ovulation

Ovulation is the point in the menstrual cycle when an ovary releases a mature egg. This usually happens once during a monthly cycle and is the time when pregnancy is most likely to happen if sperm is present. After release, the egg moves into the fallopian tube. The exact timing is not always regular, so knowing when it happens can help people who are trying to get pregnant or trying to avoid pregnancy. The days around this event are often called the fertile window.

Ovulation is the release of a mature egg from one of the ovaries. It is a central part of the menstrual cycle and the reproductive system. Each month, several eggs begin to develop in the ovaries, but usually only one fully matures. Around the middle of the cycle, hormonal changes trigger that egg to be released. In a 28-day cycle, this often happens about 14 days before the next period, although the timing can vary.

The released egg travels down the fallopian tube, where it can be fertilized by sperm. If fertilization happens, the resulting embryo may implant in the uterus, leading to pregnancy. If fertilization does not happen, the egg breaks down, and the body later sheds the uterine lining during menstruation.

Understanding ovulation is important for family planning. Tracking the menstrual cycle, checking basal body temperature, or using ovulation predictor kits can help estimate when it happens. Stress, illness, hormone conditions, and some medications can affect how regular it is.

Hormonal changes around this time can also cause signs such as clearer, stretchier cervical mucus, mild lower abdominal pain, breast tenderness, or changes in sexual desire. In this way, ovulation is not just a single event but part of a wider monthly process in the body.