Can you ovulate without having your period?

If your period doesn’t make an appearance and you’ve ruled out pregnancy, it’s natural to wonder what’s going on inside your body. 

Whether you’re used to having an irregular menstrual cycle or it takes you by surprise, you probably have questions about what it means. Do you still ovulate if you don’t have a period? And what does it mean for your chances of getting pregnant if you miss a period? Dr. Renita White, obstetrician and gynecologist, US, has the answers.

Key takeaways

• Ovulation usually happens around the middle of your cycle. Afterward, the hormone progesterone is released to prepare your body for pregnancy.
• If you don’t get pregnant, progesterone levels drop, and you get your period, meaning that ovulation and your period are closely linked.
• If you miss a period, it usually means you haven’t ovulated — but that’s not always the case.
• If you have concerns about missed periods, trying to conceive, or anything else, always see your health care provider for support.
• A cycle-tracking app like Flo can help you keep a record of your periods and symptoms so you can spot patterns and share them with your doctor.

What is ovulation, and when does it happen?

Ovulation happens when an egg is released from one of your ovaries and travels down the uterine tube (also known as the fallopian tube). It lives there for 12 to 24 hours, ready to be fertilized by sperm. 

If you have regular periods, this generally happens in the middle of your menstrual cycle — around day 14 in a 28-day cycle. But it will be different if your cycles are longer or shorter. A general guideline is that a cycle that lasts anywhere between 21 and 35 days is considered normal. If your cycles are regularly falling outside of that, the best thing to do is have a chat with your doctor.

If your periods are unpredictable, it’s harder to know if and when you’re ovulating. If you’re trying to conceive, this can make things feel complicated and perhaps frustrating. But don’t be disheartened; you may still be ovulating. Keep reading to find out how you can tell.

Can you ovulate without getting a period? 

The short answer? Yes, it’s possible that you can still ovulate without getting a period. 

Before we go into that, here’s the science behind the link between periods and ovulation. After ovulation, your ovary releases the hormone progesterone. This has the job of preparing your uterine lining to become home to a fertilized egg. If you don’t end up getting pregnant, your progesterone levels drop, and the lining of your uterus sheds, which is what you know to be your period.

But if you don’t ovulate, your body doesn’t release the progesterone afterward — and you may not get your period. That’s why a missing period can be a useful sign you’re not ovulating — but not always. 

Why you might ovulate without a period

• You have polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
  
  PCOS is a condition that affects between 8% and 13% of reproductive-age women, which causes an imbalance in certain hormones. One of the common symptoms of people with PCOS is that they don’t always release an egg during a menstrual cycle (called anovulation). In fact, between 70% and 80% of women with PCOS are affected in this way.

  Irregular periods are another sign of PCOS, which is linked to a lack of ovulation. But it is possible that you could ovulate randomly after your period has taken a long break, points out Dr. White. “In irregular cycles, you won’t know if or when,” she says. That’s because you would only get a period after the ovulation had happened. If you have PCOS and you want to get pregnant, don’t lose hope. Most women with the condition can still have a baby if they manage the condition with treatment, which can range from lifestyle changes to fertility drugs. Speak to your doctor to find out what’s best for you.  

• You’ve recently given birth
  
  It’s possible to ovulate as soon as three weeks after having a baby, although everyone’s bodies work at different paces. Because ovulation generally happens around two weeks before your period arrives, your first ovulation post-baby is likely to happen before you know your periods have returned. For that reason, birth control is a must if you don’t want to get pregnant right away (and remember, breastfeeding isn’t a failsafe option). Chat with your doctor to figure out which method is best for you.
   

• You have scar tissue in your uterus

  In rare cases (usually due to a surgical procedure), scar tissue known as adhesions can build up in your uterus. This is called Asherman’s syndrome. Procedures it might arise from include dilation and curettage, which is done after a pregnancy loss or for a pregnancy termination, or the removal of fibroids. If this scarring blocks your cervix, it can stop period blood from flowing out, which is why you would either have had a light period or no period at all, but you may still have ovulated. Other symptoms of Asherman’s syndrome can include pain and cramping. Make sure to see your health care provider if these symptoms sound familiar and you’re not sure of the cause. 

Can you get pregnant if you don’t have a period?

If your goal is to get pregnant, it can feel understandably worrying if you’re not having periods (known as amenorrhea). It might be reassuring to know that it is possible to conceive without a period, but it completely depends on what’s causing it. 

