Late ovulation on what day of the cycle. Late ovulation and menstruation. Reasons for “late” ovulation

Determining the maturation period of the egg is important not only when planning pregnancy - a change in the date of release of the oocyte from the follicle may indicate the development of a pathological process in the female body. When should ovulation occur? What reasons lead to a shift to the 23rd, 25th and even 30th day of the cycle? Is it possible to get pregnant with “delayed” ovulation?

When does ovulation occur normally and in what case is it considered late?

In a healthy woman of reproductive age, ovulation occurs in the middle of the menstrual cycle. With a classic 28-day cycle, the egg leaves the follicle on the 14th day, but if a woman’s regular cycle lasts 32 days, it can be expected on the 16th day. If the egg leaves the follicle with a delay of 3–5 days (for example, on days 20–25), then there is reason to say that the woman is experiencing late ovulation.

When is “late” ovulation a normal option, and when is it a symptom of pathology?

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In some cases, the egg is “late” not due to illness, but due to physiological reasons. Failure of the menstrual cycle and its displacement are considered normal in the postpartum period; usually the condition of a young mother normalizes itself over time. The following factors can also cause late ovulation:

  • concomitant diseases - an infectious disease, a cold, aggravated chronic pathology can lead not only to a delay in timing, but also to an anovulatory cycle (after recovery, everything will return to normal);
  • frequent changes of time zones and/or long flights;
  • adaptation to a changing climate;
  • constant overwork;
  • strong feelings.

In rare cases, late maturation of eggs is an individual feature of a woman’s body. Many couples who turn to fertility specialists because pregnancy does not occur learn about pathological late ovulation in the woman.

In most cases, such a violation is the result of diseases, which include:

  • pathologies of the endocrine system leading to hormonal imbalance;
  • polycystic ovaries;
  • infections of the reproductive system;
  • adenomyosis;
  • endometriosis;
  • inflammation of the organs of the female reproductive system, acute or chronic.


How to determine the date of ovulation?

For couples planning to have a child, determining the date of oocyte maturation is of particular importance. However, if the egg leaves the follicle later than normal or the woman has an irregular menstrual cycle, then you cannot rely on calculation alone, so you should also pay attention to the characteristic symptoms and use methods such as measuring basal temperature, ultrasound of the ovaries, and an ovulation test.

In most women, ovulation is accompanied by characteristic symptoms, which helps determine readiness to conceive even if ovulation shifts. Rupture of the follicle may be accompanied by mild pain in the lower abdomen, which quickly passes. By the time of ovulation, the amount of discharge increases, which becomes similar in consistency to raw egg yolk.

Before ovulation, there is an increase in sexual desire - this is how the body prepares for fertilization of the oocyte. Some note increased sensitivity of the mammary glands, which may increase slightly in size.

Another sign of ovulation is premenstrual syndrome (a woman becomes irritable and very emotional, her mood often and suddenly changes).

Basal temperature measurement

To determine ovulation by basal temperature, you will first need to build a temperature graph. To do this, you need to measure your temperature rectally every morning at the same time (before getting out of bed) for 3-4 months, and record the results in a special table. Before the egg leaves the follicle, basal temperature values ​​increase within 0.5–1 degrees.

Ultrasound examination of the ovaries

Ultrasound examination of the ovaries is one of the most accurate ways to determine ovulation. Usually the doctor prescribes the test, but when planning a pregnancy, a woman can ask the doctor to write out a referral for an ultrasound scan. To prepare for pregnancy, research begins on the 8th day of the cycle, and by the middle of it it becomes possible to detect ovulation.

Ovulation tests

Ovulation tests, which are sold in pharmacies, show high accuracy. According to the principle of action, they are similar to tests for determining pregnancy, but the special substance with which the strip is impregnated reacts not to hCG, but to LH (luteinizing hormone, the level of which increases during ovulation). If the egg has left the follicle and the body is ready for conception, the test will show 2 stripes.

Does the time of ovulation affect the possibility of conception?

Is it possible to get pregnant if you ovulate late? It is impossible to answer this question unequivocally. If the shift in the date of release of the egg is not associated with pathologies of the female reproductive system, a woman can successfully become pregnant, but she should remember that conception will occur later. It is imperative to warn the gynecologist that there is a shift in ovulation, so that he takes this feature into account when monitoring fetal development.

It should be borne in mind that late ovulation, even caused by physiological reasons, can make conception difficult and jeopardize pregnancy.

The fact is that due to the late release of the oocyte, the duration of the second phase of the cycle - the luteal phase - is significantly reduced (sometimes to critical values), and the female body simply “does not have time” to prepare for pregnancy.

