How do I know when I'm ovulating?

You’ve probably heard that the ovulatory phase is your fertility window. Which is true, and if you're able to know exactly when that is, you've basically mastered your cycle.

So whether you’re trying to conceive, avoid pregnancy, or just want to understand your body better, knowing when you ovulate is a game-changer for cycle awareness and hormone health.

Because, contrary to what you might think, the main event of the menstrual cycle IS your ovulation (NOT the bleed).

What does that actually feel like? How do you know when it’s happening?

Here’s how to tell when you’re ovulating—and why it matters more than just fertility.

What is ovulation, anyway?

Ovulation is when one of your ovaries releases a mature egg - the rupturing of the dominant follicle, that was developing all through the Follicular phase, with that egg maturing inside it - due to a surge in certain hormones is released, exposing it available to be fertilized.

Ovulation typically happens mid-cycle, around day 14 of a 28-day cycle, but that timing can vary based on your unique rhythm, stress, travel, or illness. (So any day from Day 12-16...)

When you ovulate and that egg is released, it travels down the fallopian tubes where it waits to be fertilised. A whole load of other biological processes are triggered by the rupturing - the ruptured follicle turns into a progesterone-producing temporary organ, so progesterone levels begin to rise, the uterine wall thickens (in preparation for the (if) fertilised egg to implant into the cushy lining) - the body essentially prepares itself for pregnancy.

Because ovulation happened, EVEN IF /WHEN that egg was not fertilised, all of this still happens The body recognises the non-fertilisation about 7-10 days after ovulation and everything gets taken down and released / 'shed' as the period.

And THAT, is what makes Ovulation is the main event of your cycle.

Not the bleed.

Your period comes after ovulation.

So if you ovulate later (ie around day 16), your period will come later. (14 days from when you ovulated.)

And if you didn’t ovulate, you may not get a period or it may be late, light, or irregular.

Key signs you’re ovulating:

1. Cervical mucus becomes stretchy and clear

If you've ever noticed that extremely slippery, clear, kinda stretchy cervical mucus when you wipe, THAT is the number one indication you are ovulating.

In the lead-up to ovulation, rising oestrogen makes your cervical mucus resemble this raw egg whites - clear, slippery, and stretchy - consistency. This is a very smart biological function, as this type of mucus helps sperm travel more easily and therefore signals high fertility.

If you notice a few days of this discharge, followed by a sudden dry-up, it’s likely ovulation just occurred.

2. Slight rise in body temperature

After ovulation, progesterone causes a small rise in your basal body temperature (BBT) - typically around 0.3 - 0.5°C. So if you track your temperature first thing in the morning (under your tongue) (or you wear and Oura ring) over several months, you’ll start to see a clear post-ovulation shift.

(Helpful for confirming that ovulation has happened, not predicting it.)

3. Mild cramps or twinges on one side

Some women experience mittelschmerz - a mild cramping or one-sided pelvic ache around ovulation. It can last a few hours to a day and may be accompanied by increased discharge or bloating.

4. Increased libido

Thanks to that oestrogen surge, many women feel more confident, social, flirty, and interested during ovulation. This shouldn't come as a surprise now you know this is the isolated window that you can get pregnant, so naturally, its your biology doing its thing.

5. Higher energy and better workouts

Ovulation often coincides with peak energy, strength, and motivation. Your body is hormonally primed to push harder and recover faster, so don’t be surprised if you hit a PB or feel your most magnetic self.

How to track your ovulation

You don’t need to guess. Try one (or a combo) of the following:

• Track cervical mucus daily in a journal or app

• Take BBT readings each morning, and chart patterns

• Use ovulation predictor kits (OPKs) to test for the LH surge

• Pay attention to physical signs like cramps, libido, mood, and energy

Apps can be helpful, but they predict based on past data, not actual hormones.

Real-time tracking is more accurate. And BONUS: you develop invaluable self-awareness in the process.

Why ovulation matters

Ovulation isn’t just for fertility—it’s a key indicator of hormonal health.

If you’re not ovulating regularly, it can signal issues like:

• Stress overload

• Hypothalamic amenorrhoea

• PCOS

• Under-fuelling or overtraining

• Thyroid dysfunction

Knowing when (and if) you’re ovulating gives you valuable insight into your cycle health, metabolism, and overall wellbeing.

Final word?

Learning how to know when you’re ovulating gives you more than just timing.

When you tune in to your cycle, and know what's happening when and how it makes you feel, you get to make better decisions for your workouts, schedule, nutrition, fertility, and recovery.

So in a nutshell, this isn’t just body awareness - it’s bio-intelligence.

And that’s a superpower.