8 signs ovulation is over for this month

If you’re trying to conceive (TTC), ovulation is likely never far from your mind. It’s a big event, after all, because having sex around ovulation (the release of an egg) boosts your chances of getting pregnant.

But it’s not always easy to tell when ovulation has happened and when your fertile window has likely closed for the month. Obstetrician and gynecologist Dr. Angela Jones, US, is on hand to demystify this part of the cycle. 

Key takeaways

• Ovulation happens when one of your ovaries releases an egg into your uterine (fallopian) tubes. The egg can only last up to 24 hours, but this short moment can be a big deal if you’re trying to conceive.
• As sperm can live for up to five days in the female body, there are around six days each cycle when your pregnancy chances are highest. This is your fertile window. It closes 12 to 24 hours after ovulation. 
• You might be able to tell that ovulation is over by noticing body changes, such as breast tenderness stopping, a change in your basal body temperature, and your cervical mucus becoming thick and creamy. But everyone is different, so it’s helpful to get to know your normal.
• A cycle-tracking app like Flo can help take the guesswork out of ovulation. Ovulation test kits are a reliable way of determining whether you’re about to ovulate. 
• Your pregnancy chances will be low 24 hours after ovulation because your egg can only survive in your uterine tube for one day. 
• Knowing when ovulation is over can help you better understand your body and pinpoint when to next have sex for the best chances of conception. 

8 signs ovulation is over

Knowing when you’ve ovulated can give you peace of mind that you’ve timed sex during the most fertile part of your cycle. And there are clues your body may give you that ovulation is likely over (and you’re now in the luteal phase of your cycle, which is the lead-up to your period if you haven’t got pregnant), says Dr. Jones. 

But remember, not everyone experiences these symptoms. Tracking your symptoms using an app like Flo can help you spot your personal patterns so you know what to expect throughout your cycle. Some of the signs ovulation is over may be:

Cervical mucus becomes thick and creamy again

Around ovulation, you might notice your cervical mucus (also called vaginal discharge) becomes clear and slippery — a bit like egg whites. Once this most fertile part of your cycle is over, your discharge tends to become thicker, stickier, and creamier.

“This is one of the most obvious signs ovulation is over,” says Dr. Jones. 

Breasts no longer feel tender

The hormonal shifts around ovulation can affect your breast tissue, making it feel more tender than normal. So if you usually experience sore boobs during your fertile days, once this tenderness stops, you can probably assume ovulation is done for the month. That said, some people experience breast pain right up until they get their period, so it’s not always a totally reliable signal that your fertile period is over.

Sex drive is lower 

Having more desire for sex during your fertile days can be common. Hormonal shifts around this time often come with a boosted sex drive, and some people find that this returns to baseline once ovulation is over. So, if you were desperate to tear your partner’s clothes off a few days ago but not so much today, that could mean ovulation is over for the month. And remember, everyone is different, so if you don’t notice any changes in your sex drive throughout your cycle, that’s also totally fine. 

Ovulation cramps have eased 

Up to 40% of us experience pain during ovulation (called mittelschmerz), which can feel like a sharp twinge or cramps in your lower belly. It typically lasts a few hours or up to 24 hours. So if you usually feel a need for a hot water bottle around ovulation, but then the cramps seem to pass, that gives you a pretty big clue that ovulation has happened. Around 5% of us also experience a little bit of bleeding (spotting) during ovulation. So if you’ve noticed that your spotting has stopped, that might also suggest that ovulation is done for the month.

Your cervix feels firmer 

If you feel comfortable doing so, touching your cervix can also help you figure out whether you’ve ovulated or not. However, it’s much better (and easier) to rely on other methods of ovulation tracking, such as monitoring your basal body temperature (BBT), using ovulation tracking kits, and keeping an eye on the way your cervical mucus changes. 

If you do want to check your cervix throughout your cycle, it can be helpful to use some lube. Gently guide your longest finger into your vagina and feel for a round, raised circle with a dimple in the middle. Once you’re used to checking your cervix regularly, you might notice that your cervix feels firm and sits lower (closer to your belly) during the parts of your menstrual cycle when you’re not ovulating (during your follicular and luteal phases and your period). During your fertile window, your cervix might feel softer, a bit like your ear lobe.

Your body temperature increases a little 

If you’ve been trying for a baby for a while, you might already be a pro at taking your basal body temperature each morning as soon as you wake up. And according to Dr. Jones, this can be a useful sign that ovulation has happened. “A change in basal body temperature is another major sign ovulation has happened as it increases slightly during ovulation.”  

You can record your daily readings on a spreadsheet or an app like Flo. Your BBT increases very slightly (by around (0.5° to 1°F) during ovulation and for around three days afterward. So if you notice a peak on your chart, ovulation has likely happened.

It’s roughly two days after a positive LH test

Ovulation predictor tests can also be really helpful when you’re TTC. They measure a surge in a luteinizing hormone (LH) in your pee. If it’s been a few days since you got a positive reading on an ovulation predictor kit, it’s safe to assume your fertile window has likely been and gone.

When is ovulation, and how long does it last?

Ovulation is the point in your menstrual cycle when your ovaries release a mature egg. Once it’s released, the egg moves down your uterine tube and hangs around there for up to 24 hours, waiting for a potential meeting with a sperm.

​​This can mean pregnancy if your egg meets sperm during that time. But if the sperm fails to show and fertilization doesn’t happen, your egg will eventually disintegrate or break down, and you will get your period, which is the shedding of the lining of your uterus. 

Even though ovulation is technically just the moment of egg release, there are several days in your cycle when getting pregnant is likely, explains Dr. Jones.

As sperm can live for up to five days in the female body after sex (and your egg lives for up to 24 hours), that adds up to around six days per cycle when your pregnancy chances are highest. This is known as your fertile window. “To increase your chances of pregnancy, having sex during your fertile window is crucial,” Dr. Jones explains.  

In an average 28-day menstrual cycle, ovulation tends to happen about 14 days before your next period. That said, we’re all different with different cycle lengths, and the exact timing of ovulation can range from person to person. Research shows that a textbook 28-day cycle isn’t as common as people think. But keeping track of your periods with a calendar or an ovulation-tracking app like Flo can help you learn about your ovulation signs and, therefore, when you’re probably most fertile. 

Can you get pregnant after ovulation is over?

Knowing whether you’ve ovulated or not can give you a little more certainty during your TTC journey. But you might be wondering whether pregnancy is possible if you have sex after ovulation has passed. 

“Generally, the chances of getting pregnant after ovulation are low,” explains Dr. Jones. “And though it’s still possible to conceive, your fertile window is limited to the 12 to 24 hours after your egg has been released.” 

So, if it’s been more than a day since you ovulated, your pregnancy chances are likely to be slim. “Your chances of getting pregnant will increase if you wait until your next fertile window,” suggests Dr. Jones. If you want some help tracking your cycle, download the Flo app and get started.

Experts recommend having sex every other day during your six-day fertile window for your best chances of conception success. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have sex if you want to at other points. Having regular sex (regardless of where you are in your cycle) can build closeness with your partner and stop sex from feeling like a chore if you’re TTC.