If you’re between your late 30s and 50s and you have perimenopause symptoms like hot flashes or brain fog, your periods can be a bit hit-and-miss. This is because you ovulate less frequently as your body begins to slowly wind down its ability to have a baby. But until you’ve gone for 12 months without having a period (which is menopause), there is still a chance of getting pregnant naturally. That’s because you are still ovulating, even if it’s only every now and then. Around 44% of women over the age of 40 conceive within a year of trying, although the likelihood drops the older you get.

A missing period can also be a one-off. Your cycle is controlled by hormones, and the following things can affect the balance of those hormones:

• Stress
• Medication (like antidepressants)   
• Illness (such as diabetes or a condition related to your thyroid gland) 

In these cases, ovulation often still happens. If you’ve missed three or more periods in a row and you think it’s due to one of these causes, go and see your doctor.

“If you have an unpredictable cycle due to a condition like PCOS, you may still be able to get pregnant if you sometimes ovulate,” adds Dr. White. The challenge is figuring out when it happens. “The calendar method (calculating your fertile window based on cycle length) isn’t reliable if your cycle isn’t predictable,” she says. But tracking ovulation with irregular periods is possible — you can use a period-tracking app like Flo to help.

How do you know you’re ovulating if you don’t have a period?

Usually, your period is a useful signal you’re at the start of your cycle, meaning ovulation is just a couple of weeks away. So, how are you supposed to know when you’re fertile without a bleed? The good news is, there are a few ways you can tell:

Check your cervical mucus 

Your discharge becomes clear and slippery around ovulation, usually for about four days. Some people describe it as raw egg white in texture. Keep your eyes peeled for this, and it could be a sign you’re near ovulation time.

Measure your basal body temperature

Your temperature at rest rises after ovulation by around (0.5° to 1°F). If you track your basal body temperature regularly, you may be able to spot the rise. While this might not help you to know when to time conception sex (because the rise only happens after an egg is released, and it only survives for 12 to 24 hours), it can be a useful indicator that you are still ovulating, even if no period follows.

Check your cervix

You can check your cervix for ovulation — it gets softer, higher, wetter, and more open. Have you never touched your cervix? You’re not the only one. Here’s how to do it:

• With clean hands, get into a position similar to one you’d use to insert a tampon or a menstrual cup (like a squat).
• Insert your middle finger into your vagina until you can feel your cervix (it’s like a donut in shape and protrudes a little, like the tip of your nose).
• During ovulation, your cervix “retreats,” so it’s further back and harder to reach than at any other time in your cycle.
• It should feel soft, a bit like your lips, around your ovulation time. 

Know your other signs

You may start to notice other signs of ovulation, such as mild ovulation cramps, breast tenderness, and a higher sex drive. You can use an app like Flo to keep track of these.

Use ovulation tests

If your cycles are regular, using an ovulation test in the approach to your fertile window (that’s the six days each cycle during which you could get pregnant) is a good way to tell exactly when you’re going to ovulate. These kits can catch the spike in luteinizing hormone (LH) that predicts ovulation will happen in the next 24 hours. 

Before you disregard ovulation tests because your periods aren’t predictable, “[they] can still be useful in irregular cycles,” says Dr. White. The only difference is that you may need to test more often to catch your LH surge. 

Some ovulation tests recommend you start testing the day after your period ends and continue until you see a positive result if you have irregular cycles, so you could give that a try. It’s worth noting that if your irregular cycles are caused by a condition such as PCOS or a thyroid issue, tests may give false positives. Having said that, just over 7% of ovulation kit results are incorrect, so it’s far more likely to give you an accurate reading than a false one.

When to see a doctor

If you’re concerned about missing periods, “it’s best to see a doctor as soon as you can,” advises Dr. White. If you have an underlying condition such as PCOS, a helping hand with some treatment may give you the best chance of getting pregnant. Or if there’s something else behind it, your doctor will be able to help you consider your options. 

It can feel lonely and isolating when you’re not getting pregnant. But remember that you’re far from alone. Opening up to your health care provider, your friends, or family can help you feel more supported — sometimes, just talking about how you’re feeling helps. 

If you don’t feel comfortable opening up to people around you, the Secret Chats space in the Flo app is a safe, anonymous place where people share their experiences and support each other with all things health and well-being — including trying to conceive. Download Flo now to join the discussion.