When is it possible to confirm pregnancy during late ovulation?

If a woman knows that ovulation came “late,” this fact should be taken into account when confirming conception. Since fertilization of the egg during late ovulation does not occur in the middle of the cycle, but closer to its completion, if there is a delay of several days, doing a test will be useless - even if the woman is pregnant, the level of hCG in her body will not yet reach high enough values.

Using a pregnancy test


In order for the reagent of a conventional pharmacy pregnancy test to detect an increase in the level of the hCG hormone in a woman’s urine, at least 2 weeks must pass from the moment the egg is released. It is possible to determine that conception has occurred using a test strip if you calculate when it is best to carry out the test.

When calculating, you need to take into account the date of release of the egg (you can focus on the signs and symptoms of ovulation and your own feelings, but the calculation will be more accurate if the woman has undergone tests or relevant tests). The embryo is not fixed in the uterine cavity immediately - about 6-8 days pass between fertilization and attachment. The level of the hCG hormone begins to rise only after the fertilized egg has consolidated and the development of the embryo has begun.

It is recommended to carry out a pregnancy test during normal periods of ovulation in the absence of menstruation for at least 3 days after the expected date of their arrival. For women whose egg release occurs later than normal, the recommended day to use the test strip is no earlier than a week after the expected date of menstruation. If you need to determine pregnancy earlier, it is better to use highly sensitive digital tests.

When ovulation is late, a pregnant woman may get her period. This happens if fertilization occurred at the very end of the cycle, and the fertilized egg simply did not have time to “get” to the uterus by the start date of menstruation. Regulations can begin at the right time and go away as usual or look like scanty spotting.

Using ultrasound

Ultrasound examinations are performed several times during pregnancy - this is an effective way to monitor the development of the fetus and identify many abnormalities in the early stages. It is possible to confirm the fact that a woman will soon become a mother with the help of such a study, but there is no need to sign up for the study in the first week of the delay - even the most experienced specialist will not see anything on the screen.

For the doctor to be able to view the fertilized egg on the monitor, at least 4 weeks must have passed from the moment of fertilization. If the ultrasound room has modern equipment, the doctor conducting the examination is experienced and highly qualified, and the woman’s uterus is completely healthy and there are no inflammatory processes occurring in it, you can see the embryo at a period of 3–3.5 weeks.

In most cases, the study is carried out no earlier than the 5th week from the moment of alleged conception. At this time, the doctor will be able to examine the fertilized egg, hear the baby’s heart beating, and conclude that the pregnancy is developing normally and no abnormalities have been identified. For this reason, we can talk about confirming pregnancy using ultrasound during late ovulation only if there is a delay of at least 3 weeks.

How is the gestational age calculated for late ovulation?

Typically, gynecologists take the date of the last menstruation as the “reference point” for pregnancy. This approach can be considered rational during normal ovulation, but if the oocyte leaves the follicle later, the calculation will be incorrect. As a result, the doctor will receive a significant calculation error - up to 3 weeks.

Based on erroneous data, a gynecologist during pregnancy may conclude that the fetus is developing too slowly, with a delay, and will not be able to correctly determine the date of birth. Based on the assumption that the child is lagging behind in development, the gynecologist may prescribe the woman to take hormonal medications that are actually unnecessary, which will negatively affect both her condition and the health of the baby.

The gynecologist should be informed about late ovulation (even if there is only suspicion). Then the doctor will calculate the gestational age based on the ultrasound results. The doctor will determine the degree of maturity of the fetus, measure its parameters and be able to draw fairly accurate conclusions about the gestational age.

  • Date: 04/30/2019
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Late ovulation is not observed in everyone, since in a healthy body all processes occur in a timely manner. For many women, the late stages of this process are unacceptable, since women consider this an obstacle to conceiving a child. But everyone has their own characteristics, so each case is deeply individual.

Features of the female body

What is late ovulation? Many women begin to think about this concept when problems occur in the body. This process is certainly associated with something negative, which will negatively affect the ability to conceive and bear a healthy child.

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However, is there really any reason to worry? This is worth looking into. To do this, it is necessary to determine exactly how it affects other functional processes in the body. Ovulation is the ability of a ready and mature egg to leave the follicle in which it is initially located for the process of fertilization. This is an absolutely normal phenomenon, which is typical for all healthy representatives of the fair sex.

There is a certain time between ovulations. It usually ranges from 21-30 days. The process itself occurs approximately in the middle of the menstrual cycle. For most women, it lasts for the same period of time, so the ovulation process should also occur at the same time.

