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Signs And Symptoms Of Ovulation

Ovulation is a phase of the menstrual cycle that occurs when one of your ovaries (small glands located on both sides of your uterus) releases an egg in an attempt to conceive a baby. This typically happens about two weeks before you start your period. Your most fertile days (or, days where your chance of becoming pregnant is at its highest) occur during ovulation.

Just like your menstrual period, you can experience a number of symptoms while you're ovulating. These may include changes in vagina discharge, pelvic pain, breast tenderness, increased sex drive, and bloating, among others.

What your vaginal discharge looks like and how much of it you produce can change throughout your menstrual cycle. These changes occur as a result of normal hormone fluctuations during your cycle. At the beginning of the menstrual cycle, after period bleeding is over, vaginal discharge is typically dry or absent. As the menstrual cycle progresses, estrogen levels rise, leading to an increase in vaginal discharge. As you enter ovulation, vaginal discharge becomes more abundant, clear, thin, slippery, and stretchy. The consistency may look similar to that of a raw egg white. This change in consistency allows sperm to travel through the cervix (or, the end of the vagina that leads into the uterus) more efficiently, increasing the likelihood of pregnancy. After ovulation, vaginal discharge becomes thicker and less abundant, making it more difficult for the sperm to reach the egg.  During ovulation, some people experience mild cramping that can feel like a dull ache or nagging pain on one side of the lower abdomen (stomach) or pelvis. Sometimes, this pain can also feel sharp. The side you experience pelvic pain on typically depends on which ovary releases the egg. In some cases, the pain can alternate each month or feel worse on one side of your body. Generally, pelvic pain during ovulation is milder than cramping during your period. This pain may last anywhere from a few hours to a couple of days. During ovulation, your basal body temperature (BBT) increases. BBT is your body's temperature at rest. Your most accurate measure of BBT is your temperature first thing in the morning before you perform any activities.  Once your ovary releases the egg, your BBT goes up about 0.5 to 1 degree Fahrenheit (0.3 to 0.6 degrees Celcius) and remains at this level until the end of your menstrual cycle. Monitoring and tracking your BBT can help you identify menstrual patterns and predict ovulation for future cycles. This can make it easier to know what days you are most fertile (or, likely to get pregnant).  If you are trying to get pregnant and want to track your BBT, it's important to note that an increase in basal body temperature does not predict when ovulation will occur. Instead, an increase in your BBT notes that ovulation has already happened. You're most fertile two to three days before the increase in temperature. While an increased libido (sex drive) is not necessarily a symptom, it can be a sign of ovulation. A few hormones contribute to a heightened sex drive during ovulation, including: Estrogen: A surge of the female reproductive hormone estrogen increases the blood flow to the pelvic region Luteinizing hormone (LH): A rise in LH stimulates the production of testosterone, increasing sexual desire You may notice mood swings during your period or if you experience symptoms of premenstrual syndrome. However, it's not uncommon to have mood swings with ovulation. Mood swings can occur as a result of hormonal changes in estrogen, luteinizing hormone (LH), and progesterone.  Depending on how your body reacts to hormonal fluctuations, you may experience the following: Emotional sensitivity Sadness Anxiety Restlessness Positive mood Surge in energy Increase in confidence Each person who goes through ovulation experiences this phase a little differently. Hormonal fluctuations can cause a wide variety of symptoms at different points of your menstrual cycle. That said, changes in your hormones may produce one or more of the following ovulation symptoms: Mild ovulation symptoms are normal. However, the following symptoms may signal a need to consult a healthcare provider: You should also consider seeing a healthcare provider as soon as possible if you experience the following while ovulating: Debilitating abdominal pain that makes it difficult to move or perform daily activities Heavy or prolonged bleeding or spotting Fainting or loss of consciousness  Ovulation is a phase of the menstrual cycle that occurs when your ovary releases an egg. The physical action of the release of the egg and hormone fluctuations can cause a variety of symptoms, including pelvic pain, changes in vaginal discharge, increased basal body temperature, headaches, breast tenderness, water retention, or increased libido (sex drive).

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Varun Dhawan And Wife Natasha Dalal Announce Pregnancy; Here Are The Early Symptoms Of Pregnancy

The recent announcement by Varun Dhawan about his wife Natasha Dalal's pregnancy has sparked excitement and anticipation among fans. As they embark on this journey into parenthood, it's essential for expectant parents to recognize the early signs and symptoms of pregnancy. From missed periods to hormonal changes, understanding these indicators can help navigate this transformative phase with confidence and preparedness.

