Ovulation

[Atia_Julii]

My question is. . .  Does egg white cervical mucus guarantee that ovulation is occurring?

Many people on this forum have said to use an OPK. (Ovulation Predictor Kit) but I haven't had much luck with those, and I'm really trying to learn my body without the use of OPK's, and charting and stuff like that.  I was on birth control pills for almost 10 years, and never had egg white cervical mucus, and now I get it about day 20-23 of my 36/37 day cycle.

I've only been trying to conceive for almost 4 months, so I don't want to see a doctor or anything yet, but at the same time, I do want to have a good idea if I'm actually ovulating.  (and like I said, the OPK's have not been useful for me)

So, does the fact that my cm is changing to the egg white type, does this most likely mean I am ovulating.

Thank you for your time.

[John Kim, M.D.]

The cervical mucus change does not guarantee ovulation. You may get to the point of being ready for ovulation which would change your mucus but then not ovulate. The ovulation kit is helpful to determine if you have the LH surge that is necessary for ovulation but does not actual ensure that you ovulated. I usually ask my patient to check a progesterone level 7 days after the ovulation kit is positive to confirm ovulation. If the progesterone is at least 4.0 ng/ml then you ovulated. You should not delay in seeing a spcecialist in fertility if you want to determine if you ovulate.

[Atia_Julii]

And just one more thing to add to this question. . . Any reason I would get the fertile cervical mucus for about 7 days straight?  That seems a bit long, yet I'm still experiencing it.

Thank you.