How do we know we have ovulated?!

[squigglepink]

Is it possible to know when ovulation is well and truly over? I understand we can ovulate anything from 8 to 48 hours after a +OPK which i totally understand.(or not at all even with a positive) But how do we know when ovulation is over? I usually have EWCM the day after a +OPK and then i go completely dry till AF - and i assumed my ovulation would be over based on going from EWCM to completely dry..

[BunnyGirl19]

Charting your BBT. A sustained temp rise confirms ovulation.

[atomic sagebrush]

Many of us can tell within a couple days that it's over with and yes EWCM is one of the cues, but it can take a couple days to dry up.

I find that I lose interest in romance and sometimes have PMS within 2-3 days after O. For me those are the most reliable signs. But there is a time period of a few days where I am not always sure if I have or not.

[maidentomother]

Only by temps, an ultrasound, or bloodwork. Changes in CM are NOT reliable as often CM turns creamy a day or more BEFORE O. It's also not unheard of to have EWCM for a couple days AFTER O. Btw, O can happen 3+ days after your first positive OPK or even not at all.

For me personally, I've been charting for so long and had so many ultrasound monitored cycles I can usually pinpoint O within 6-12 hours based on CM, CP, temps, OPK and O pain. But the key word there is usually. I have plenty of cycles in which I'm not even sure of O day let alone a more precise time frame. And I can be wrong sometimes, despite all my signs aligning.

So I always recommend that pink swayers start adding another attempt 4 days after their first one at positive OPK if they don't conceive in the first few cycles. And if doing E4D or E3D, it is best to BD throughout the entire cycle, NOT just stopping after assumed O. I see many women who fail to conceive, both on here and on FF, bc they stop BDing too soon.

[atomic sagebrush]

Charting your BBT. A sustained temp rise confirms ovulation.

Temps have to be up for 3 full days to confirm O, just wanted to mention that. :)

[maidentomother]

And post O temps should be at least .4 F higher overall than pre O temps, though some ladies do have more subtle shifts. Some have 'slow rises' as well, which can really complicate matters.

[squigglepink]

:think:

I usually get really hot after (what i think is ovulation). Is this even possible? Ive noticed it for two cycles now. First time (the day after +OPK) i had my first bit of EWCM for that cycle at roughly 3pm. By 5pm i was opening windows and taking my long tops off i was boiling. Second cycle, (just past), i had the EWCM at roughly 10am, and that evening i was so hot in bed i had to take the duvet off me - it woke me up i was so hot. Does this sound familiar? I know its NOT the same as charting every morning temps.. just something ive noticed the past two cycles and which i have down in my diary.

[maidentomother]

Yes that's possible. I always feel hotter after O and sometimes I notice a big change but more often it's gradual. But I also usually O after midnight so my temp rises while I'm asleep most times. For me personally, it takes about 6 hours for my temp to respond to O and rise appropriately.

The only thing I question is having your first bit of EWCM so closely followed by a temp rise, as in your 1st cycle. My first fertile CM usually appears days before O. Also having only a few hours of EWCM regularly sounds unusual to me, though maybe you have more for longer up at your cervix. Your 2nd cycle timeline sounds reasonable though.

You can FEEL hot but not actually be warmer, btw. It isn't always accurate . And you can have temporary hormonal hot flashes unrelated to the post O temp shift.

[squigglepink]

Hi Maiden

When i say first bit of EWCM what i actually mean is, when it turns from CM to EWCM few days later. I always have CM - either creamy or transparent a couple days prior to a once off day of EWCM. Im never just always EWCM and i never have loads but do believe enough! :)

[maidentomother]

I understood that. I think it's unusual to have your most fertile CM only on O day. It makes me wonder if you O a 2-3 days after your first positive OPK. Not that it's impossible, just not common. If you have a karger amount if watery CM a couple days before O that sounds more probable.

[squigglepink]

Hi maiden

The only day i feel 'wet/moist' is the day i get the EWCM.. which is usually after a positive OPK. The days leading up to that i wouldnt know i had any CM unless i wipe. Which i do obviously and that is usually transparent / creamy. (also not stretchy at all)

Im making notes each month in the diary so ill soon understand my cycles a bit better. My cycles have been 26/27 days long for the past 10 months

[maidentomother]

Wow! That is strange to me. I was like that on Clomid and it was so weird. But I'd guess that would help with swaying pink.

[atomic sagebrush]

:agree: just to reiterate, squiggle I think you're putting way too much stock into symptoms.

Feeling hot can happen for a lot of reasons. High progesterone is one. It may be a whole different reason though so I hate to see anyone overanalzying symptoms.

[atomic sagebrush]

Please do not sit around charting your symptoms in a diary. They can and do change at any time and I feel based on watching 1,234,567 people sway, that the people who focus on things that are happening (sway related) constandtly for months on end are really strongly undermining their sways for no benefit since your body just loves to change it up on you at the last minute.

[squigglepink]

Ok. Im not charting every morning as such. Just paying attention.But i do get where you are coming from, thank you x

[atomic sagebrush]

Even paying attention (more than just in passing) is a problem. Not only does it not help (because your body can and will change it up at any time usually right at the worst possible moment LOL) but just because it's there in your mind all the time. That's all I'm trying to impart here.

[squigglepink]

You do know im a boy mom rite?!! :bigsmile: how do i stop?! x

[atomic sagebrush]

It's not something you can force yourself to stop really (replacing one set of worries with another is not going to help) but just don't activey seek out things that are detail oriented and control-freak-y. :)