On what day after ovulation does conception occur? The first symptoms of conception, fertilization of the egg, pregnancy. Characteristic signs of egg fertilization in the first days after conception: in sensations, behavior, psychological aspect

Getting two coveted strips on the test is the goal of every couple who decide to become parents. But to achieve it, one desire and aspiration in the form of frequent intimacy, which is also important in this matter, is sometimes not enough. Theoretical knowledge of the "subtleties of conception" will direct the efforts of future parents in the right direction, and, we hope, the result will not be long in coming. So let's go!

Will ovulation or probability theory help in conceiving a child?

Ovulation is the most important phenomenon in the field of reproduction provided by Mother Nature, which provides an opportunity for the birth of a new life as such. Ovulation is the part of the menstrual cycle in which each month one egg is fully matured and released from the ovarian follicle for fertilization.

The maximum lifespan of a mature egg is 24 hours, so if it is not fertilized by a sperm cell during this time, it will die and, under the influence of the hormone progesterone, will come out with menstruation. That is why, for the “reliability” of conception, it is important to perform a full-fledged sexual intercourse with ejaculation during ovulation (during these 24 hours). At least it has been scientifically proven that the probability of conception on the day of ovulation is the highest and is 33%.

This fact does not mean at all that conception before ovulation is impossible. Yes, the probability of conception before ovulation is below the maximum value, but it increases every day until it occurs. For example, 5 days before the release of a mature egg, it is only 10%, 2 days before it - already 27%, on the day before it - 31%. So, there are quite high chances during this period as well. And this is explained, again, by the foresight of mother nature: the viability of a sperm in the female body, unlike an egg, can reach from 2 to 7 days. Therefore, the “hit” of spermatozoa may be effective even a few days before ovulation.

Is it possible to conceive after ovulation?

Conception of a child after ovulation is possible, but its probability is low. But still there are other, more optimistic opinions about its sufficiency the day after ovulation.

Conception on the day of ovulation is not yet a 100% guarantee of pregnancy

At the stage of planning a child, it is also very important to understand what conception itself is, and that the “direct hit” of spermatozoa in the female body during the period of ovulation cannot yet guarantee the result we are going to. Conception is a set of processes, in which fertilization is only the first of them, really impossible without ovulation.

So, pregnancy will occur after going through all the stages of conception:

1. Fertilization of an egg by a sperm. After their fusion, the formation of a complete set of genetic information necessary for the development of the child occurs. Then the fertilized egg develops by internal crushing and moves to the uterine cavity, where it will be implanted in a few days. That is why sexual intercourse is not yet the moment of conception.
2. Penetration and introduction of a fertilized egg into the uterine mucosa. Having turned into an embryo by division, a small vesicle of cells, about two weeks after fertilization, in the process of moving through the fallopian tube, it may die due to obstruction of the fallopian tubes against the background of STIs, adhesions, inflammation or attachment not in the uterine cavity - ectopic pregnancy. Also, the death of the fetus is possible if it cannot attach to the uterus. But let's not talk about the bad, our embryo has successfully attached itself, begins to develop, and its shell produces the hCG hormone. The process of conception is completed and the desired pregnancy begins.

Signs of conception after ovulation

Thus, the first "signals" of pregnancy may appear no earlier than 2-3 weeks after intercourse. These include:

These signs are very conditional and can be caused by other circumstances (stress, colds and inflammatory diseases, etc.), so it is better to determine pregnancy using a test, which is preferably done after a delay or 4-5 weeks after sexual intercourse, which could lead to conception.

And let two cherished stripes be visible on your test as soon as possible!

In the female body, everything is arranged so that at the time of ovulation, fertilization and the conception of a new life, as well as during the period of implantation and the first days of embryo development, there are no signals about what happened. A rare exception are sharp negative manifestations in the form of nausea or vomiting. For many women, the first sign of conception is an enlarged tummy and a prolonged absence of menstruation.

In order for the signs of conception after ovulation not to become a surprise, you need to know what they are and what they depend on. Do not forget, before reading the material, that each organism is individual and there are no 100% recipes, however, a general understanding of the issue will make it more likely to apply knowledge to your case and get a positive result.

Each new menstruation is a sign that the cycle of the childbearing process has restarted and a new egg is maturing. This is a tiny cell that matures under the strong shell of the follicle. The body of a woman, upon reaching puberty, carries about 500,000 eggs, theoretically capable of conception. In the process of life, they gradually mature and ovulate, others die. By the age of 60, only 10 - 30,000 of them remain, and the woman is no longer capable of childbearing.

With the onset of menstruation, the pituitary gland produces a hormone that stimulates the development of the egg. The growth period is 14 days. Having received a “signal” that the egg is ready, the pituitary gland changes the composition of the hormone and now it contributes to its release from the place of “imprisonment”. This moment is called ovulation. The egg released from the follicle ends up in the woman's abdominal cavity, but attracted by the hormone produced, it smoothly descends into the fallopian tube - the course of ovulation. Only after this fact can we confidently assume that the possibility of conception exists.

