How do I know when I'm ovulating?

Bottom lineIdentify ovulation by combining signs: cervical mucus turning clear, slippery, and stretchy like egg white (predicts it), an LH surge on an ovulation predictor kit 24 to 36 hours before (predicts it), and a basal body temperature rise of 0.3 to 0.6°C afterward (confirms it), plus mid-cycle twinges. Ovulation timing varies with cycle length, so signs beat calendar counting; no signs across cycles can indicate anovulation or PCOS/PMOS.

You can identify ovulation by combining a few reliable body signs rather than relying on the calendar alone.

The main signs

• Cervical mucus: becomes clear, slippery, and stretchy like raw egg white at peak fertility - the most useful free sign
• Basal body temperature: rises about 0.3 to 0.6°C after ovulation, confirming it happened
• Ovulation predictor kits (OPKs): detect the LH surge 24 to 36 hours before ovulation - the best at-home way to predict it
• Mittelschmerz: a one-sided twinge of mid-cycle pain for some people
• Secondary signs: mild spotting, higher libido, breast tenderness

Predict vs confirm

• To predict ovulation in advance: watch cervical mucus and use OPKs (LH rises before)
• To confirm it happened: basal body temperature (it rises after)

Combining a predictor (mucus or OPK) with a confirmer (temperature) gives the most reliable read.

Timing

In a 28-day cycle ovulation is around day 14, but it varies with cycle length and shifts month to month, so signs beat counting days.

When to check with a doctor

No ovulation signs across several cycles, or very irregular cycles, can point to anovulation or PCOS/PMOS.

Estimate with the Ovulation Calculator and read ovulation symptoms.

Femora combines your logged mucus, temperature, and dates to pinpoint your fertile window.