Today, I am pleased to share a guest post provided by OvulationCalculator.com. I know that sometimes the most difficult part of our infertility journeys can be the actual act of ovulating. A lot of us need some sort of medication to help our bodies in that process. But if you do ovulate, with or without medication, and even if it’s late ovulation, these 12 signs might help you identify when your fertile window is open!

12 Signs of Ovulation You Might Miss

Do you know when you are ovulating? If you are like most women, the answer to that question is no. But this does not have to be the case for so many, especially when you are trying to conceive. Once you know the signs and symptoms of ovulation, it becomes easy to track. And if you experience some of the symptoms, they may be hard to ignore once you know what you are looking for. Let’s first start with some of the lesser-known symptoms of ovulation. If you experience any of these, you may have noticed but probably did not realize they were linked to ovulation.

Breast Tenderness – Have you ever wondered why your breasts get tender and sore in the middle of your cycle? Once or twice, you probably mistook this for a pregnancy symptom, but it is actually a symptom of ovulation.

Light Spotting – Women often mistake light spotting during ovulation for implantation bleeding. It is definitely an understandable mistake, but the difference will be clear if you pay attention to the other signs and symptoms and know exactly when you ovulate.

Abdominal Cramping – This phenomenon is called Mittleshmerz, aptly named after the German words for “middle” and “pain.” This mid-cycle cramping could easily be mistaken for another period, especially if it comes with light spotting, but it is clearly a sign of ovulation if you do not get a full period. Some women experience heavy cramping while others barely notice it at all. It varies greatly from woman to woman.

Abdominal Bloating – As if bloating during your menstrual period were not enough. Now you bloat during ovulation too? Well, maybe you do not have to worry about this one. Not every woman experiences this sign of ovulation.

Heightened Senses – Back in the old days, we may have needed sharper vision and crisper hearing to snag a mate. These days, we have online dating sites. Still, many women experience heightened senses during their most fertile time of the cycle.

Increased Sex Drive – If women did not want to have sex during ovulation, it may signal a problem for the future of our species. Fortunately, this is another symptom of ovulation.

Nausea and/or Headaches – Unfortunately for some women with hormone sensitivity, nausea and headaches can creep up during ovulation.

Saliva Ferning – This way of tracking ovulation is ultra classy. Simply spit on a petri dish and look at your saliva under the microscope. If you are fertile, you will notice ferning (a snowlfake-like pattern). You may need to check your saliva a few times within the cycle to be able to see the difference in patterns. Most microscopes will do, but some of the toy versions may not have a high enough magnification to work.

Positive OPK – Ovulation Predictor Kits (OPKs) work by testing the levels of Luteinizing Hormone in your urine. When you get a positive result, you can expect to ovulate within a day or two. This is a good way to know whether you are ovulating, but it can get pricey if you are trying for a few months.

BBT Charting – Call it old fashioned, but this method of tracking ovulation just works. Be prepared to chart for a few cycles before you can put your finger on the pattern, but once you do, you will know exactly when you are most fertile. Start by keeping a thermometer and notepad on your night stand. Beginning on the first day of your cycle, take your temperature first thing in the morning while you are still in bed. Be careful not to sit up or make many movements. Just before you ovulate, you may notice a small dip in temperature. After ovulation occurs, you will notice a spike. This will remain elevated until the end of your cycle.

Cervical Changes – This ovulation sign is rather remarkable. Your cervix actually moves in your body to help make things easier for the sperm. It is normally hard (like the tip of your nose), lower in your vagina, closed and dry. When you are in your most fertile period, It is soft, higher, open and wet with cervical mucus. In order to feel the difference between fertile and infertile, you should check at various times in your cycle.

Cervical Mucus – Just like the cervix changes, so does your mucus. When you are fertile, the cervix secretes a mucus that is very sperm-friendly to help them along their journey. At your most fertile, the mucus will resemble raw egg white. When you are not fertile, it will be dry.

Once you know these signs and can identify them, you can get the timing right and get pregnant sooner.

Author Bio: Phil Druce founded Ovulation Calculator in 2014 with the goal of providing easy to understand, science backed knowledge and tools to couples trying to conceive. He was inspired to do this after his own fertility battle.