The path of the sperm during conception

Spermatozoa are produced by the male glands all the time. They enter the female body during intercourse with ejaculation (ejaculation inside). Caught at the back of the vagina, "future fathers" will make a long journey to the waiting egg in order to conceive.

The first obstacle will be to overcome the cervical canal. Already at this stage, natural selection will work, since most of the spermatozoa will not be able to overcome it. At the time of ejaculation, about 500,000 sperm are released, so the loss of the slowest "competitors" will be beneficial to everyone else. Only one of them will take part in conception, so they are in a hurry with all their might, since ovulation gave the egg life only for a day. For the formation of a zygote - the primary form of the embryo - two conditions must be met - ovulation of the egg and reaching it by the sperm.

Studies show that the average lifespan of a sperm cell in a woman's body is 48 hours. It follows from this that conception can occur if they enter the female body on the same day when ovulation occurs or within the next day after ovulation.

On the other hand, it was found that during the period when ovulation occurred, mucus is secreted into the vagina, which is a favorable environment for the survival of sperm for a longer time, in some cases up to 7 days. Considering the path that they take in a period of approximately 3 to 7 hours, conception is possible if sexual intercourse occurred in the period from 5 days before ovulation and 8 to 10 hours before the end of the activity of the egg.

Signs of conception after ovulation

Such signs appear quite rarely and most women are not perceived as signs of conception. Only those who are aware of the changes in the body that causes ovulation, conception and changes in hormonal ratios are able to feel these signs.

Most often, the first signs of conception are noticed by women who want to have a child, and all previous processes are aimed at this result. Otherwise, any signs are subconsciously rejected until they become too obvious to be neglected.

It is worth noting that some signs of a successful conception may resemble ovulation. It is precisely the fact that ovulation “showed itself” at the wrong time and draws attention to a possible conception.

The main signs of conception after ovulation before implantation

They appear as follows:

• An increase in basal temperature above the average monthly rate;
• An increase in general temperature by 0.5 - 1 degree, without accompanying symptoms;
• Increased fatigue, fatigue, weakness, with the same daily stress;
• Change in the tactile sensation of the skin. To the touch, they become drier or too greasy;
• Feeling of fullness or heaviness in the lower abdomen;
• Some are characterized by early toxicosis.

In the case when a woman keeps a cycle log and controls the basal temperature, changes in its amplitude will be immediately noticeable and ovulation is to blame. From a medical point of view, keeping such a journal is necessary for all women who plan to become a mother, even in middle age. In addition to determining cycle deviations and deducing the day when ovulation occurs, a full-fledged magazine will immediately draw attention to diseases, female colds and the like. It is known that earlier treatment is the key to less damage.

In the case when the log is not kept to reliably determine whether ovulation has occurred or not, only ultrasound can answer, but it will not show the exact time of ovulation and the moment may be missed.

The pituitary gland produces the hormone progesterone, which converts the burst follicle into a corpus luteum, which produces hormones to maintain a fertilized egg. Moreover, implantation depends on the level of progesterone - fixing the fetal egg on the wall of the uterus.

Interesting fact. After first ovulation, and then conception, the egg turns into a zygote, before the first cell division inside. Further, after division into blastomeres, it becomes a blastocyst. And finally, after implantation to the wall of the uterus, it becomes a fetal egg. Until the last moment, while on its way to the uterus, the blastocyst actively divides, increasing the number of cells inside the membrane, but remaining the same size externally. Successful implantation of the embryo to the wall of the uterus after ovulation and conception, as well as a long journey to the uterus, is the official start of pregnancy.

A sign of conception and implantation will be mild colds

This is due to the fact that conception is a manifestation of a foreign body in the female body and the immune system is temporarily muted so that it does not attack the embryo. As a result, viruses and bacteria that were previously neutralized by the immune system in time can develop in the body. This is also an indirect sign of conception and implantation.

Additional signs of conception after ovulation

These signs appear against the background of hormonal changes, which puts the body on a "military track". For some women, this goes almost unnoticed, only slight ailments, as well as pulling pains in the lower abdomen (signs of conception) make themselves felt. Others can react extremely sharply to conception, the signs of which most strongly affect the woman's well-being.

After exact ovulation, skin rashes, acne and pimples become signs of conception. This is also associated with hormonal changes, do not worry, everything will work out as soon as the body compensates for the new period of life.

Ovulation is the starting point of a whole cycle of transformations that will eventually lead to the birth of a new life. Conception, or rather the path of the zygote to the uterus and the moment of implantation, can respond with pulling pains below to live, reminiscent of menstrual, albeit weaker. These signs are noticeable to women who are expecting pregnancy and are more closely monitoring its signs after the fact of ovulation and intercourse with ejaculation.

After conception, strong symptoms appear only in 7% of women. It was they who brought horror stories about severe intoxication, severe nausea and vomiting to any food into the world.

There is no point in arguing, such signs appear sometimes in a mixed format, but very rarely headaches and concomitants are superimposed on intolerance to odors and nausea, and so on. That is, the signs associated with a particular part of the body are clearly manifested.

