Patient's question:
Irregular menstruation, don't know when ovulation occursDoctor's answer:
Ovulation generally begins around 14 days before the next menstrual period. Suggestions: How to know if you are ovulating? You can use the following methods. Ovarian ovulation can be monitored indirectly. (1) Basal body temperature monitoring: Basal body temperature refers to the temperature when you are inactive in the morning. It remains low during the pre-ovulatory phase and increases significantly by 0.2 to 0.5℃ after ovulation, lasting until the menstrual period arrives. BBT shows a biphasic pattern: indicating ovulation. Postmenopausal women or women who have had their ovaries removed show no biphasic pattern. BBT shows a monophasic pattern: suggesting possible anovulation. (2) Cervical mucus monitoring: During the first half of the menstrual cycle, the cervix does not secrete mucus, and the external genitalia are also very dry. Afterward, the cervix secretes a small amount of viscous and opaque mucus. As ovulation approaches, with the peak of estrogen, the cervical mucus becomes thin, transparent, clear, and increases in quantity, known as fertile-type mucus. (3) Ultrasound imaging monitoring (B) generally starts on the 10th day of the menstrual cycle to observe the changes in follicular diameter. On average, the follicular diameter increases by about 3mm per day in the 4 days before ovulation. The mature follicle is about 17 to 25mm in diameter before ovulation. After ovulation, the follicle disappears. Continuous monitoring shows the follicle growing continuously before ovulation. When the largest follicle disappears, it indicates that ovulation has occurred. (This method is reliable but requires continuous monitoring and is costly). During each menstrual cycle, mature ovarian follicles gradually move closer to the surface and rupture, releasing the mature egg cell along with the surrounding corona radiata into the abdominal cavity. This process is called ovulation.