Why is ovulation important?
UPDATED: January 2026
Do you remember learning about ovulation from health class way back in the day?
No? That's okay. I've got you covered.
Ovulation is important because instead of treating it as a guessing game, there's a specific time in your cycle that's the perfect day for you to get pregnant.
Moreover, knowing when you're ovulating is important if:
You are actively trying to start your family,
You want to get pregnant eventually,
You don't have a desire to become pregnant at the moment/ever/(insert reason here) and would prefer not to use hormonal birth control or any devices.
Ovulation occurs mid-cycle when there is a spike of lutenizing hormone (LH) that causes your ovary to release an egg which has the potential to be fertilized by sperm.
If your body hasn’t ovulated, then no egg has been released for the sperm to fertilize. Your period or cycle app does not know if your body has ovulated. This is a physical sign that you can test or observe to confirm that it has.
Your Body’s Signs of Ovulation
Your body gives you three signs to tell you if you're ovulating. The first two will happen before you ovulate and the third will happen after you ovulate.
Cervical Fluid
It's common to mistake healthy cervical fluid as an infection, if you notice it on your underwear or after wiping. The truth is, you probably haven't paid much attention to it. But experiencing cervical fluid changes throughout your cycle is normal (and check out this article for when it isn't)!
When you're fertile, your cervical fluid begins to get most, sticky, and cloudy. During ovulation, the texture changes to wet, slippery, and stretchy - similar to an egg white. Your cervical fluid helps the sperm travel to the cervix (they can live up to 5 days in fertile cervical fluid!), as well as provide nourishment.
Check my post that teaches you how to assess your cervical fluid!
Ovulation Predictor Kits
Another way to determine when your fertile window is, is using ovulation predictor kits (OPKs) that measure luteinizing hormone (LH) levels, which surge just before ovulation. These are at-home urine kits where you dip test sticks into your urine to tell you if LH is going to hit it's peak.
Ideally, you'd want to start using these after your period to determine what your fertile window is (typically 6 days before ovulation). If you are hoping to achieve a pregnancy, using these sticks can be very helpful to guide you in timing sex.
When using these kits, you would expect to see a series of negative tests at the beginning, followed by a few days of positive results, then returning back to negative.
In some cases, such as in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) or those approaching perimenopause, OPK results can be misleading. These women may experience consistently elevated LH levels, resulting in false positives. In such cases, it's recommended to start testing early in the cycle to establish a baseline of negative results before observing any positives
It’s best to use OPKs in conjunction with tracking your cervical mucus and (perhaps) basal body temperature for a more comprehensive understanding of your fertile window.
Basal Body Temperature (BBT)
BBT is used to help you figure out if and when you've ovulated. This temperature is your body's lowest temperature that's usually taken in the morning, right before you get out of bed.
When ovulation occurs, your progesterone begins to rise and causes a temperature increase. The increase is not significantly large (0.3-0.6°C or 0.5-1.0°F), but indicates when you've ovulated. The temperature increases lasts for about 10-14 days. BBT is best when you track your entire cycle so you can learn when exactly your fertile window is.
Check out my post outlining how to track your temperature!
Next Steps
Now that you have an understanding of why ovulation is important (no ovulation = no fertilization of an egg), and your body’s fertility signs (your phone’s “fertility” window isn’t it), go forth and begin to determine if you’ve ovulated.
If you’re planning for pregnancy and want support during this transition, you’re welcome to explore care options.
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