Ovulation is when one of your eggs is released and travels down the fallopian tube where it is typically fertilized. During this process your body temperature raises to create a more fertile environment for the egg because of the increased levels of the hormone progesterone.

Basal Body Temperature

Charting each day's basal body temperature will help you to pinpoint the day most likely that you ovulate as well as helping you to predict future patterns for ovulation. This will assist you in knowing what 2-3 day period preceding ovulation that you should begin trying to conceive or have intercourse. The sperm can already lie in the fallopian tubes, in readiness for when an egg is released, further increasing your chances of conception.

It is best to start charting your basal body temperature on the first day of your menstrual period. If you start in the middle of your cycle, the results may not be reliable and can be confusing. Using a notebook or calendar, start recording your BBT Temperature. For each day, write down your temperature and the time that it was taken.

You will experience two different temperatures during your cycle, three if conception has occurred. 96.5 to 97.5 degrees is considered normal during the first two weeks of your menstrual cycle, prior to ovulation and 97.6 to 98.6 degrees after ovulation due to hormonal changes.

By charting the differences you can determine when ovulation has taken place. What you are looking for is a temperature shift of at least 0.4 degrees higher than all temperatures the previous six days over a 48-hour period. After doing a few charts, you should notice a very distinct and predictable pattern of ovulation.

Cervical Mucus

Cervical mucus is produced by tiny glands in the cervix. It's a jelly like substance, resembling egg white. Due to changing oestrogen hormone levels throughout your cycle, the volume and texture of your cervical mucus undergoes several recognizable changes. By recognizing these, ovulation can be accurately predicted.

Cervical mucus is necessary for conception due to its ability to help keep sperm alive for up to 5 days. As you approach ovulation, cervical mucus becomes much more abundant. There will be a moistness or stickiness to the mucus. The colour will range from white to cream-coloured. The overall vaginal sensation is wet.

The quantity of mucus will increase greatly as you enter your most fertile stage. The mucus will have the appearance of raw egg white. The texture will become increasingly slippery and stretchy. The overall sensation is extremely wet.

By using an ovulation calculator you will be able to predict when you ovulate thereby improving your chances of ovulation.

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