It is also noted that complex early toxicosis is more often manifested in women who decide to give birth in middle or late age. Ovulation in them is manifested more weakly, it is more and more difficult for the body to maintain optimal conditions and respond to hormonal surges after ovulation. Therefore, the reaction to conception shows much brighter.

In a separate line, it should be noted that after ovulation and fertilization, up to the moment of implantation in the uterus, the zygote is very vulnerable to any interventions and malfunctions in the body. Any violation, at a sufficient level, will lead to the death of the embryo. Then the egg will not enter the uterus, but will be released during menstruation to make room for a new attempt, because ovulation will again occur on schedule.

In other cases, when ovulation, fertilization and implantation have occurred successfully, the pregnancy develops, most often without showing signs until the moment when the expectant mother notices the most important manifestation - the absence of menstruation.

If there are suspicions that ovulation ended with conception, the signs of which are quite weak, and the test does not show anything at all, the best solution would be to take blood and urine tests. The results will tell exactly about the fact that ovulation ended with pregnancy and, with an accuracy of several days, will indicate its timing.

The original sign of the conception that took place is an unreasonable change of mood. This sign is most often noticed by those around the woman, employees or relatives. Ovulation is accompanied by the production of progesterone, which, under circumstances, can affect mood. At the same time, the change can be so instant and drastic that it causes discomfort and isolation. This symptom will soon disappear as soon as the level of progesterone levels off.

A clear sign that ovulation has passed into the stage of pregnancy is the frequent urge to go to the toilet a little. There are several reasons for this:

• An increase in blood circulation in the small pelvis, in order to saturate the area where the embryo is to develop with oxygen and nutrients. The consequence of this is the acceleration of the work of the kidneys, which means that you will want to go to the toilet more often;
• All the same progesterone with which ovulation began can cause relaxation of the urethral sphincter, which will require a woman to stay close to the toilet;
• For pregnancies of 7 months or more, frequent urination is the result of pressure from the distended uterus on the bladder.

Drawing conclusions about the signs of conception

• Ovulation is the main moment in the cycle, from which all other processes start, resulting in the birth of a child;
• The signs of conception are easiest to establish when a woman keeps a diary, knows what day ovulation occurs, counts favorable and unfavorable days for fertilization;
• For those who do not even know what ovulation is, signs may seem insignificant, and the actual signs are ignored. If the question is acute, but your own observations are not enough - take tests or do an ultrasound of the pelvic organs to establish the truth;
• A gynecologist or obstetrician will not be able to confirm the diagnosis of pregnancy earlier than 2 to 3 weeks, upon examination;
• Pregnancy tests will be able to confirm the fact itself at least 10 days after conception, not to be confused with sexual intercourse, which many take for the moment of conception. Ovulation can occur 2-5 days after ejaculation and lead to conception.
• During the period of uncertainty about the fact of pregnancy, and even more so after its confirmation, do not take any pills without consulting a doctor, do not drink alcohol, nicotine and any negatively affecting allergic products;
• For signs of toxicosis, try to eliminate sources of intolerable odors, foods, and any sources from your environment.

There are 2 types of cells in the human body. Somatic are the structural unit of the human body. They contain a complete set of chromosomes. In offspring, their number remains unchanged. To do this, only half of the chromosome set is located in the nucleus of germ cells (gametes), and when combined, their nuclei merge. The resulting fertilized egg (zygote) carries a whole set of genetic material. For this, the female gamete undergoes many transformations. Knowing the characteristics of germ cells for the onset of fertilization is extremely important. Can you get pregnant after ovulation? To answer this question, it is necessary to understand the physiological foundations.

How long does an egg live after ovulation

A girl is born carrying all the female gametes. With the onset of puberty and the start of transformations, the eggs begin to mature. One of them, in the middle between menstruation, is ready to merge with the spermatozoon and leaves the ovary. This release into the abdominal cavity of the female gamete is called ovulation.

According to various sources, from this point on, the egg will live from 1 to 3 days. During this time, she will make her way to the fallopian tube and through it to the uterus. It should be noted that the day of ovulation may vary in the same woman. This applies even to a stable, constant menstrual cycle.

How many days after ovulation can you get pregnant

When the egg is released from the protection of the ovary, it is released into the abdominal cavity. From this moment on, she can be fertilized. This is facilitated by a favorable environment in the fallopian tubes. The viability of the released gamete will last up to 3 days. Throughout her life, the possibility of becoming pregnant will remain outside the follicle. Thus, this period will be 3 days, in which pregnancy can occur. During this period, the onset of fertilization is most likely.

Is it possible to get pregnant after the day of ovulation

Is it possible to get pregnant after ovulation after a certain amount of time? This question arises before a woman, and sometimes before a man, in 2 cases. In the first, partners select a contraceptive and consider the use of a calendar method that takes into account the peculiarities of the transformation of the egg on a particular day. In the second, sexual intercourse without the use of contraceptives has already occurred and after it it is necessary to understand what to do next. It is good if the partners are planning the birth of a child now.