When calculating, they usually take 28 days - the duration of the menstrual cycle in the absence of any deviations. Thus, it is not difficult to calculate that late ovulation in a 28-day cycle occurs with the onset of day 14.

Late periods of ovulation are determined if, with the specified duration of the menstrual cycle, the ovulation process occurs on the 18th day or later. It is wrong to confidently say that there are some problems in a woman’s body in such cases. To do this, you need to conduct a series of studies and monitor the course of menstrual cycles for more than 3 months.

It is necessary to pay attention to the fact that for some women the duration of the menstrual cycle can be 34 days. This phenomenon is considered normal if the cycle of the specified time period is stable and regular.

In this case, ovulation occurring 18 days after its onset is not a deviation, but a normal value, so there is no need to talk about late periods.

The time between the ovulation process and the subsequent onset of menstruation should not be shorter than 11 days. If all the values ​​are within the given figures, then it makes no sense to talk about late dates. In this case, minor deviations within a few days are allowed.

Reasons for late appearance

What are the causes of late ovulation? It has been revealed that ovulation occurs very rarely in the later stages. In most cases, there are reasons that cause the delay in question. Many of the existing negative factors are corrected through various techniques, which has a beneficial effect on the functioning of the body. In this case, the likelihood of conception increases significantly.

The main reasons why this process is delayed include:

  • an infection that is aimed at damaging the reproductive system;
  • hormonal disorders;
  • frequent stressful situations;
  • abortion;
  • miscarriage;
  • birth of a child;
  • menopause

They are caused by both psychological and physiological factors. Therefore, you need to seek help from various specialists to eliminate or correct them. In addition, among the reasons for late ovulation, there are negative environmental influences. They also pay attention to the presence of frequent overwork, which significantly weakens the body and disrupts its functioning.

Methods for determining the required period

The presence of late ovulation can be determined independently and there is no need to go to the hospital for this. Among the most common methods are the following:

  • observing changes in basal temperature;
  • special test for ovulation;
  • monitoring changes occurring in the body.

To make sure that ovulation occurs later, you need to measure your basal temperature. To do this, they resort to measuring temperature values ​​in the rectum. This method is simple and reliable. This event must be implemented regularly, otherwise it will not be able to form a real picture of ovulation.

Tests can be trusted and in most cases they give true answers, but it is impossible to be completely sure. In addition, the test answer may be erroneous due to the fact that the woman’s body is affected by a certain gynecological disease. This also includes the effect of certain medications that include certain active elements. The test must be carried out in a certain time period, which must be calculated correctly.

When ovulation occurs, most women experience specific symptomatic manifestations:

  • general malaise (felt mild);
  • nagging pain felt in the lower abdomen;
  • headache;
  • dizziness.

If you focus on the above symptoms, you can easily determine that ovulation has occurred. However, the symptoms must be pronounced. However, they can be caused by other factors that are absolutely unrelated to ovulation.

To obtain accurate data, you need to contact a medical institution. There they conduct certain studies, on the basis of which it is possible to establish the course of the process. Medical studies include:

  • comprehensive examination by a gynecologist;
  • ultrasound-based monitoring event;
  • analysis of pituitary hormone levels.

These diagnostic measures will be reliable only if they are implemented within 3-4 cycles. This approach allows the specialist to identify all the signs characteristic of late ovulation. It is advisable to seek medical help if a woman is planning a pregnancy.

Need for treatment

Late ovulation is caused by certain factors that need to be dealt with. Therefore, influencing ovulation itself is simply pointless. Currently, doctors are resorting to various measures that make it possible to correct the timing of this process. Thanks to them, you can achieve a good result - the process will proceed on time. The main thing is to identify the cause of the failure.

Quite often, miscarriage is a serious problem, due to which ovulation becomes late. Functional changes occur in the body, which have a negative impact on the process. However, after 2-3 months, restoration measures will make themselves felt, so there is no point in resorting to any medicinal methods.

However, there are also more serious reasons that need to be dealt with immediately. We are talking about diseases that are infectious in nature. In this case, doctors suggest taking a specially designed therapeutic course. Its implementation allows for effective treatment, after which the processes will stabilize and acquire normal values ​​in terms of their course.

It makes sense to carry out therapeutic measures only when a woman cannot conceive a child and the reason for this is untimely ovulation. In some representatives of the fair sex, it may be recorded that signs of the ovulation process are completely absent. In this case, they turn to stimulation of the process under the supervision of a gynecologist. As a rule, this approach significantly increases a woman’s chances of becoming pregnant and carrying a child to term.

