How do I know if I am ovulating?
Last updated September 3, 2026.
Your body posts signs: cervical mucus turning clear, slippery, and stretchy like egg white in the days just before; a brief one-sided twinge at release for some; a libido bump; and a half-degree basal temperature rise afterward. Ovulation predictor kits detect the LH surge in urine about 24 to 36 hours ahead - the closest to a real-time signal - while cycle apps guess from averages and drift on irregular cycles. The fertile window spans the five days before ovulation plus the day itself: sperm wait, the egg does not. Months of absent signs with irregular periods: see a doctor - PCOS and its relatives hide there.
What to do
- Watch the mucus. Clear and stretchy means the window is open now.
- Use OPKs for precision. The LH surge flags ovulation a day or two out.
- Track basal temperature for confirmation. The sustained rise confirms it happened.
- Escalate months of irregularity. Very irregular cycles with no signs: get checked.
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