In this case, they need to trust nature and wait. Otherwise, you need to know exactly when the egg left the ovary. If sexual contact occurred on the next day, after the onset of ovulation, then based on the life span of the female gamete (3 days), pregnancy is possible. The probability of conception is quite high. In this case, if emergency contraceptive measures are not used, fertilization can occur.

You can get pregnant 1-2-3 days after ovulation

Despite the fact that the life span of the egg outside the follicle does not exceed 72 hours, the possibility of pregnancy following 3 days after ovulation is not the same. It will decrease from the maximum possible on the first day to the minimum on the third day. This happens for the following reasons:

1. Most eggs remain viable for less than 72 hours. They live for 1 day (24 hours).
2. Speaking about the time of sexual intercourse (unprotected), it must be borne in mind that sperm must then overcome long distances inside the partner's reproductive system. Then they get to the egg. That is, the time of ejaculation and conception will be different. If sexual contact occurred 3 days after the end of ovulation, then the possibility of becoming pregnant will be minimal, since the female gamete will cease to exist while the male gamete passes through the genital tract.

Can you get pregnant a week after ovulation?

As can be seen from the above, getting pregnant after ovulation a week later is possible only by counting on the spontaneous release of an additional egg. The likelihood of such a scenario developing is extremely low. However, it cannot be completely ruled out based on statistical data. Therefore, contraceptives, if you are not planning a pregnancy, must be taken care of. It's better to do it in advance. Having entered into sexual relations without the use of contraception, you must use it.

Many women, especially those with second pregnancies, manage to find out about their upcoming motherhood long before it is confirmed with the help of tests and medical tests. How are they able to determine this? They just listen to their feelings and intuitively recognize the first signs of pregnancy after ovulation, because the female body immediately after the implantation of the embryo begins to prepare for bearing a child.

A bit of physiology

Unfortunately, if fertilization has occurred, then it is impossible to reliably determine this, because all the processes of fusion of male and female chromosome cells occur, although inside the female body, but completely autonomously. It is worth considering how the process of development of the embryo proceeds, if the fertilization of the egg has occurred, by the days until the moment of implantation.

On the first day, the male and female sets of chromosomes merge, the sex and other characteristics of the child are laid, and active cell division (blastomeres) begins. At this point, the expectant mother may feel only the usual symptoms of ovulation. It is impossible to determine whether fertilization has occurred, relying only on sensations.

By the third day, there are already 6-8 cells in the embryo, sometimes 10, and its genetic code is fully formed. It is on this day that the development of twins is laid. In the body of a woman at this moment, the production of estrogen increases, a slight unreasonable increase in body temperature and other symptoms of a mild cold may occur, which can be caused by both increased production of the hormone estrogen, and some decrease in immunity in preparation for pregnancy.

On the fourth day, the fetus already has from 10 to 16 cells and from the fallopian tube enters the uterine cavity.

From the fifth to the seventh day, the embryo moves freely inside the uterus, choosing the implantation site. It is on these days that a woman can find several bloody spots on her panties, which she will take for the early onset of menstruation. In fact, the following happens: after a successful implantation attempt, the fetal egg is introduced into the uterine wall, and the damaged area bleeds a little. It is impossible to determine with a 100% guarantee by the appearance of scanty spotting that implantation has occurred, but if additional sensations are taken into account, it can be assumed that pregnancy has occurred.

After the seventh day, if implantation has occurred and the laying of the chorion (placental embryo) has begun, on the 8th day after conception, the active production of the hCG hormone (a pregnancy hormone that contributes to the normal bearing of the fetus) begins. You can determine its presence on the 12th day after conception using pregnancy tests. In addition, with a delay in menstruation for 10 days after the expected date of ovulation, you can donate blood for hCG.

The pregnancy hormone is concentrated in the blood much earlier than in the urine, and on day 10 its level is quite sufficient to determine pregnancy.

Such an early analysis is necessary if there are unpleasant sensations similar to signs of toxicosis.

But with a period of 10 days, an analysis for the presence of hCG can be both false positive and false negative - its reliability is influenced by many factors that occur in the woman's body (rejection of the fetal egg for up to 10 days or, conversely, weak hormone production upon the onset of an interesting situation) .

Indirect signs

It is very difficult to determine at an early stage whether fertilization has occurred or not, but if the following signs of pregnancy are present after ovulation, then conception can be assumed.

The basal temperature for more than 10 days is kept within 37 ° C. The temperature is measured by inserting a conventional medical thermometer into the rectum for 10 minutes. Thermometry must be carried out in the morning at the same time and before its measurement, lie down at rest for at least 5-7 hours. If the basal temperature is stable at subfebrile numbers, then this is a sign of either fertilization or intestinal disease.

Thermometry cannot reliably show that conception has occurred, but in combination with other signs it will help to suggest the onset of an interesting situation.

The occurrence of unusual addictions or unusual physical sensations. What can be the feeling? There may be an aversion to the usual food, or, conversely, you want something unusual, for example, ice cream with pickles.

