In case you are asking what is ovulation you should know that it is a part of the ovulatory cycle of women during which a follicle of the ovaries releases a mature egg. After this the egg travels through the fallopian tubes where it can be fertilized by sperm.
Information about the ovulation process
This process is controlled by the hypothalamus that is a part of the brain. This sends a signal to the pituitary gland to start producing hormones called luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone. This usually takes place between the 10th and 19th day of the menstrual cycle.
Phases of the process of ovulation
According to the hormone levels, ovulation can be divided into three distinct phases. The first of them is the peri-ovulatory phase. During this phase the layer of cells around the ovum start to modify and the uterus’ lining begins to thicken.
When asking what ovulation is, you should also think about the second phase, the ovulatory phase. During this phase enzymes that create a hole are secreted. This is used by the ovum to exit the follicle. This is known as the fertility window that lasts for 12-48 hours.
The last phase of women’s ovulation is the postovulatory phase. At this phase LH is produced. If the egg is fertilized, it will get implanted into the wall of the uterus, while the unfertilized egg will stop producing the hormones. In the same time the lining of the uterus starts to break down and it prepares to leave the body.
When does it all happen?
In case you are asking what is ovulation, most probably you are interested in when it all happens. Generally speaking, ovulation is supposed to occur two weeks before the following menstrual period. This means that if you have a menstrual cycle of 28 days, you will ovulate on the 14th day.
How can you detect the ovulation of women?
The good news is that there are many different kinds of indications that a woman is ovulating. For instance, the cervical mucus changes during ovulation, it is more abundant and it becomes thicker because of the higher estrogen levels. It is said that in this period the cervical mucus is something like egg white.
In the same time, when talking about what is ovulation, you should also consider that it could lead to a slight rise in your body temperature. Again, this is caused by progesterone. It is believed that women are the most fertile 2-3 days before their body temperature peaks.
There are some women who can actually sense the moment of ovulation because they experience slight pain or ache in their abdomen. This is called mittelschmerz (translated as middle pain). This kind of pain could last between a few minutes and a couple of hours.
Now you have the answer to the question what is ovulation and you know a lot more about it. Use this knowledge to increase your chances of getting pregnant or to avoid getting pregnant, according to your plans.
