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When does ovulation actually happen?

5 replies

Fivemoreminutesmummy · 06/10/2013 17:44

I have an ovulation pain then a couple of days later I get the changes in cervical mucus. Does anyone know when ovulation actually happens as DH is working away and could come home for 1 night in the week but not 3-4 nights!
Thanks for any help.

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IComeFromALandDownUnder · 06/10/2013 21:19

You should buy the cheapy ovulation sticks to give you a better idea. Best of luck!

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blamber · 07/10/2013 11:14

Pains happen at different times for people... for some it's before, others during and some after ovulation. I would suggest ovulation sticks as well, because that way at least you'll know that after the LH surge you should ovulate within 24-36 hours. In my case, I get the pains when I'm having the LH surge, and about a day-and-a-half before ovulation.

Sperm should survive for a couple of days at least, so you can have sex a couple of days before ov and it should be fine. But sperm performs better when you have the egg white cervical mucus, so it's best to have sex while you have this cervical mucus.

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Writerwannabe83 · 07/10/2013 11:38

As a guide they say it happens 14 days before your period is due - but the only way to know for definite is by regularly checking your basal body temperature.

When I was TTC I estimated when I thought I was ovulating (I wasn't completely sure about my cycles as I'd just had a Mirena removed) but I did indeed get EWCM the day before my predicted ovulation date. However, the scans I have had indicate that conception occurred 3-4 days before I thought I ovulated. I know scan dates should be taken with a pinch of salt though - to some degree anyway.

Once ovulation has occurred the egg lives for 12-24 hours (I think, happy to be corrected) so only a very small window. As has been said though, sperm can live for up to 5 days so regular sex prior to expected ovulation is your best bet.

Based on my scans I think I conceived from sex that we had 2 days before ovulation occurred.

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AttilaTheMeerkat · 07/10/2013 12:50

Ovulation does not always happen 14 days before the start of the next period. It is also not an exact science, it can occur earlier, later or not at all in any given cycle.

Temp charting is also not infallible either as you can get a temp rise in the second half of the cycle when an egg has not been shed.

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Fivemoreminutesmummy · 08/10/2013 16:47

Thank you everyone! Something to think about- I'll def get the ovulation sticks and maybe try charting temps too.