In some very sensitive women, these unusual symptoms may occur as early as day 3 of conception after ovulation, when the embryo has not yet attached to the uterine wall. Of course, they cannot reliably determine the onset of pregnancy, but it is possible to assume conception if they are present.

Vaginal discharge, which may not necessarily be bloody, will help determine if implantation is taking place. Often, against the background of the preparation of the body for motherhood, the discharge is transparent or slightly yellowish, odorless. Abundant painless discharge of a short-term nature, although it will not help to find out exactly about the interesting situation that has come, but in combination with other signs, it will be possible to assume that fertilization has occurred.

Unpleasant sensations in the abdomen, in the uterus can also be one of the early signs of conception.

As a rule, these are small periodic tingling sensations that disappear after 10 days from the moment of the alleged fertilization. If such sensations last longer or are accompanied by a pronounced pain syndrome, then they indicate either a threat of miscarriage in the early stages, or diseases of the pelvic organs.

Breast changes. Very often, even before the fetus attaches to the uterine wall, under the influence of an increase in hormonal levels, breast swelling and hypersensitivity of the nipple area may occur.

If the implantation of the embryo has occurred, then by the 12-14th day, the areola circles swell and darken.

The easiest way to determine the onset of conception in the early stages is to use a pregnancy test with increased sensitivity to the hCG hormone. Even if the testing turns out to be negative, and the presumptive symptoms indicate the onset of an interesting situation, then it is worth visiting a antenatal clinic to clarify the diagnosis.

Knowing what sensations arise at the time of fertilization of the egg, you can consult a doctor in a timely manner for differential diagnosis and advice on adjusting your lifestyle. But even if the desired conception was not confirmed, and all the symptoms turned out to be signs of gynecological or intestinal diseases, then you should not be upset.

Most women get pregnant very quickly after lifestyle changes and gynecological diseases are cured.

The ovum ripened in the follicle, ready for fertilization, destroys the surface of the ovary and passes through the abdominal cavity into the fallopian tube. This phenomenon is called ovulation. It occurs in the middle of a woman's menstrual period, but can shift in one direction or another, falling on the 11th - 21st day of the cycle.

Menstrual cycle

A female fetus at 20 weeks of gestation already has 2 million immature eggs in the ovaries. 75% of them disappear shortly after the birth of a girl. Most women retain 500,000 eggs by their reproductive age. By the beginning of puberty, they are ready for cyclic maturation.

During the first two years after menarche, anovulatory cycles are usually observed. Then the regularity of the maturation of the follicle, the release of the egg from it and the formation of the corpus luteum is established - the cycle of ovulation. Violation of the rhythm of this process occurs in menopause, when the release of the egg occurs less and less, and then stops.

When the egg moves into the fallopian tube, it can merge with the sperm - fertilization. The resulting embryo enters the uterus. During ovulation, the uterine walls thicken, the endometrium grows, preparing for the implantation of the embryo. If conception does not occur, the inner layer of the uterine wall is torn off - menstrual bleeding occurs.

What day after menstruation does ovulation occur?

Normally, this is the middle of the cycle, taking into account the first day of menstruation. For example, if 26 days pass between the first days of each menstruation, then ovulation will occur on the 12th - 13th day, taking into account the day the period begins.

How many days does this process take?

The release of a mature germ cell occurs quickly, while hormonal changes are recorded within 1 day.

One of the misconceptions is to assume that if there is a period, then the cycle was necessarily ovulatory. Thickening of the endometrium is controlled by estrogens, and ovulation is triggered by the action of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). Not every menstrual cycle is accompanied by the process of ovulation. Therefore, when planning a pregnancy, it is recommended to observe the precursors of the release of the egg and use additional tests to determine it. With prolonged anovulation, it is necessary to consult a gynecologist.

Hormonal regulation

Ovulation occurs under the influence of FSH, which is synthesized in the anterior pituitary gland under the action of regulators formed in the hypothalamus. Under the influence of FSH, the follicular phase of egg maturation begins. At this time, one of the follicle vesicles becomes dominant. Increasing, it reaches the preovulatory stage. At the time of ovulation, the wall of the follicle breaks, the mature germ cell contained in it leaves the ovary and enters the uterine tube.

What happens after ovulation?

The second phase of the cycle begins - the luteal. Under the influence of the luteinizing hormone of the pituitary gland, a kind of endocrine organ, the corpus luteum, appears at the site of the ruptured follicle. It is a small, rounded formation of yellow color. The corpus luteum secretes hormones that cause the endometrium to thicken and prepare it for implantation of the embryo during pregnancy.

Anovulatory cycle

Menstrual-like bleeding can regularly recur after 24-28 days, but the release of the egg from the ovary does not occur. Such a cycle is called. In the absence of ovulation, one or more follicles reach the preovulatory stage, that is, they grow, and a germ cell develops inside. However, the rupture of the follicular wall and the release of the egg does not occur.

Shortly thereafter, the mature follicle undergoes atresia, that is, reverse development. At this time, there is a decrease in estrogen levels, which leads to menstrual bleeding. By external signs, it is almost indistinguishable from normal menstruation.

