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As we’ve discussed in the last number of weeks, ovulation is really the highlight of the menstrual cycle (You can read all about it on my blog post here.

As a refresher, ovulation is what triggers progesterone production, and subsequent bleeding if there is no pregnancy.

Ovulation and the subsequent hormone PRODUCTION and DECLINE is what triggers your PMS/PMDD symptoms.

And LACK of ovulation and LACK of subsequent hormone production can be what triggers perimenopause symptoms.

So, how does one know if they ovulate?

This is a question I get a lot in clinic, so let's get into it!

how does one properly track ovulation?

blood test:

The most accurate way to assess ovulation is to do a blood test for progesterone 6-7 days after suspected ovulation. It’s important to know, you ONLY make progesterone after ovulation, and 6-7 days post ovulation is where it peaks if there is no pregnancy.

Practically, this may be a helpful thing to test at some point, but doesn’t make sense to do month after month.

Furthermore, if you don’t have any idea of when ovulation is occurring, you might miss that window of timing where the test can give that information.

ovulation predictor kits:

An ovulation predictor kit is one tool some people will use. It measures the surge in LH that leads up to ovulation.

A positive means that ovulation is likely to occur, but it doesn’t tell us for sure that it actually happened.

In someone with PCOS we know that LH can be more chronically elevated so especially in this population it may not give us the best information.

tracking cervical fluid:

Cervical fluid is another marker that can give insight as well. Peak fertile fluid is more likely to be seen around ovulation. This fluid would be egg-white in texture and colour and can stretch >1”.

This is what allows semen to travel if you’re trying to achieve a pregnancy. This is a great metric to track when trying to conceive in order to time intercourse, but again doesn’t inherently confirm ovulation.

the best way to track?

In my mind, the most practical way to consistently track ovulation when we’re trying to differentiate between pre-menstrual symptoms, PCOS, and perimenopause is through temperature tracking.

how to properly temperature track:

Again, we only make progesterone after ovulation and progesterone actually causes the body temperature to increase slightly for the second half of the cycle from ovulation until menstruation. To quantify this and track this, you would need to take your temperature first thing in the morning before rolling out of bed, and see the pattern throughout the month.

A regular thermometer can be used to do this, but gives the best information when you sleep well, are not having alcohol the night before, and wake up at a consistent time most days. Alcohol, fever, poor sleep, and sleeping-in can all skew the numbers to some extent.

other options?

Practically speaking, some people find this stressful to remember to take it first thing every morning. This is where a wearable could be an interesting thing.

I got an oura ring for this purpose (and to understand it better for patients), and the temperature rise and falls with the cycle are very clear.

TempDrop is another wearable tool that some people will use to track temperature.

As with any wearable, the question you should always ask yourself is , “Will this change anything?”. If you have a consistent cycle and no symptoms, or the symptoms are clear as to what they are, then it likely isn’t worth it.

The other data isn’t that compelling (I’d rather you focus on how your sleep feels, and the activity tracking is pretty inaccurate).

But if you have a lot of questions about your cycle and that’s frustrating to you; or if you’ve had a hysterectomy but still have ovary hormone production; or you have an IUD without bleeding, it may help you to understand your symptoms better.

And again, you can definitely do it with a normal thermometer as well, it just takes a bit more brainpower to remember!

I hoped this helped answer some questions you have about tracking your ovulation!

Thank you for following this series with me, if you missed previous parts of this series, be sure to check them out to get the full picture of your amazing cycle.

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Disclaimer:

This content is for informational and educational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician, naturopathic doctor, or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or health concern. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you have read here.