When do you ovulate on a 28 day cycle

What is ovulation?

When one or more matured eggs are released from the ovary(ies), moves down the Fallopian tubes into the uterus and is available for fertilization by a sperm.

When does ovulation occur?

First, you have to figure out the length of your average menstrual cycle. Your menstrual cycle is the number of days in between your periods. The first day, which is referred to as day one, is the first day of your menstrual period. The last day is the day before the next period begins.

Ovulation occurs once every menstrual cycle, about 14 days before the next period. Being aware of your menstrual cycle will help determine when your ovulation takes place. Therefore, if you have an average cycle of 28 days, you would ovulate around day 14. If your cycle last an average of 34 days, you would ovulate around day 20. If you have a 21 day cycle, you would then ovulate around day 7.

How else can I tell if I am fertile?

Of course, working out your ovulation period using just your cycle dates can sometimes be inaccurate. During your menstrual cycle, hormones like estrogen and progesterone fluctuates. These fluctuations affects your body. Therefore, you can also track your ovulation by paying close attention to your body changes. This technique can also be used if you have irregular menstrual cycle (which is very common in many women). Charting these changes onto a calender would be most helpful as it will reveal a pattern that can assist in pregnancy or avoiding one.

• Changes in cervical mucus

Around the time of your ovulation, you may notice that your vagina mucus increases in amount. It becomes clear, stretchy and slippery, and can be said to have the consistency of egg white. This occurs because of the increasing estrogen levels in your body and occurs 3 days prior to ‘Peak’, when there would be a sudden change of vagina mucus consistency from slippery to non slippery. Peak is the last day when your vagina mucus is slippery. The ovulation period correlates to ‘Peak’ and up to 2 days past ‘Peak’.

• Changes in body temperature

Your basal body temperature (BBT) is best measured before you get out of bed, around the same time each day. Your BBT will rise about 0.5 degree Celsius from the baseline, after ovulation has taken place. Although the ovulation period would then have passed, charting your temperature will allow you to figure out your pattern of ovulation and guide you the following month.

• Ovulation or breast pain

Some women experience mild aches to bouts of pain over their right or left lower abdomen during ovulation. Others notice breast swelling or pain. However, these sensations may last anywhere from few minutes to a few days. Due to it’s inconsistency, it is not widely used as a tool to help women and their partners in family planning.

What is the fertile window?

Fertile window is the period in a woman’s menstrual cycle when she is able to get pregnant. Once a matured egg is released from the ovary, it has a lifespan of 24 hours before it disintegrates. A sperm however can survive for up to 5 days in the uterus or fallopian tubes. Therefore, the fertile window is about 5 days before ovulation up till 24 hours after ovulation. The chance of pregnancy increases when sexual intercourse is performed closer to the ovulation period.

References:

1. The Billings Ovulation Method
2. Natural family planning. American Family Physician
3. http://www.who.int/topics/family_planning/en/
4. http://www.babycentre.co.uk/ovulation
5. http://www.fertilityfriend.com/Faqs/The-Fertile-Window—Scientific-Literature-Review.html
6. https://www.globalfertilityacademy.org/static/resources-en/4/4-04.pdf