Here are the most common signs of pregnancy according to Dr Sangeeta Raodeo, Consultant Gynecology & Obstetrics, Fortis Hospital, Mulund. 

Missed Period

One of the most common indicators of pregnancy is a missed period. However, it's important to note that this symptom can be misleading for women with irregular menstrual cycles. Nonetheless, if you're in your childbearing years and notice a delay in your period, it might be time to take a pregnancy test.

Also Read:  Morning Sickness During Pregnancy: 7 Tips For Effective Relief

Tender, Swollen Breasts

Hormonal changes during early pregnancy can cause breast sensitivity and soreness. This discomfort typically diminishes after a few weeks as the body adjusts to hormonal fluctuations.

Nausea and Vomiting

Morning sickness, characterized by nausea with or without vomiting, is a hallmark symptom of pregnancy. While it often begins one to two months after conception, some women may experience it earlier or not at all. Pregnancy hormones are believed to play a significant role in the onset of nausea.

Increased Urination

Pregnant women may find themselves urinating more frequently than usual. This increase in urination is attributed to the body's higher blood volume during pregnancy, leading to greater fluid processing by the kidneys.

Fatigue

Fatigue is another prevalent symptom experienced during early pregnancy. While the exact cause is uncertain, hormonal changes, particularly a rapid rise in progesterone levels, are thought to contribute to feelings of sleepiness.

Also Read:  7 Factors That Impact Baby's Health During Pregnancy

Exploring Additional Symptoms

In addition to the classic signs mentioned above, there are several lesser-known symptoms that may indicate pregnancy:

Moodiness

The influx of hormones in early pregnancy can trigger mood swings and heightened emotional sensitivity. Expectant mothers may find themselves experiencing bouts of weepiness or heightened irritability.

Bloating and Cramping

Hormonal fluctuations can lead to bloating, akin to premenstrual symptoms. Some women may also experience mild uterine cramping in the early stages of pregnancy.

Food Aversions and Nasal Congestion

Pregnancy can bring about changes in taste preferences and heightened sensitivity to certain smells, resulting in food aversions. Additionally, increasing hormone levels may cause nasal congestion due to swollen mucous membranes.

Navigating the Journey

While these symptoms can provide valuable clues about pregnancy, it's important to remember that they are not definitive proof. Some women may be pregnant without experiencing many of these indicators, while others may mistake unrelated symptoms for signs of pregnancy. In such cases, a home pregnancy test or consultation with a healthcare provider can offer clarity and guidance.

Bottomline

As Varun Dhawan and Natasha Dalal embark on this joyous chapter of their lives, it serves as a reminder for expectant parents everywhere to stay attuned to their bodies and embrace the journey of pregnancy with openness and anticipation. By recognizing the early symptoms and seeking appropriate care, couples can embark on this transformative experience with confidence and assurance.

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8 Common Signs Of Pregnancy That Don't Necessarily Mean You're Pregnant

If your period is late this month, it may either be a cause for celebration or cause for concern — but before jumping to conclusions, it's important to take a breath. Many typical symptoms associated with pregnancy may actually be related to something completely different. Diet, exercise, and stress levels can affect your body more than you realize. There is no guaranteed pregnancy symptom other than a positive blood test at your doctor — even morning sickness has many other causes — so making assumptions too quickly may lead to some serious disappointment. Having pregnancy symptoms when you're not pregnant is a lot more common than you'd think.

The only foolproof way to know whether or not you are expecting is to take a pregnancy test and see your doctor. The reproductive cycle influences our bodies in many all-too-clear ways (cramps — ugh; emotions — double ugh), and the symptoms of pregnancy and PMS can be eerily similar if you're not pregnant. Trying to decipher exactly what symptoms mean can be super confusing, so it is helpful to be aware of all the possibilities before stressing one way or the other. In other words, check yo' self before you diagnose yourself.

Here are some signs of pregnancy that can have totally different causes behind them.

1. Missed Period

While this is one of the most common and well-known signs of pregnancy, a person can skip their period for a number of reasons.

"Lack of periods can mean pregnancy, but can also mean issues with the thyroid gland or other hormone imbalance in the body," Dr. Jamie Lipeles D.O., an OB-GYN, tells Bustle. He says that hormones can be influenced by stress, medications, and various kinds of birth control, as well as medical conditions.

