A woman with a regular period cycle knows about her ovulation date. She can easily see the changes in her cervical mucus and decide what stage she is at. But how to track ovulation with irregular periods?
A woman with an irregular cycle cannot pinpoint when she ovulates because her period occurs at any time of the month and maybe more than once.
She might have spotting and anovulatory cycles. It is when there is no ovulation during that particular menstrual cycle. Such condition is not only challenging but also a diseased state.
A woman needs to take proper treatment for such a condition.
It is not normal to bleed all the while erratically during a month. Something is seriously wrong in the reproductive system.
But if you have told your doctor about it and doctor has no way out for you then you need to detect ovulation.
A woman with irregular menstrual cycle can detect ovulation by few methods.
She needs to be very cautious of every change that happens in her body throughout the month. It will help her identify when exactly ovulation takes place.
There are methods for detecting ovulation.
What is ovulation?
Ovulation is the release of egg alternatively by each ovary every month.
A female body has a repertoire of eggs that mature every month. After maturation the Graffian follicle or eggshell bursts and releases the egg.
If pregnancy occurs, then the egg implants in the uterus and period doesn’t occur.
Otherwise, it comes out as period along with the vaginal lining. Women who have irregular period may be because of fluctuations in hormones that cause ovulation.
How Do You Track Ovulation With Irregular Periods?
After ovulation, the egg is viable (available for fertilization by sperm) for 24 hours. Sperms can live in the vagina for 5 days.
The fertile window of a woman is from three days before ovulation to one day after that.
Here is a list of ways to detect ovulation when you have an irregular period:
1) Basal body temperature charting
The most common method for detecting ovulation works for all women. There is a surge of Luteinizing hormone when ovulation occurs. It is the LH hormone.
When the level of this hormone increases in the blood it causes a rise in basal body temperature.
The rise in basal body temperature is by 1/2 – 1 ° at most. You can detect this change by a regular thermometer.
Basal body temperature is the body temperature when you are at complete rest.
How to chart basal body temperature for detecting ovulation?
Place a thermometer and a diary near you bedside and go to sleep.
Get up normally and take a BBT test for detecting ovulation. Place the thermometer in your armpit or under your tongue.
Make sure you do not move even a bit or eat anything before recording temperature.
Write this recorded temperature at a place which you won’t lose.
Don’t make any changes in the sleeping pattern or AC temperature for the next month.
Keep repeating the same step every day. One day you’ll see a degree rise, and that is ovulation day.
2) Cervical mucus changes
Cervical mucus changes during and after ovulation are prominent.
During ovulation, the cervical mucus is clear and stretchy.
It is also known as egg white cervical mucus. It eases sperm’s movement through the vaginal pathway.
It makes sex more pleasurable and productive near ovulation.
During ovulation, you are most fertile, and so nature favors pregnancy. After ovulation gradually your cervical mucus reduces in quantity and becomes thick.
When the time is close to your period, cervical mucus is thick and gooey.
Monitoring these cervical mucus changes can help identify ovulation date.
How to test cervical mucus for detecting ovulation when you have an irregular period?
Clean your fingers and dab them dry. Remove your panties. Sit on a place with a mirror underneath so that you see your vagina.
Now slowly take your fingers inside and turn them around.
Take your fingers out when you feel they are wet enough.
Now slowly try to form a thread between your fingers. If you see clear watery mucus, then you ovulated.
3) Ovulation test kits
Just like pregnancy test kit their brother ovulation test kit can detect ovulation.
Even when you have an irregular period you can take multiple ovulation test kits and find your ovulation date.
The ovulation test kits detect the LH hormone in your urine. You need to get a sensitive and accurate ovulation test.
How to take ovulation test kit for detecting ovulation during an irregular period?
Collect your urine sample. Try getting a concentrated urine sample.
Open the ovulation test and do not touch the strip. Dip it in urine and wait for the time given in the manual.
Remove the ovulation test kit and allow results to develop. Carefully read the instructions for use before taking an ovulation test kit.
4) Changes in body
You can even detect ovulation if you are observant of your body. Your skin tone becomes fair, and you have shinier hair near ovulation.
Your nails might become whiter and hard. Other changes include feeling happier.
Unlike PMS here you will have good mood swings. You might even have ovulation spotting. It is rare but occurs in some cases.
Other changes include a glow on face and the urge to have sex.
5) Digital Ovulation calculator
Just like standard ovulation test kits, there are digital ovulation calculators. You need to follow the instructions given on the pack.
A digital ovulation calculator is more precise. The results are easy to read.
A smiling face shows that you are fertile and ovulation occurred. An hourglass may appear while the test results are forming. You need to be patient and allow the test to work.
6) Online ovulation tests
There are many online ovulation tests available that allow you to find ovulation date.
They have a set of questions about your due date, regularity of cycle and sex habits. You need to go to the link and fill in necessary details.
Online ovulation tests are easy and free of cost. You can take them while traveling and come to know of your fertile window period.
7) Changes in sexual appetite
During ovulation, it is natural to feel the urges to have sex more often because nature doesn’t want the egg to away as a period.
Nature favors pregnancy and procreation.
Sex is pleasurable during ovulation. One can say that during ovulation sexual appetite increases.
Some women might feel like making love all the while near ovulation. Similarly during period sexual desires might fluctuate again.
Tracking ovulation when you have an irregular period is no longer difficult for doctors. Using ultrasound, they can detect the stage your ovaries are at. If you are not able to detect ovulation at home, then get a doctor’s appointment.
