What is early ovulation?
Ovulation is the release of an egg from one of your ovaries. Typically, ovulation happens about 12 to 14 days before your next period starts. If you have a textbook 28-day cycle, you’ll likely ovulate around day 14.
But not everyone has a textbook cycle! So, what happens if you ovulate sooner than that?
Early ovulation is when you release an egg earlier in your cycle than expected. Some doctors define it as ovulation before day 11 of your cycle. But what causes ovulation to happen early, and what does it mean for your fertility? Are there ways to manage it?
We’ll dive into these questions and more in the article below.
What is early ovulation?
To understand what constitutes early ovulation, it’s helpful to first understand the role of the follicular phase in your menstrual cycle.
Defining the follicular phase
The follicular phase is the first half of your menstrual cycle. It begins on the first day of your period and ends when you ovulate, or release an egg.
Follicular phases vary in length from person to person.
Defining early ovulation
In general, if you ovulate before day 11 of your cycle, that’s considered early ovulation. The biggest indicator of early ovulation is a follicular phase that lasts fewer than 12 days.
Ovulation timing can vary
Although the average menstrual cycle is 28 days with ovulation occurring around day 14, ovulation timing can vary quite a bit.
Most women reach their fertile window either before or after day 14 of their cycle.
How do I know if I’m ovulating early?
The signs of early ovulation are often the same as regular ovulation, so you might not know that you’re ovulating “early” unless you’re tracking your cycle.
Signs of ovulation include:
- Breast tenderness
- Changes in libido
- Changes in basal body temperature (BBT)
- Changes in cervical mucus/discharge
- Hormone fluctuations, particularly the LH surge
If you’re trying to get pregnant (or trying not to!), it’s important to track your cycles to identify patterns. This will help you know if you’re ovulating earlier than usual. You can also use ovulation tests to monitor your fertile window.
What causes early ovulation?
A number of different factors can affect when you ovulate. Here are some of the most common:
Lifestyle factors
- Stress. High stress levels can mess with your hormone balance.
- Weight. Being significantly underweight or overweight can impact ovulation.
- Smoking and alcohol. Both smoking and alcohol consumption have been linked to fertility issues.
Age and hormonal changes
- Perimenopause. Your hormones fluctuate during perimenopause, which can lead to irregular ovulation patterns.
- Age-related decline in ovarian reserve. As you get older, your supply of eggs diminishes, and this can affect ovulation.
Medical conditions and history
- Irregular cycles. If your cycles are already irregular, you may be more likely to experience early ovulation.
- History of miscarriage. Studies suggest a link between having a history of miscarriage and a shorter follicular phase.
- Recent use of hormonal birth control. It can take a few months for your cycles to regulate after you stop using hormonal birth control.
Other factors
- BMI.
- Illness.
- Unknown causes. Sometimes, the exact reason for early ovulation is hard to pinpoint.
How does early ovulation affect fertility and pregnancy?
There’s not a lot of research on early ovulation and its potential effects on fertility, so it’s hard to make definitive statements about the link between the two. However, early ovulation could affect your ability to conceive.
Potential Effects on Conception
If you ovulate early, you may have a shortened follicular phase. This could mean that your egg doesn’t have enough time to mature, which could affect whether it can be fertilized.
Hormone imbalances related to early ovulation may also affect the development of your uterine lining, which is where a fertilized egg would implant. Some researchers believe that early ovulation may raise the risk of miscarriage if the uterine lining hasn’t developed enough.
Finally, if you’re trying to get pregnant, you may miscalculate your fertile window if you tend to ovulate early. Because sperm can only live inside you for a few days, timing is everything, so it’s important to know when you’re ovulating.
Studies on Early Ovulation and Pregnancy Rates
Some, but not all, studies have suggested that women who ovulate before day 13 of their cycle are slightly less likely to get pregnant. One study found a 20% pregnancy rate per cycle for women who ovulated early, compared to 21% overall.
That said, other studies have tracked successful pregnancies even when women ovulated very early. One case study followed a woman who ovulated as early as day 8 of her cycle and had a healthy pregnancy.
Early Ovulation and Miscarriage Risk
One small study found that women with a history of miscarriage tended to have shorter follicular phases than women without. The women who had miscarried had follicular phases of 14 days, while the women who hadn’t had miscarriages had follicular phases of 16.2 days.
How to track early ovulation
If you’re trying to conceive, or if you’re trying not to conceive, you may want to track your ovulation. Here are a few ways to do it:
- Basal body temperature (BBT) charting. This involves tracking your temperature every morning before you get out of bed. After several months, you may begin to see a pattern that indicates when you’re ovulating.
- Ovulation predictor kits (OPKs). These kits measure the amount of luteinizing hormone (LH) in your urine. There’s usually a surge in LH right before ovulation. When used correctly, OPKs are up to 99% accurate.
- Fertility monitors. Monitors like Inito or Mira can track both LH and progesterone (PdG) levels. The Mira monitor can even track follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and estrogen (E3G).
- Cervical mucus monitoring. Some people track the consistency and appearance of their cervical mucus to predict ovulation.
If you’re trying to track ovulation, it’s important to keep a detailed record of your cycle for several months. That way, you’ll begin to understand your body’s patterns.
Managing and addressing early ovulation
There are several ways to manage early ovulation, depending on the underlying cause and your overall health goals.
Lifestyle modifications
Simple lifestyle changes can sometimes regulate your cycle and improve your chances of conceiving. These include:
- Stress reduction techniques, such as meditation, yoga, or spending time in nature
- Maintaining a healthy weight
- Getting regular exercise
- Getting adequate sleep (7 hours or more per night)
- Limiting caffeine, alcohol, sugar, and tobacco
Medical interventions and consultation
If you’re consistently ovulating early or struggling to conceive, it’s a good idea to consult with your healthcare provider. Fertility treatments, such as Clomid or hormone injections, may be necessary in some cases. Hormonal therapies may also be used to regulate ovulation cycles.
Addressing underlying conditions
Sometimes, early ovulation is a symptom of an underlying condition, such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Managing PCOS-related issues, such as insulin resistance and hormonal imbalances, can help regulate ovulation patterns.
In Summary
Let’s recap what we’ve covered about early ovulation. When ovulation happens sooner than you expect, usually before day 11 of your cycle, it’s considered early. It can be caused by lifestyle factors, your age, or underlying health conditions.
Tracking your menstrual cycles is the best way to understand your unique patterns and identify whether you’re ovulating early. If you’re concerned about when you’re ovulating, contact your OBGYN. They can perform tests and answer your questions.
It’s important to remember that early ovulation doesn’t automatically equal infertility. While it can lower your chances of getting pregnant, especially if it’s consistently very early in your cycle, many women with early ovulation still conceive successfully. So track your cycle, talk to your doctor, and try not to worry too much.