Ovulation - Clinical Presentation

Clinical Presentation

Further information: Concealed ovulation, Fertility awareness, and Mittelschmerz

The start of ovulation can be detected by various signs. Because the signs are not readily discernible by people other than the woman herself, humans are said to have a concealed ovulation. In many animal species there are distinctive signals indicating the period when the female is fertile. Several explanations have been proposed to explain concealed ovulation in humans.

Women near ovulation experience changes in the cervix, in mucus produced by the cervix, and in their basal body temperature. Furthermore, many women also experience secondary fertility signs including Mittelschmerz (pain associated with ovulation) and a heightened sense of smell.

Many women experience heightened sexual desire in the several days immediately before ovulation. One study concluded that women subtly improve their facial attractiveness during ovulation.

Symptoms related to the onset of ovulation, the moment of ovulation and the body's process of beginning and ending the menstrual cycle vary in intensity with each individual woman but are fundamentally the same. The charting of such symptoms, primarily Basal Body Temperature, Mittelschmerz and cervical position is referred to as the Sympto-Thermal method of Fertility Awareness, which serves to allow auto diagnosis by a woman of her state of ovulation. Once training has been given by a suitable authority, fertility charts can be completed on a cycle by cycle basis to chart ovulation giving the possibility of using the data to predict fertility for both natural contraception and pregnancy planning.

The moment of ovulation has been photographed.