Hi #GYNEGirls! It’s me Dr. Drai. Let’s talk about ovulation. Ovulation is the process by which a woman’s body releases an egg monthly from her ovaries. The egg travels down the fallopian tube and sits in the uterus waiting to get fertilized or die. Before we deep dive into FUN facts about ovulation, you must understand the menstrual cycle.

There are two phases of the menstrual cycle- follicular phase and the luteal phase. Ovulation occurs after the follicular phase BUT before the luteal phase. Both phases are typically 14 days. The follicular phase begins with the first day of your menses and ends right before ovulation. There are many hormones that play in this phase- mostly estrogen, luteinizing hormone, and follicle stimulating hormone. In the follicular phase, the dominant follicle for the month is selected and matures. The uterine lining starts to thicken. Hormones cause the follicle to rupture and release a mature egg. This is called ovulation.
Let’s review our FUN facts here.

1. Ovulation occurs 14 days BEFORE the first day of your menses.
2. Women are born with 2 million immature eggs. Only 400 eggs will ovulate in your lifetime.
3. Eggs live for 24 hours. Fertilization can only occur during this time.
4. Cervical mucus becomes stringy like egg whites during ovulation.
5. You may have a pain on one side of the pelvis when the egg is released from the ovary. This is called Mittelschmerz.
6. You become more attractive during ovulation. Confidence increases and your skin is clearer.
7. Ladies also become hornier during this time. Don’t forget the #AstroglideLube.
8. Your taste, smell, and vision are increased. Ovulation brings on superhuman powers.
9. The Basal Body temperature increases. It’s the first resting temperature of the day.
10. You can release more than 1 egg- TWINS!
11. Breastfeeding and birth control prevents ovulation from occurring.

After ovulation, the follicle turns into a corpus luteum cyst. So its true ladies YOU get a cyst every month on your ovaries and it is NORMAL. This cyst makes a hormone called progesterone which preps the uterine lining for implantation i.e. it thickens AND maintains a pregnancy (if fertilization occurs) until a placenta is formed. This cyst can only last for 14 days. If no fertilization occurs, the cyst and egg die. The hormones drop and this signals the body to start menstruating AGAIN. Isn’t the female body amazing?

Until next time… it’s Dr. Drai.