How to Calculate Ovulation for an Irregular Cycle

Knowing when a woman ovulates is helpful to both achieving and preventing pregnancy.Ovulation occurs when one or more eggs are released from an ovary, signaling the most fertile time of the female menstrual cycle. Women who have irregular cycles may utilize several methods to help them know when ovulation occurs. Methods to detect ovulation include using an ovulation prediction kit, tracking basal body temperature and monitoring cervical mucus.

Things You'll Need

• Ovulation prediction kit
• Basal body temperature thermometer
• Notepad
• Pen
• Toilet paper or tissue

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Instructions

Ovulation Prediction Kits

• 1

  Purchase an ovulation prediction kit at the grocery or drug store.

• 2

  Open the kit.

• 3

  Remove the instructions and follow them carefully; some require the use of the first urine of the day, when hormones are most concentrated.

• 4

  Remove a test stick.

• 5

  Urinate on the test stick.

• 6

  View your results and compare them against the possible results listed in the instructions.

• 7

  If a positive result is not achieved, test again the next day until the test shows positive for ovulation. Women with irregular cycles may need to test many times before they see a positive result.

Basal Body Temperature

• 8

  Purchase a basal thermometer at the drug store.

• 9

  Take your temperature. You must take your temperature at the same time each day. It is recommended that you take your Basal temperature first thing in the morning, before you get out of bed.

• 10

  Record your temperature on a notepad that you keep next to your bed.

• 11

  Chart your temperature using one of the many free online ovulation charting programs.

• 12

  Watch for a rise in temperature. At ovulation, your temperature will rise anywhere from 0.4 to 1.0 degrees Fahrenheit. Your temperature will remain elevated until menstruation begins.

Monitoring Cervical Mucus

• 13

  Carefully wipe your vaginal area with tissue or toilet paper, from front to back.

• 14

  Look to see if there is any cervical mucus on the tissue.

• 15

  Evaluate the consistency of the mucus. Cervical mucus may be watery, thick, or stretchy. Clear, stretchy cervical mucus is the most fertile and signifies that ovulation is about to occur, or has occurred.