Ovulation Symptoms: 10 Signs You're Ovulating
By Ovuloom Team | May 16, 2025 | 6 min read
Your body is constantly communicating with you. While we often focus on periods, ovulation is actually the
"main event" of your menstrual cycle. Here are 10 common signs that your body is preparing to release an
egg.
1. Egg White Cervical Mucus
This is the gold standard of natural indicators. As estrogen rises, your discharge becomes clear, stretchy,
and slippery—resembling raw egg whites. This texture helps sperm travel to the egg.
2. Heightened Sense of Smell
Believe it or not, for some women, a more sensitive nose in the latter half of the menstrual cycle can be a
sign of ovulation. It's an evolutionary trait!
3. Breast Tenderness
Hormonal surges right before or after ovulation can cause your breasts or nipples to feel sore, heavy, or
tender to the touch.
4. Mild Pelvic Pain (Mittelschmerz)
About 20% of women experience a sharp twinge or mild cramp on one side of the lower abdomen. This is called
"Mittelschmerz" (German for "middle pain") and occurs when the egg bursts from the follicle.
5. Light Spotting
Some women notice a tiny amount of light pink or brown spotting when they ovulate. This is due to the sudden
drop in estrogen right before the progesterone rise.
6. Increased Libido
Nature is smart! You may notice a higher sex drive during your fertile window, which is your body's way of
encouraging reproduction.
7. Cervical Changes
If you check your cervix, you might notice it becomes higher, softer, and more open (often described as
feeling like your lips) compared to the post-ovulation phase (harder, like your nose).
8. Bloating
Water retention caused by rising estrogen can make you feel a bit bloated or puffy around your midsection
during ovulation.
9. Basal Body Temperature Dip
Just before you ovulate, your resting temperature might take a slight dip, followed by a sharp rise the
morning after ovulation occurs.
10. Saliva Ferning
A less common but fascinating sign: if you look at your dried saliva under a microscope during your fertile
window, the high estrogen levels cause it to crystallize into a fern-like pattern.
Ovuloom