Ovulation

Understanding Ovulation
Ovulation is the fertile time during a woman’s menstrual cycle when one or more eggs are released from the ovary. It can occur as early as day 8 or as late as day 20 (and beyond) of the menstrual cycle. A woman with a particularly short cycle will ovulate earlier while a woman with a long cycle will ovulate later. Each month, many eggs mature inside the ovary. The largest is expelled into the pelvic cavity and swept into the fallopian tube. Once released, the egg is capable of being fertilized for 12 to 24 hours before it begins to disintegrate. If the released egg is fertilized and successfully implants the women is pregnant. If the egg is not fertilized it is passed from the reproductive tract during menstrual bleeding, which starts about two weeks after ovulation. Occasionally, cycles occur in which an egg is not released (called anovulatory cycles). It is important to know that you can get your period even though you are not ovulating and your ability to ovulate may vary from month to month.

Ovulation and your Hormones
There are two hormones involved in ovulation: Oestradiol and Progesterone.
Oestradiol is produced alone by the developing follicle before ovulation and stimulates the glands of the cervix to secrete a particular type of mucus essential for the sperm to pass through the cervix and reach the ovum. It also stimulates the growth of the womb.
After ovulation, both progesterone and oestradiol are produced by the corpus luteu. Progesterone prepares the oestrogen-primed endometrium for implantation of the fertilized ovum.
If the women does not get pregnant the production of oestradiol and progesterone begins to decline about 7 days after ovulation, which results in the shedding of the endometrium (menstrual bleeding) 11-16 days after ovulation.