Ovulation

Ovulation is when an egg is released from one of the ovaries and travels into the fallopian tube. It happens roughly once per menstrual cycle — usually around the middle — and it's the point in the cycle when pregnancy can happen. If sperm are present in the fallopian tube when the egg arrives, fertilisation is possible.

• Ovulation is the release of an egg from the ovary. It happens once per cycle.
• It usually occurs around day 14 of a 28-day cycle, but the timing varies a lot.
• The egg survives for about 12-24 hours after release. Sperm can survive for up to 5 days.
• This creates a fertile window of roughly 6 days per cycle when pregnancy is possible.
• Hormonal contraception works mainly by preventing ovulation — no egg released means no pregnancy.

[DIAGRAM: Diagram of the ovulation process showing egg maturing in follicle, release from ovary, and travel down fallopian tube]

How it works

Throughout the first half of the menstrual cycle, hormones from the brain (FSH) stimulate the ovaries to mature a group of eggs inside fluid-filled sacs called follicles. Usually one follicle becomes dominant. Around mid-cycle, a surge of another hormone (LH) triggers that follicle to burst open, releasing the mature egg. This is ovulation.

The egg is caught by the finger-like ends of the fallopian tube (fimbriae) and drawn inside. It then travels slowly down the tube towards the uterus over the next few days. If sperm are waiting in the tube — from sex in the days before or on the day of ovulation — one may fertilise the egg. If not, the egg breaks down and is reabsorbed by the body.

Signs of ovulation

Some people notice physical signs around ovulation:

• Cervical mucus changes — discharge becomes clear, wet, and stretchy, a bit like raw egg white. This is the body making it easier for sperm to travel. It's one of the most reliable signs.
• Mittelschmerz — a mild ache or twinge on one side of the lower belly. Not everyone feels this, but some do.
• Slight temperature rise — body temperature increases by about 0.2°C after ovulation. You'd need a basal body thermometer to detect this — you won't feel it.
• Increased sex drive — some people notice they feel more sexually interested around ovulation. Makes biological sense.

None of these signs are reliable enough to use as contraception on their own — but they can help you understand your body.

Ovulation and pregnancy

Ovulation is the key to understanding when pregnancy can happen. The egg only lives for 12-24 hours, but sperm can survive inside the body for up to 5 days. So sex that happens up to 5 days before ovulation can still result in pregnancy if the sperm are still alive when the egg is released. This is the fertile window.

For someone with a perfectly regular 28-day cycle, ovulation happens around day 14, making the fertile window roughly days 9-14. But cycles aren't always regular, and ovulation can come earlier or later than expected — which is why calendar-based methods of contraception aren't very reliable, especially for young people whose cycles are still settling.

Ovulation and contraception

Most hormonal contraception works by stopping ovulation. The combined pill, the mini pill (in most cases), the implant, the injection, and the IUS all prevent or suppress ovulation as their primary mechanism. No egg released means no pregnancy. The copper IUD is the main exception — it doesn't stop ovulation but instead prevents fertilisation and implantation.

Things people get wrong

"You ovulate on day 14 of every cycle." Day 14 is an average based on a 28-day cycle. If your cycle is shorter or longer, ovulation shifts too. And even with a regular cycle, it can vary month to month.

"You can only get pregnant on the day you ovulate." The fertile window is about 6 days — because sperm survive up to 5 days. Sex days before ovulation can lead to pregnancy.

"If your periods are irregular, you don't ovulate." Not necessarily. Irregular periods can still involve ovulation — just at unpredictable times. Some conditions (like PCOS) can affect ovulation, but irregular periods alone don't mean you're not ovulating.

Things people ask about ovulation

Can I feel ovulation happening?

Some people do — a twinge or dull ache on one side (mittelschmerz). Many people don't feel anything at all. Both are normal.

Can you ovulate more than once per cycle?

Occasionally, two eggs can be released within 24 hours of each other in the same cycle. If both are fertilised, that's how non-identical twins happen. But you don't ovulate at two completely different times in one cycle.

How do ovulation tests work?

They detect the LH surge that happens 24-36 hours before ovulation. You pee on a strip, similar to a pregnancy test. They're useful for people trying to conceive, but they're not reliable as contraception because they only give you a day or so of warning.

Does the pill stop ovulation completely?

The combined pill reliably suppresses ovulation when taken correctly. The progestogen-only pill (mini pill) suppresses ovulation in most people but not all — it also works by thickening cervical mucus as a backup.

Ovulation is when an egg is released from one of the two small organs inside a girl's or woman's body where eggs are stored. It happens about once a month, usually roughly halfway through the monthly cycle.

Once the egg is released, it travels along a tube towards the womb. If sperm are there (from sex that happened recently), the egg and sperm can join together and a pregnancy can start.

The egg only survives for about 12-24 hours after being released. But sperm can live inside the body for up to 5 days. That means sex that happened several days before the egg was released can still lead to pregnancy.

Some people can feel a small twinge of pain on one side of their tummy when ovulation happens. Others don't feel anything. Both are normal. The fluid that comes out between the legs also changes around this time — it becomes clearer and more stretchy.

Most types of hormonal birth control work by stopping ovulation. If no egg is released, pregnancy can't happen.

The exact day ovulation happens isn't the same every month. Stress, illness, and other things can shift the timing. That's why trying to guess "safe" days isn't a reliable way to avoid pregnancy.