Everyone knows where babies come from, for thisthe sperm must meet the egg. But for this meeting to happen, the most active sperm must “come” to the finish line first, and the egg must mature and leave the follicle. The word “ovulation” comes from the Latin “ovum”, which means “egg”. Ovulation is the release of a mature egg, capable of fertilization, from the ovarian follicle. The most important condition for pregnancy is the presence of a good mature egg, so doctors are interested in this issue to assess the general condition of the reproductive system. Quite common causes of infertility in women are the absence of ovulation and various hormonal imbalances.
Tests for ovulation evaluation
Ovulation is characterized by individualsigns when a woman experiences discomfort in the lower abdomen approximately in the middle of the menstrual cycle – this is the ovulation period. During these days, you can also observe bloody discharge from the genital tract and increased sexual desire. However, to obtain more accurate results, it is better to use one of the methods described below. Measuring rectal (basal) temperature This is one of the simplest methods that does not require any financial investment, except for buying a thermometer. True, it is not perfectly accurate, since many conditions must be strictly observed: normal and long sleep, the temperature is measured in the morning at the same time, without getting out of bed. Temperature is measured in the rectum. Temperature information is plotted on a graph, where the days of the menstrual cycle are indicated on the horizontal axis, and the temperature is indicated on the vertical axis. The menstrual cycle can be considered ovulatory if the difference in temperatures in the first and second phases is at least 0.3 ° C. The first phase is the period before ovulation, with a "classic" regular cycle of 28 days its duration is 14 days. The second phase of the cycle is the remaining two weeks. Ovulation test strips This is a more accurate method for determining the level of LH (luteinizing hormone), which is one of the gonadotropins responsible for the normal functioning of the female reproductive system. Before ovulation, the level of this hormone increases significantly, thereby causing it. The preovulatory peak point of LH can be guessed at certain days of the menstrual cycle in urine, for this purpose special test strips are used. With a regular cycle, tests should be started approximately 17 days before the onset of the next menstruation, since the luteal phase lasts about 12-16 days. With a standard cycle of 28 days, testing should begin on the 11th day, and with a 35-day cycle - on the 18th day. Positive test results indicate that ovulation will begin in about 28-42 hours. Dynamic ultrasound and progesterone level determination Ultrasound allows you to see the process of formation of a mature dominant follicle in the ovary. After the egg is released, a corpus luteum is formed in this place, producing progesterone, which promotes the normal development of pregnancy. The level of this hormone can provide effective information about ovulation.
Age and ovulation
If a young woman is in reproductive ageage, almost every menstrual cycle will be ovulatory. Moreover, the absence of ovulation in 10-15% of cycles during the year is considered normal. The general trend can be characterized as follows: the older a woman becomes, the less often ovulation will occur. At the age of over 40, ovulation occurs no more than six times a year. However, it is not only about the absence of ovulation. In women over 40, the likelihood of pregnancy decreases not only due to a decrease in the number of ovulatory cycles, but also due to a decrease in the quality of the eggs. This, in turn, affects the likelihood of pregnancy, its normal development and the quality of the embryos.
If you can not get pregnant
1-1.5 years of regular sexual activity is considerednormal period. If after this period young women of reproductive age do not become pregnant, the doctor diagnoses "infertility in the couple". After this, both spouses are recommended to undergo examinations to clarify the possible reasons for the lack of pregnancy. Women over 35 are recommended to start examinations much earlier: if pregnancy does not occur within six months of regular sexual activity. Such recommendations are given so as not to waste time, since with age, ovarian function and the quality of eggs deteriorate.
Factors that affect ovulation
There could be any number of reasons:environment, various diets, taking medications. All this can cause hormonal disruptions and, as a result, the absence of ovulation. Constant changes in time zones, long flights, changes in usual climatic conditions - these factors are also a source of stress for the body, which can disrupt the usual rhythm of the reproductive system. However, as a rule, these disorders are transient. Thoughtless use of weight loss drugs, fasting often lead to persistent anovulation. A striking example is anorexia patients who voluntarily refuse food and bring themselves to a state of severe exhaustion. If the weight falls below 45 kg, the body clearly reacts to this and begins to suppress the processes of normal functioning of the reproductive system. In such women, menstruation and ovulation stop. Hormonal disorders can also cause disruption of the ovulation process, most of them are due to genetic reasons. Various conditions, such as polycystic ovary syndrome, hyperprolactinemia, thyroid dysfunction, syndromes accompanied by an increase in the level of male hormones, and disorders of sexual differentiation can cause the absence of normal ovulation. Some of these conditions are promising in terms of restoring ovulation and the onset of pregnancy, while others exclude the ovulation process altogether. Therefore, the question of treating hormonal imbalances and choosing medications should be decided by a doctor. Ovulation can be achieved by correcting hormonal imbalances and prescribing medications to stimulate the ovulation process. Many products are intended for this purpose: from tablets to injections. In the last few years, new products have appeared to stimulate the ovulation process. They contain gonadotropins obtained using genetic engineering methods, which guarantees the exclusion of impurities. With the advent of such drugs, the effectiveness of treating women with endocrine disorders has increased dramatically, both in order to restore the ovulation cycle and in terms of pregnancy.
How ovulation affects the sex of the baby
American scientists spent almost half a centuryHarvard University David Rorvik and Landran Shettles to develop a method based on planning sexual intercourse in relation to a known period of ovulation. The method is as follows: it was empirically discovered that spermatozoa with a male Y chromosome are more mobile than those carrying an X chromosome, so they can reach the egg first. When entering the acidic environment of the vagina, the activity of Y spermatozoa decreases, since they quickly die there and, thus, open the way for slower, but more viable, X spermatozoa. Scientists believed that X spermatozoa can survive in the uterine environment for several days awaiting ovulation, unlike spermatozoa with a Y chromosome, which are not capable of this. As the day of ovulation approaches, vaginal discharge becomes more alkaline, which increases the likelihood of survival of spermatozoa with a Y chromosome. If you know the exact day of ovulation, you can try to increase the chances of certain sperm to participate in the fertilization process, and therefore plan the sex of the future child. To increase the likelihood of having a girl, you need to have sex no later than 2-3 days before ovulation. If you want a boy, you should abstain from sex for a week before ovulation until the day of ovulation. An interesting point is that there is a certain seasonality, which has been proven by many observations. Girls are most often born in early winter, spring, early summer, early and late autumn. Boys are most often born in the first two winter months, early and late spring, late summer and mid-autumn. Based on these observations, you can plan the time of conception and increase the likelihood of having a child of a certain sex. We recommend reading:
