What Happens After Ovulation? 8 Signs When Ovulation Is Over

Well, ovulation is an important part of the menstrual cycle of the woman. During this period, mature eggs are released from the ovary which on fertilization by sperm help in getting pregnant. If you are planning a pregnancy, knowing when ovulation takes place exactly is very crucial. However, once ovulation time is over, the possibility of conception significantly lowers. This might make you look for signs ovulation is over.

So, here, this article will guide you with some potential signs that show ovulation is over. With this, we will also give an overview of the ovulation period, when it occurs, how to predict and track ovulation, and many more related questions. Let's start!

Glance At The Topic:

Ovulation is the phase of the menstrual cycle during which the ovary releases mature eggs that on fertilization by sperm help in getting pregnant.
It typically occurs post the follicular phase and roughly 2 weeks before the menstruation (periods) begins.
Some signs can indicate when the ovulation period is over and may include changes in cervical mucus, an increase in basal body temperature, changes in cervical position, a drop in mood swings, and more.
However, sometimes women don't ovulate and the reason can be anovulation.
Anovulation occurs when the ovary does not release an egg at the time of the menstrual cycle. This can cause infertility problems.
From the convenience of your home, you can use some helpful tools such as ovulation predictor kits and fertility monitors to predict and track your ovulation period.

What is The Ovulation Period?

The ovulation period is characterized as the time in the menstrual cycle of the women during which a mature egg from the ovaries is released for fertilization. Before this phase, there is a spike in luteinizing hormones which triggers the release of a mature egg. Once released, the egg moves to the fallopian tubes, where it gets fertilized by the sperm cells. If the egg is fertilized, the zygote (a fertilized egg) moves to the uterine lining for implantation which results in pregnancy. However, if the egg does not get fertilized, it dissolves and the body relieves the uterine lining which leads to menstruation (period).

When Does Ovulation Occur?

Usually, ovulation happens in the middle of the woman's menstrual cycle which lasts for around 1 day. It typically occurs post the follicular phase (a phase when ovarian follicles ripen and one of the eggs inside them matures) and roughly 2 weeks before the menstruation begins. However, this process can differ from one woman to another and also from one month to another. Generally, ovulation occurs about 2 weeks before your period starts.

In some cases, ovulation can occur more than once a month, and in a few other cases, it doesn't happen at all even though the women have a period. This can make it challenging to track the ovulation period. But, recognizing the signs when ovulation starts or is over can help you plan or prevent pregnancy.

How Many Eggs Do You Lose Per Period?

Typically, you lose around 1,000 immature eggs per period. You usually ovulate 1 mature egg each month. This single mature egg makes it through the complete ovulation process. The ovarian follicle (that stores eggs) is activated, then, the egg grows and gets mature, and once it reaches full development, it detaches from the ovary and travels to the fallopian tubes. That's the ovulation phase.

But, there are plenty of eggs that do not mature in the first stage. In each menstrual cycle, nearly 15 to 20 follicles get activated and when the eggs inside them do not mature, they get reabsorbed or die. The number of deaths or reabsorption of immature eggs increases with age each month.

When is It Best to Have Sex During Ovulation?

During ovulation, women typically have a fertile window of 6 days. During this time, the chances of getting pregnant from unprotected sexual intercourse are very high. The woman is most fertile in the 4 days before ovulation, one day after ovulation, and about 24 hours after ovulation. The chances of fertilization of the released egg after the ovulation is for 12-24 hours. Sperms can stay in the reproductive tract for around 5 days. So, if you are planning to get pregnant, you can have unprotected sexual intercourse during these most fertile 6 days.

How to Tell When Ovulation Is Over?

To tell when ovulation is over, first, it is important to know when ovulation starts. As we have mentioned in the above section, ovulation happens in the middle of the woman's menstrual cycle, typically after the follicular phase ends when estrogen levels are highest. High levels of estrogen trigger the luteinizing hormone that indicates the ovaries release the mature egg.

Ovulation occurs 12 to 36 hours after the activating of the luteinizing hormone and egg lives for 12 to 24 hours post that. Fertilization can occur during this phase. When the egg is released, the leftover ovarian follicles (that store the egg) become corpus luteum, an organ that builds progesterone. The presence of high levels of progesterone shows the ovulation period is over. After ovulation, levels of progesterone typically rise for approximately 5 days before lowering. This rise in progesterone levels can lead to several symptoms and changes that can help you determine whether your ovulation period ends.

What are Signs Ovulation Is Over?

Wondering, “How to know ovulation has passed”? These potential signs, when ovulation is over, can help determine when your ovulation period has come to an end:

1. Changes in Cervical Mucus:

This is one of the common symptoms ovulation is over. As the ovulation period comes to an end, the cervical mucus tends to undergo some noticeable changes. Typically, it has a clear, stretchy, and sticky consistency that looks like raw egg white and after ovulation, it turns creamy and thick in texture. These changes can be a great indicator that your ovulation period comes to an end.

2. Lower Basal Body Temperature:

As you ovulate, the progesterone hormones flow through your body at a very high level which increases the normal Basal Body Temperature (BBT). When basal body temperature reaches its typical extreme height, it shows signs ovulation has already occurred. This shift in BBT will be approximately 0.5°F-1°F.

3. Reduction in Libido:

Our body functions mysteriously. It encourages the body to reproduce when women are 5 days near their ovulation period and even the day ovulation occurs. So, once the ovulation is over, your libido (desire for sexual activity) decreases. This shows your ovulation period has occurred already.

4. Decrease in Abdominal Discomfort:

Nearly 40% of women might feel mild discomfort in their abdominal area during ovulation. This discomfort is often described as a dull pain or cramp on one side of the lower part of the abdomen which is termed as "mittelschmerz". As per research, this pain lasts for a few minutes to hours and sometimes a day or two. But, a decrease in such discomfort shows your ovulation is over. Note that not every woman goes through this pain. This sign alone can't be sufficient to determine the end of the ovulation period.

5. Change in Cervix Position:

Your cervix position keeps changing during the menstrual cycle. Before the ovulation, it is higher and during the ovulation, it gets softer and more open for sperm penetration. But after you ovulate, it becomes firm, more closed, and lower in position, as per a study. This shows a sign of the end of the ovulation period.

6. Mood swings subside:

During ovulation, women's bodies go through hormonal fluctuations which cause mood swings. As the ovulation period is over, the hormonal changes subside and mood swings frequently become more stable.

7. Return to Constant Menstrual Cycle:

The ovulation period indicates a phase of increased fertility, and a chance to get pregnant. Once it gets over and pregnancy does not happen, your menstrual cycle starts. If a woman has an irregular menstrual cycle, returning to a much more constant period can be a hopeful sign that ovulation is over.

8. Breast becomes tender:

Tender or sore breasts are very common during the ovulation period. This happens due to the fluctuations of hormones such as progesterone and estrogen in the body. When ovulation ends, these symptoms disappear.

What Does Hyperovulation Feel Like?

The ovary typically releases one mature egg during the ovulation period of the menstrual cycle. Once released, it travels to the fallopian tubes for fertilization by sperm. But, sometimes more than one egg is released from the ovary during the same cycle. This condition is called hyperovulation. In this case, if both eggs get fertilized by sperm, it can lead to fraternal twins. The causes can be genetic, age, or an immature endocrine system. There are a few symptoms of hyperovulation that may be:

a shift in basal body temperature
pelvic pain or discomfort
a white, stretchy vaginal discharge
an increase in vaginal discharge
tender chest or breast

What Happens If I Am Not Ovulating?

Many women will ovulate for at least one time during their menstrual cycle. However, anovulation is the case when you are not ovulating. Actually, anovulation occurs when the ovary does not release an egg at the time of the menstrual cycle. This can also cause infertility issues. Ovulation, usually, can impact any woman with age between 12 to 51 years. And, the chances of anovulation are higher when:

You just start having menstruation (period).
You are in a phase of perimenopause.
You have Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)
You are living with a low Body Mass Index (BMI) because of practicing exercises for the long-term and beyond limit or anorexia.

Can You Get Pregnant After Ovulation Is Over?

Even if the ovulation period is over, the released mature eggs from the ovary are still accessible for fertilization for about 12-24 hours. In addition, sperm can live in the reproductive tract of the woman for around 5 days. Hence, if you have unprotected sexual intercourse a few days before the ovulation period, on the same day of ovulation, or after a day of ovulation, there is still the probability of getting pregnant.

How to Predict and Track Ovulation?

If you are planning for pregnancy, you might find it important to track your ovulation period. For this, you need to mark down the following points:

Menstruation (periods) dates
Explanations of your period blood
Explanations of your cervical mucus
Your Basal Body Temperature (BBT) readings
Notice physical changes like pain, tender breasts, bloating, or cramps.
Other relevant factors like energy levels, mood, and sex desire.

You can make use of a calendar or diary to keep an eye on your ovulation period. There are several online printable templates to track your period. Moreover, there are ovulation predictor kits available online. You can get help from fertility monitors as well in which you can mark your morning body temperature readings. This benefits in knowing the rise in your basal body temperature after the ovulation period. The most reliable option is transvaginal ultrasound. Professionals can help estimate the proper time your ovulation occurs and ends by examining your ovaries.

Final Thoughts

This article lists the signs that ovulation is over. We learn that ovulation is part of the menstrual cycle, and pregnancy can occur for up to five days before ovulation and one day after ovulation. There are some signs when ovulation is over. Those may include changes in cervical mucus, a little increase in the basal body temperature, abdominal pain or cramps, tender breasts, and more. Ovulation predictor kits and fertility monitors can help predict and track ovulation. If you are not able to track your ovulation period, seek professional help.

Glossary:

Basal Body Temperature: It is the temperature of the body when at rest.
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS): A hormonal condition that causes enlarged ovaries due to the presence of small cysts.
Perimenopause: It is a time around which your body naturally makes a transition to menopause, the end of menstrual cycles.
Body Mass Index: a measure of body fat depending on an individual's weight and height.
Progesterone and estrogen: Hormones that help in the regulation of the human reproductive system. Progesterone supports pregnancy while Estrogen maintains menstrual cycles.
Libido: a desire for sex.
Anorexia: an eating disorder that is marked by low, abnormal body weight, false perception of the weight, and extreme fear of weight gain.