Ovulation

Ovulation is the moment in your menstrual cycle when a mature egg is released from one of your ovaries. It's a carefully orchestrated hormonal event: rising levels of estrogen signal the brain to release a surge of luteinizing hormone (LH), which triggers the follicle — the fluid-filled sac housing the egg — to rupture and release the egg into the fallopian tube.

In a typical 28-day cycle, ovulation happens around day 14, but this varies from person to person and can shift due to stress, illness, travel, or changes in weight. After the egg is released, it remains viable for fertilization for roughly 12 to 24 hours. Sperm, however, can survive in the reproductive tract for several days, which is why the fertile window extends a few days before ovulation as well.

Some women notice physical signs around ovulation — a slight rise in basal body temperature, changes in cervical mucus, or mild one-sided pelvic discomfort known as mittelschmerz. For women tracking their cycles for family planning or fertility awareness, recognizing these signs can be genuinely useful. When ovulation is irregular or absent, it can affect fertility and may point to conditions like PCOS or thyroid imbalance.

Ovulation is central to reproductive health in several ways. For women trying to conceive, understanding when ovulation occurs helps identify the most fertile days of the cycle. For women who are not ovulating regularly — a condition called anovulation — this can affect both fertility and hormonal balance, and may be linked to conditions like PCOS.

Ovulation also signals that the hormonal cycle is functioning as it should. Changes in ovulation patterns can be an early indicator of perimenopause, thyroid issues, or other health shifts worth discussing with a provider. Paying attention to your cycle is one of the simplest ways to stay attuned to your body's rhythms.