Why is there no ovulation?

This may be a physiological condition during puberty or premenopausal girls. If a woman is of childbearing age, rare anovulatory cycles are normal.

Many hormonal disorders lead to an imbalance in the hypothalamus-pituitary-ovary system and change the timing of ovulation, in particular:

• hypothyroidism (lack of thyroid hormones);
• hyperthyroidism (excess thyroid hormones);
• hormonally active benign tumor of the pituitary gland (adenoma);
• adrenal insufficiency.

Emotional stress can lengthen the ovulatory period. It leads to a decrease in the level of gonadotropin-releasing factor - a substance released by the hypothalamus and stimulating the synthesis of FSH in the pituitary gland.

Other possible reasons why there is a lack or delay in ovulation associated with hormonal imbalances:

• intense sports and physical activity;
• rapid weight loss of at least 10%;
• chemotherapy and radiation for malignant neoplasms;
• taking tranquilizers, corticosteroid hormones and some contraceptives.

The main physiological reasons for the lack of ovulation are pregnancy and menopause. During the pre-menopausal period, women may continue to have more or less regular periods, but the likelihood of anovulatory cycles is greatly increased.

Symptoms of the release of an egg

Not all women experience signs of ovulation. At this point, hormonal changes occur in the body. By carefully observing your body, you can find the period of the best ability to fertilize. It is not necessary to use complex and expensive methods for predicting the release of an egg. It is enough to detect natural symptoms in time.

• Change in cervical mucus

The female body prepares for a possible conception by producing cervical fluid suitable for the transfer of sperm from the vagina to the uterine cavity. Until the moment of ovulation, these secretions are thick and viscous. They prevent sperm from entering the uterus. Before ovulation, the glands of the cervical canal begin to produce a special protein - its threads are thin, elastic and similar in properties to the protein of a chicken egg. Vaginal discharge becomes transparent, stretches well. Such an environment is ideal for the penetration of sperm into the uterus.

• Change in vaginal moisture

The discharge from the cervix becomes more abundant. During sexual intercourse, the amount of vaginal fluid increases. A woman feels increased humidity throughout the day, which shows her readiness for fertilization.

• Soreness of the mammary glands

After ovulation, progesterone levels rise. If a woman keeps a chart, she will see that her basal temperature has risen. It is caused by the action of progesterone. This hormone also affects the mammary glands, so at this point they become more sensitive. Sometimes this soreness resembles premenstrual sensations.

• Changing the position of the neck

After the end of menstruation, the cervix is ​​​​closed and is located low. As ovulation approaches, it rises higher and softens. You can check it yourself. After washing your hands thoroughly, you need to put your foot on the edge of the toilet or bathroom and insert two fingers into the vagina. If you have to push them deep, then the neck has risen. It is easiest to check this symptom immediately after menstruation, in order to better determine the change in the position of the cervix.

• Increased sex drive

It is not uncommon for women to notice a stronger sex drive in the middle of their cycle. These sensations during ovulation are of natural origin and are associated with changes in hormonal levels.

• Bloody issues

Sometimes in the middle of the cycle there are small spotting from the vagina. It can be assumed that these are the "remnants" of blood leaving the uterus after menstruation. However, if this sign appears during the expected ovulation, it indicates a rupture of the follicle. In addition, some blood can also be released from the endometrial tissue under the influence of hormones immediately before or after ovulation. This symptom indicates a high fertility.

• Cramping or pain on one side of the abdomen

In 20% of women, pain occurs during ovulation, which is called. It occurs when the follicle ruptures and the fallopian tube contracts as the egg moves into the uterus. A woman feels pain or spasm on one side of the abdomen in its lower part. These sensations after ovulation do not last long, but serve as a fairly accurate sign of the ability to fertilize.

• Flatulence

The hormonal shift causes slight bloating. It can be detected by becoming a little tight clothing or belt.

• mild nausea

Hormonal changes can cause mild nausea, similar to pregnancy.

• Headache

20% of women experience a headache or migraine before or during their period. The same symptom in these patients may accompany the onset of ovulation.

Diagnostics

Many women plan their pregnancy. Conception after ovulation gives the greatest chance of fertilizing the egg. Therefore, they use additional methods to diagnose this condition.

Functional diagnostic tests in the ovulatory cycle:

• basal temperature;
• pupil symptom;
• study of the extensibility of cervical mucus;
• karyopyknotic index.

These studies are objective, that is, quite accurately and regardless of the sensations of a woman, they show the phase of the ovulatory cycle. They are used in violation of normal hormonal processes. With their help, for example, ovulation is diagnosed with an irregular cycle.

Basal temperature

Measurements are carried out by placing a thermometer in the anus by 3-4 cm, immediately after waking up. It is important to perform the procedure at the same time (half an hour difference is acceptable), after at least 4 hours of uninterrupted sleep. You need to determine the temperature daily, including on the days of menstruation.

