples will also hinder the detection of LH peak.

For those with regular menstrual cycles, you should measure for six consecutive days, starting from 14 days before your period (that is, the expected ovulation time), on the three days before and the three days after your period. If your menstrual cycle is irregular or abnormal, you should generally start measuring on the third day after your period ends. When the two lines on the test paper are the same depth or the second line is darker than the first, it means that ovulation will occur within 24 to 48 hours. For other test results, please refer to the diagram in the instruction manual.

It should be noted that this is a standard physiological phenomenon when ovulation occurs. Although the test strips are easy to use, their accuracy rate is only about 75% due to reasons such as the production process and the person testing themselves.

In addition, the test results are not simply "yes" or "no". Some people may have strong positive test results for several days in a row, which may mean ovulation (usually occurs after the last day of strong positive results), or no ovulation may occur at all.

2. Cervical mucus method

The cervical mucus is often dense in a small quantity, or even with no mucus at all after the menstruation is over, and it is called the "dry period", indicating a non-ovulation period. In the middle of the menstrual cycle, as endocrine secretions change, mucus increases and becomes thinner, and vaginal secretions increase, which is called the "wet period." As ovulation approaches, the mucus becomes clear, smooth and elastic, like egg white, with high stringiness and not easy to break. The last day of the appearance of this mucus ± 48 hours is the ovulation day. Therefore, when the vagina feels moist, it is the ovulation period, also known as the "fertile period." If you plan to conceive, you should choose the "wet period" before ovulation.

3. Leucorrhea observation method

During a menstrual cycle, leucorrhea does not remain constant. Most of the time, vaginal discharge is drier, thicker, and less in quantity. On the day between two menstrual periods, the leucorrhea is clear, bright, and plentiful, like egg white, or more like the clear nasal discharge during a cold. This day is the ovulation period. This is because a higher concentration of estrogen is produced during ovulation, which acts on the columnar epithelial cells at the cervical opening, causing them to secrete a large amount of leucorrhea.

4. Spot bleeding observation method

When the follicle is discharged from the ovary, it tears the ovarian wall and causes local bleeding. Usually, this little bit of blood is quickly absorbed into the abdominal cavity. However, there are also a few women who experience heavy bleeding, and the blood will flow through the fallopian tubes, uterus, and vagina to the outside of the body, leaving drops of blood on the underwear. Some women call it "small menstruation" and it is medically called "ovulation bleeding."