ovulation question

Posted By  hfhs.md.rcs on February 18, 1999 at 18:52:45:

In Reply to: ovulation question posted by JC on February 18, 1999 at 09:12:42:

: My husband and I have been trying to conceive for the last three months and I am trying to be exact on my ovulation day.  In December I know I ovulated 13 days before my period because there was a lot of CM.  In January, I didn't have a lot of CM but it did change in texture on days 18, 19, and 20 of a 30 day cycle.  My cycles have been regular at 30 days each.  I am wondering if it is possible to ovulate that late in my cycle and on which day would I have ovulated.  Is it the first day of CM or the last day? I tried charting my bbt but I haven't seen any consistant rise in my temperature.  It is different each day.  If I do see a rise, is it on the day of ovulation or the day after?  Thanks in advance for clearing up my questions.  

[hfhsmdrcs]

_
Dear JC:
The length of the normal second half of cycle, the luteal phase, is 10-16 days. Thus, in a 30 day cycle, ovulation could be as early as day 14 and as late at day 20.
Cervical mucus is stimulated by estrogen to become thin, clear, and stretchable. This pattern can occur for many days before ovulation and it disappears after ovulation when progesterone makes the mucus thick, small in amount, and non-stretchable. When the mucus changes, ovulation is past.
A basal body temperature pattern suggests ovulation when there is a pattern of low temperatures that become approximately 1/2 degree F higher and this persists. Isolated temperatures have no meaning. The rise in temperature also reflects progesterone production: thus, ovulation is the low point before the rise.
Ovulation can also be monitored by a urine ovulation detecton kit: egg release occurs the day following the color change in most women.
Keywords: ovulation
This information is provided for education purposes and is not a medical consultation. If you have specific questions, please speak with your physician.