Ovulation. What Doctors Say

Ovulation. What doctors say

Ovulation (Latin ovum - egg) is the release of a mature egg capable of fertilization from the ovarian follicle into the abdominal cavity. This is an important stage of the menstrual cycle in women of childbearing age, which occurs periodically every 21-35 days.

The frequency of ovulation is regulated by the body's hormonal system - gonadotropic hormones of the pituitary gland and follicular hormone of the ovaries. For ovulation to occur, the accumulation of follicular fluid in the ovary and the thinning of the tissue above the protruding pole of the follicle are important.

Each woman has her own individual ovulation rhythm, which can change during pregnancy, after childbirth, abortion, and also closer to menopause.

Determining the timing of ovulation is necessary for planning pregnancy - this increases the chances of fertilization through sexual intercourse, artificial insemination or in vitro fertilization.

Signs of ovulation may include pain in the lower abdomen, heavy vaginal discharge, and a jump in basal temperature.

Lack of ovulation (anovulation) is the cause of infertility and requires contacting a gynecologist.

To determine ovulation, methods such as the calendar method, measuring basal temperature, ovulation tests, and ultrasound of the ovaries are used. The most reliable results are provided by ovulation tests and ultrasound.