The thermometer should be prepared in the evening so as not to shake it in the morning. In general, it is not recommended to make extra movements. If a woman uses a mercury thermometer, after inserting it into the rectum, she should lie still for 5 minutes. It is more convenient to use an electronic thermometer, which will beep when the measurement is completed. However, sometimes such devices give erroneous readings, which can lead to an incorrect determination of ovulation.

After measurement, the result must be plotted on a graph divided along the vertical axis into tenths of a degree (36.1 - 36.2 - 36.3, and so on).

In the follicular phase, the temperature is 36.6-36.8 degrees. Starting from the second day after ovulation, it rises to 37.1-37.3 degrees. On the graph, this rise is clearly visible. Before the release of the egg itself, the mature follicle secretes the maximum amount of estrogens, and on the graph this can manifest itself as a sudden decrease ("sink"), followed by a rise in temperature. This feature is not always registered.

If a woman is ovulating irregularly, constantly measuring her rectal temperature will help her determine the most fertile day for conception. The accuracy of the method is 95%, subject to the rules for performing measurements and interpreting the results by a doctor.

pupil symptom

This sign is revealed by a gynecologist when examining the cervix using vaginal mirrors. In the follicular phase of the cycle, the external uterine os gradually increases in diameter, and the cervical discharge becomes more and more transparent (+). Outwardly, it resembles the pupil of the eye. By the time of ovulation, the uterine os is maximally expanded, its diameter reaches 3-4 cm, the pupil symptom is most pronounced (+++). On the 6-8th day after this, the external opening of the cervical canal closes, the pupil symptom becomes negative (-). The accuracy of this method is 60%.

Distensibility of the cervical mucus

This sign, which can be seen on its own, is quantified using a forceps (a type of tweezers with teeth on the edges). The doctor captures the mucus from the cervical canal, stretches it and determines the maximum length of the resulting thread.

In the first phase of the cycle, the length of such a thread is 2-4 cm. 2 days before ovulation, it increases to 8-12 cm, starting from the 2nd day after it decreases to 4 cm. From the 6th day, the mucus practically does not stretch. The accuracy of this method is 60%.

Karyopyknotic index

This is the ratio of cells with a pycnotic nucleus to the total number of surface epithelial cells in a vaginal smear. The pyknotic nuclei are wrinkled, less than 6 µm in size. In the first phase, their number is 20-70%, 2 days before ovulation and at the time of its onset - 80-88%, 2 days after the release of the egg - 60-40%, then their number decreases to 20-30%. The accuracy of the method does not exceed 50%.

A more accurate method for determining ovulation is hormonal studies. The disadvantage of this method is the difficulty of applying with an irregular cycle. Determine the level of luteinizing hormone (LH), estradiol, progesterone. Typically, such analyzes are prescribed without taking into account individual characteristics, on the 5th - 7th and 18th - 22nd days of the cycle. Ovulation does not always occur during this interval; with a longer cycle, it occurs later. This leads to unreasonable diagnosis of anovulation, unnecessary tests and treatment.

The same difficulties arise when using, which are based on changes in the level of LH in the urine. A woman must either accurately predict the time of ovulation, or constantly use rather expensive test strips. There are reusable test systems that analyze changes in saliva. They are quite accurate and convenient, but the disadvantage of such devices is their high cost.

LH levels may be permanently elevated in the following cases:

• severe stress due to the desire to become pregnant;

Ultrasound definition of ovulation

The most accurate and cost-effective method is the diagnosis of ovulation by ultrasound (). With ultrasound monitoring, the doctor evaluates the thickness of the endometrium, the size of the dominant follicle and the corpus luteum formed in its place. The date of the first study depends on the regularity of the cycle. If it has the same duration, the study is carried out 16-18 days before the start date of menstruation. If the cycle is irregular, ultrasound is prescribed on the 10th day from the onset of menstruation.

At the first ultrasound, the dominant follicle is clearly visible, from which a mature egg will later come out. By measuring its diameter, you can determine the date of ovulation. The size of the follicle before ovulation is 20-24 mm, and its growth rate in the first phase of the cycle is 2 mm per day.

The second ultrasound is prescribed after the estimated date of ovulation, when a corpus luteum is found at the site of the follicle. At the same time, a blood test for progesterone levels is carried out. The combination of increased progesterone concentration and the presence of a corpus luteum on ultrasound confirms ovulation. Thus, a woman takes only one test for hormone levels per cycle, which reduces her financial and time costs for the examination.

In the study in the second phase, changes in the corpus luteum and endometrium can be detected, which can prevent the onset of pregnancy.

Ultrasound monitoring confirms or refutes ovulation even in cases where the data of other methods turned out to be uninformative:

• an increase in basal temperature in the second phase due to a decrease in hormone production by an atrezated follicle;
• increased basal temperature and progesterone levels with a small thickness of the endometrium, which prevents pregnancy;
• no changes in basal temperature;
• false positive ovulation test.

Ultrasound examination helps to answer many questions of a woman:

• does she ovulate at all;
• whether it will happen in the current cycle or not;
• on which day the egg will be released.