Stress is more powerful than you think, and can be extremely disruptive to your body. It can affect the hypothalamus, which works with other systems to control hormone levels. If you are studying for some intense finals, you may expect Aunt Flow to be a little late with her monthly visit.

Medical disorders can also cause periods to disappear. "One of the most common causes of lack of period is a condition called polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS)," Dr. Lipeles says. "This hyper-androgenetic condition can mimic pregnancy in that patients usually gain weight, don't have periods, and feel 'different'."

Other reasons why your period may disappear include weight changes, or taking certain types of birth control.

2. Tender Or Swollen Breasts

The changes in hormone levels that occur during pregnancy can produce tender breasts. But just because your chest is achey doesn't mean you need to run to the pharmacy. Sore breasts are also a common side effect of PMS (nature's cruel joke). The day before your period comes, rising estrogen levels can cause discomfort in the chest area. Thankfully, it should return to normal when your period comes.

If you are sore after the gym, straining your pectoral muscles from strenuous exercise or heavy lifting can also cause chest pain. Fibrocystic breast tissue, a condition where breast tissue feels lumpy, may also cause tenderness and pain, especially during PMS.

3. Nausea

Morning sickness is experienced in around 70% of pregnancies, but it's no guarantee that you're pregnant. Stress may be one cause of sickness in the mornings. "It's not uncommon for a very stressed person to feel tired and nauseous," Dr. Lipeles says.

"If you're having intestinal issues, it could be a primary gastrointestinal problem," Dr. Felice Gersh M.D., an OB-GYN, tells Bustle. Vomiting or an upset stomach can be a side effect of medications, intense stress, viral infections, ulcers, food poisoning, and many other reasons.

4. Fatigue

During the first trimester of pregnancy, fatigue is a common side effect due to the body's elevated levels of progesterone. This hormone can make you feel drowsy and tired, especially paired with the drops in blood pressure and blood sugar that pregnant people experience. However, exhaustion has many other possible causes. Different lifestyle factors such as too much physical activity, lack of sleep, or eating habits can leave you feeling wiped out. Dr. Lipeles says that starting new medications can also cause you to feel exhausted.

Fatigue may also be caused by a common medical condition like anemia, depression, kidney or liver problems, diabetes, or hyperthyroidism. Like nausea, fatigue is a hard symptom to pin down, so not all signs point to pregnancy.

5. Moodiness

Feeling a little emotionally out of control or weepy? That could be a sign of pregnancy, or also... Not. In the beginning of a pregnancy hormones flood the body, creating the emotional rollercoaster effect. But if you are experiencing mood swings, there are many other things that may be playing with your hormones as well. PMS, menopause, stress, anxiety, depression, and even diet and exercise may be altering our hormone levels.

6. Bloating

Feeling bloated is another symptom of pregnancy that is too similar for comfort to its cousin PMS. While hormonal fluctuations can make you feel like a balloon that should be popped, bloating can also be caused by gas, eating foods that are difficult to digest, eating too quickly, a side effect of certain medications or birth controls, as well as some diseases and serious medical conditions.

7. Constipation

During pregnancy your bathroom schedule may be thrown out of whack due to the influx of the hormone progesterone, but constipation has many other causes. Taking calcium or iron supplements, irritable bowel syndrome, dietary changes or a low fiber diet, digestive problems, thyroid conditions, medications (such as certain anti-depressants), and stress can all lead to constipation. Dr. Gersh also says that if you experience blood in your stool, you shouldn't immediately assume it's pregnancy-induced hemorrhoids; it could be another kind of colon issue.

8. Cramping & Spotting

It may come as a surprise that two symptoms that resemble the beginning of the menstrual cycle are also indicative of pregnancy. During pregnancy, the spotting is called implantation bleeding. It is caused by the fertilized egg attaching itself to the wall of the uterus approximately two weeks after conception. But spotting can also be a result of starting a new birth control, stress, certain medications, infection, uterine fibroids, or a hormone imbalance.

If you're noticing unusual discharge, including bleeding, there could be another explanation. "You could be at risk of an STI, or another infection," Dr. Gersh says. "All unusual discharges need to be checked out."

The only real way to know whether or not you are pregnant is to take a test (and then have it confirmed with a blood test at the doctor's). Dr. Lipeles says that if you're not pregnant, but pregnancy symptoms persist for over three months, you should get yourself checked out for other potential causes.

Experts:

Dr. Felice Gersh M.D., OB/GYN

Dr. Jamie Lipeles D.O., OB/GYN

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This article was originally published on July 22, 2016

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