Find Your Ovulation Day

You can most accurately pinpoint your Reference ovulation Opens New Window day by monitoring your cervical mucus, your Reference basal body temperature (BBT) Opens New Window, and your Reference luteinizing hormone Opens New Window (LH) changes with an ovulation test.

• During the 5 to 6 days before and on the day of ovulation, the Reference cervix Opens New Window produces a type of mucus that is stretchy, slippery, thin, and clear. This quickly changes on the day after ovulation.
• About 24 hours before you ovulate, your luteinizing hormone (LH) level rises. You can confirm that ovulation is approaching by testing your urine for high LH with a home ovulation predictor kit. Note that an LH surge can happen as close as 16 hours or as far as 48 hours before ovulation.
• Just before an egg is released (ovulation), your basal body temperature (BBT) decreases slightly; it then increases sharply 24 hours after ovulation. After 2 to 3 months of carefully measuring and recording your BBT every morning before getting out of bed, you may be able to identify a pattern that helps estimate when you are ovulating.

If you have unusually long or short menstrual cycles of less than 21 days or more than 42 days, monitoring your cervical mucus is your best bet for identifying your ovulation day. An ovarian monitor LH test won't work well for you.

© 1995-2011, Healthwise, Incorporated. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated.

This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Reference Terms of Use. Reference How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.