Changes in ovulation timing

The release time of the egg can vary by 1-2 days even with a regular cycle. A permanently shortened follicular phase and early ovulation can lead to problems conceiving.

early ovulation

If the release of the egg occurs 12-14 days after the start of menstruation, there is no reason for concern. However, if the basal temperature chart or test strips show that this process occurred on the 11th day or earlier, then the released egg is not sufficiently developed for fertilization. At the same time, the mucous plug in the cervix is ​​quite dense, and spermatozoa cannot penetrate through it. Insufficient increase in the thickness of the endometrium, caused by a reduction in the hormonal influence of the developing follicle estrogens, prevents implantation of the embryo, even if fertilization has occurred.

Are still being studied. Sometimes it happens by chance, in one of the menstrual cycles. In other cases, the pathology can be caused by such factors:

• severe stress and disruption of the relationship between the hypothalamus and the pituitary gland in the nervous system, which leads to a sudden premature increase in LH levels;
• the natural aging process, when to support the maturation of the egg, the body produces more FSH, which causes excessive growth of the follicle;
• smoking, excessive alcohol and caffeine intake;
• gynecological and endocrine diseases.

Can you ovulate right after your period?

This is possible in two cases:

• if menstruation lasts 5-7 days, and against this background a hormonal failure occurs, early ovulation can occur almost immediately after they are completed;
• if two follicles did not mature at the same time in different ovaries, then their cycles do not coincide; while ovulation of the second follicle is timely, but falls on the first phase in the other ovary; associated with this are cases of pregnancy during sexual intercourse during menstruation.

late ovulation

In some women, from time to time, the ovulatory phase occurs on the 20th day of the cycle and later. Most often, this is caused by hormonal disorders in the complex balanced system "hypothalamus - pituitary gland - ovary". Usually these changes are preceded, caused by stress or taking certain medications (corticosteroids, antidepressants, anticancer drugs). increases the risk of chromosomal abnormalities in the egg, fetal malformations and early termination of pregnancy.

With non-simultaneous maturation of two follicles in each of the ovaries, ovulation is possible before menstruation.

The cause of this failure may be breastfeeding. Even if a woman has recovered her menses after childbirth, she has a long follicular phase or anovulatory cycles for six months. This is a normal process, laid down by nature and protecting a woman from re-pregnancy.

During breastfeeding, there are often no periods and ovulation for some time. But at a certain moment, the maturation of the egg, nevertheless, begins, it comes out, it enters the uterus. And only 2 weeks later, menstruation begins. So ovulation without menstruation is possible.

Often, late ovulation occurs in women who are too thin or patients who have lost weight quickly. The amount of fat in the body is directly related to the level of sex hormones (estrogens), and its small amount leads to a delay in the maturation of the egg.

Treatment for disorders of the ovulatory cycle

Anovulation for several cycles during the year is normal. But what if there is no ovulation all the time, and the woman wants to get pregnant? You should be patient, find a qualified gynecologist and contact him for diagnosis and treatment.

Taking oral contraceptives

Usually, a course of oral contraceptives is first recommended to cause the so-called rebound effect - ovulation after the cancellation of OK is highly likely to occur in the first cycle. This effect persists for 3 cycles in a row.

If a woman has taken these medications before, they are canceled and ovulation is expected to return. On average, this period takes from 6 months to 2 years, depending on the duration of taking birth control pills. Conventionally, it is believed that for each year of oral contraceptive use, 3 months are required to restore ovulation.

Stimulation

In more severe cases, after excluding diseases of the thyroid gland, adrenal glands, pituitary tumors and other possible "external" causes of anovulation, the gynecologist will prescribe medication for. At the same time, he will monitor the patient's condition, conduct ultrasound monitoring of the follicle and endometrium, prescribe hormonal studies.

If there were no periods for 40 days or more, pregnancy is first excluded, and then progesterone is administered to cause menstrual bleeding. After an ultrasound and other diagnostics, drugs for ovulation are prescribed:

• clomiphene citrate (Clomid) - an anti-estrogen ovulation stimulant that increases the production of FSH in the pituitary gland, its effectiveness is 85%;
• gonadotropic hormones (Repronex, Follistim and others) - analogues of their own FSH, forcing the egg to mature, their effectiveness reaches 100%, but they are dangerous for the development of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome;
• hCG, often used before the IVF procedure; HCG is prescribed after the release of the egg to maintain the corpus luteum, and later the placenta, and maintain pregnancy;
• leuprorelin (Lupron) - an analogue of the gonadotropin-releasing factor, which is produced in the hypothalamus and stimulates the synthesis of FSH in the pituitary gland; this drug does not cause ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome;

Self-medication with these drugs is prohibited. With the exact implementation of the doctor's recommendations and treatment in accordance with internationally recognized rules, most women manage to become pregnant in the first 2 years after the start of therapy.

Assisted Reproductive Technologies

In the event that the violation of ovulation cannot be corrected, assisted reproductive technologies come to the aid of a woman. However, they are associated with a strong hormonal effect on the body to obtain a normal mature egg. Complex drug regimens are used. Such procedures should be carried out only in specialized medical centers.