Many women are able to identify a general pattern in their cycle however it is not uncommon for them to completely understand the the process of ovulation. In fact it has been estimated that over 90% of women are aware of what ovulation is but are unable to relate this information to the effect that it has on fertility.
Ovulation takes place once a month and will happen around twelve to sixteen days before your next period. When a mature egg is released at this stage in your cycle this is what is referred to as ovulation. There is a relatively small time frame of between two to five days where a women can become pregnant and this is around the ovulation cycle. Despite popular belief women can not get pregnant at any other time.
Women can often tell when they are ovulating, reported symptoms include a tender lower abdomen, increased vaginal discharge and a rise in body temperature.
Hormones are released into different parts of the body at the start of ovulation. The brain also contains hormones which then help aid the growth and development of a women's eggs. A female has two sex hormones, these are called oestrogen and the other is progesterone. These hormones then stimulate the release of eggs into the body.
Three main parts of the body help ovulation, these include the hypothalamus which is located in the brain, the pituitary gland which is also found in the brain (specifically at the base of the brain near the spine) and lastly in the ovaries which are located at each side of the uterus.
There are three phases which must happen in each cycle in order for ovulation to occur and the pattern must be the same each month to allow it to take place. Phase one is called the Follicular phase; this is when the eggs begin to mature on the first day of ovulation. Phase two is the Ovulatory phase; the egg is released from the ovary into the fallopian tubes and will be viable for around twelve to twenty fours hours. The final phase is the Luteal phase, in order for the body to get itself ready for pregnancy the egg follicle that has been left behind will turn into what's referred to as 'corpus leutum' and both oestrogen and progesterone are released aiding the bodies preparation.
In order to aid regular ovulation there are many things you can do to help, these include eating properly. It is important to eat regularly and avoid any diets, eating sporadically or missing meals can have a detrimental effect on keeping your ovulation cycle in a pattern. You should also keep a healthy weight, being over or underweight may not allow your to ovulate efficiently. Mild exercise is good and beneficial to both the body and ovulation however do not over do it, this is not good for you as it can disrupt your hormones. A good night sleep to avoid fatigue is also great for regulating ovulation, a lack of sleep and/or stress should also be by passed.