Having ovaries lends to a lot of universal experiences, from debilitating monthly cramps to PMS symptoms like cravings and fatigue. However, an experience less talked about is the frenzy that accompanies the week of your ovulation.
While its accompanied symptoms may sometimes be difficult to survive, ovulating is a very significant phase in your menstrual cycle. Whether you’re trying to track when your mood swings will subside, or hoping to more accurately track your fertility window, here are nine signs ovulation is over and how to spot them.
What is Ovulation?
Playing a major role in your fertility, ovulation refers to the process in which a mature egg is released from the ovary.
Though the timing of everyone’s cycle is different, ovulation tends to happen mid-cycle and last for about a week, with one particular peak date of fertility. “For people who don’t have 28-day cycles, we can estimate the ovulation date in retrospect because we know the luteal phase is about 10 to 14 days,” says Dr. Chen, the medical advisor for Oova, a fertility diagnostic company. “So, if you have a 35-day cycle, we can estimate you ovulated around day 20 to 25, but this is all done retrospectively.”
Whether or not the egg is fertilized by sperm determines pregnancy: if not, the egg will disintegrate and the uterine lining will shed. So what happens after ovulation is over? Following a four-phase ovarian calendar, the luteal stage begins. If pregnant, hormones will keep the lining from shedding; if not, your period will start around day 28, beginning the next cycle.
What Are the Symptoms of Ovulation?
The symptoms that accompany ovulation of course vary body by body, as well as if you’re affected by hormone disorders like PCOS or fibroids. Clear, stretchy and resembling raw egg whites, a surplus of discharge is a pretty widespread occupation symptom. Other signs include:
- A rise in body temperature
- Mid-cycle spotting
- Softened cervix
- Increased sex drive
- Ovary pain
While these can be pretty blaring, the most accurate way to assess whether or not you’re ovulating is by tracking it using methods like at-home ovulation test strips or basal body temperature charting.
9 Signs Ovulation Is Over
So what does the end of ovulation feel like? As the above symptoms begin to dissipate, there are some signs to look out for that mark the end of ovulation.
Less Discharge
While ovulation is usually accompanied with an excessive amount of discharge, a sudden drop in the amount or shift in texture can mean ovulation is over. Your cervical mucus will revert from its slippery consistency back to the thick, creamy consistency.
Lower Libido
If it’s one of your ovulation symptoms, chances are, you become an animal during ovulation. Your libido and interest in sex increases significantly, which means that a leveled-out libido or your interest in sex dropping even lower than usual can mean your ovulation has ended.
Lower Body Temperature
As ovulation happens, changing hormone levels lead to a spike in body temperature. Therefore, once it’s over, your temperature will drop back to its standard temperature. The best way to determine this is to record your temperature daily using a basal thermometer.
Mood Stabilizes
Feeling a bit emotionally irrational during the week of your ovulation is incredibly common. The fluctuating hormones can be difficult to handle, but as ovulation ends and these hormones level out, you’ll feel much more grounded.
Harsher Cervix
While it’s not as common to get a feel for your cervix every day, using your fingers to gently check could help you determine your ovulation status. During ovulation, your cervix becomes higher and softer. Afterwards, your cervix will feel harder, like touching the tip of your nose.
Tender Breasts
With the commencement of the luteal phase comes an influx of its symptoms, including headaches, fatigue, nausea and muscle pain. Alongside these symptoms is breast tenderness, so if you feel a shift in the sensitivity of your breasts, this may mean your ovulation has wrapped up.
Subsided Abdominal Pain
If you’re one of the unlucky bunch to experience abdominal pain during your ovulation phase, then there’s certainly reason to celebrate once the fertility window is closed. An alleviation of pressure or light cramping may indicate that ovulation is complete.
Subsided Spotting
Though this symptom isn’t as common, many women experience mid-cycle spotting that accompanies ovulation. If the spotting goes away, this could mean your fertility window is closed. If the egg released during ovulation is left unfertilized, you may soon experience spotting again, as a preliminary to your period.
Your Period Starts
And lastly, the more obvious indication of your ovulation ending is the commencement of your period. The bleeding itself is a result of the egg disintegrating and the uterine lining shedding, which means there’s nothing left to be fertilized.
Pay Attention To Your Body
Your body is always communicating with you, so if your ovulation is at its peak or totally wrapped up, all it takes is playing closer attention to notice. Keep these nine signs ovulation is over during your next cycle and you’ll begin building an even more intimate dialogue with your body.