Every woman is able to influence her condition; it is enough to use some methods that can have a positive effect on the body and normalize the timing of ovulation. To do this, you need to follow all the recommendations given by your doctor.

You can independently follow simple rules that make it possible to stabilize processes. One of the most common factors associated with late ovulation is stress. You need to exclude him from your life. Everything should be structured in such a way that negative situations have no place in a woman’s life.

Particular attention is paid to nutrition. All products must be healthy. Meals should be nutritious and regular. Diets have a negative impact on a woman’s health in terms of ovulation, so resorting to them is strictly prohibited.

Bad habits are another factor that aggravates the situation. Therefore, women who have problems conceiving a baby need to completely give up cigarettes and alcohol consumption.

Sport has only a positive effect on the body. However, such an event must be carried out within reasonable limits, after consulting with a specialist. If you can’t go to the gym, then you just need to be in constant motion, go to the park for a walk, etc.

An active sex life is another factor that must be taken into account. It should be present in the life of every woman who intends to overcome late ovulation. In this case, the following features must be taken into account: the partner must be the same, and during sexual intercourse there is no need to use protection.

If all the above recommendations are followed, then there is a high probability of normalization of ovulation, and its timing will be correct. If a woman does not make an effort and strive to cope with the problem, then using only drug treatment will not achieve good results. It is very important to overcome the cause that causes the disorders occurring in the body.

Late ovulation is not a common phenomenon, but it does occur in some women. At the present stage, there are various methods ready to deal with the problem under consideration. To use them effectively, it is recommended to seek the help of a specialist.


The length of the cycle and the time of ovulation are individual for each woman. There are averages that are considered the norm. If any deviations are observed, this does not mean that the woman has serious illnesses and she must be treated. It is necessary to take into account many factors (primarily the regularity of the cycle) to understand whether a deviation from the norm is a pathology. When planning a pregnancy, it is advisable to undergo an examination to make sure there are no health problems.

Content:

The concept of ovulation. When it's considered late

Both normal and late ovulation occur at the end of the first phase of the cycle, when the egg is fully mature. The follicle in which it was located until this moment ruptures, and the egg leaves the ovary. The second phase of the cycle begins (corpus luteum phase).

Within about 2 days from the moment of release from the protective shell, the egg is viable. At this time, fertilization is possible. In order for it to take place, the egg must enter the fallopian tube, where by this moment the sperm will be located.

The duration of the corpus luteum phase is on average 14 days, regardless of the duration of the entire cycle. The duration of the first (follicular) phase is calculated by subtracting these 14 days from the total number of days of the cycle. The end of the first phase is the moment the egg leaves the follicle.

Normally, it occurs in the middle of a 28-day cycle (on the 14th day), in a 30-day cycle - on the 16th day, in a 25-day cycle - on the 11th day. When deviations from the norm occur, so-called late ovulation occurs.

If a woman’s periods come regularly and she wants to get pregnant, then it is in these 2 days after the expected release of the egg from the membrane that conception is expected. If expectations are not met, the idea appears that there is some kind of malfunction in the reproductive system. The cycle becomes longer (menstruation comes regularly, but later than before). The reason for this may be a shift in the moment of follicle rupture. Another option is possible, in which the duration of the cycle does not change, but ovulation due to the delay occurs closer to menstruation.

Ovulation is called late if it occurs only 4-5 days after the expected date. Questions arise about how bad this is and whether the situation can be corrected.

It should be taken into account that many women have irregular cycles; this is an individual feature of the body. In this case, talking about the late release of the egg from the follicle is meaningless, since the time of onset of this process randomly shifts each time, and the cycle is either shortened or lengthened due to changes in the duration of the follicular phase.

Is pregnancy possible?

The onset of pregnancy if a woman has such a deviation from the norm as late onset of ovulation is certainly possible if the cause is not diseases of the reproductive system.

Note: If pregnancy does not occur within 1-2 months, there is no reason to worry at all, since even an absolutely healthy woman periodically has cycles without ovulation. The cause of this phenomenon may be a temporary hormonal imbalance.

Some women have regular periods even after 40 days. If they do not have health problems, such a length of the cycle and late ovulation are not a violation, although its duration is considered to be 21-35 days.

It is easy to calculate that with a 40-day cycle, the duration of the first phase is always longer than the second. In this case, pregnancy occurs later than expected, just before menstruation. Due to this, there is a big difference between the obstetric date of pregnancy (gynecologists count it from the first day of the last menstruation) and the real one (it can be determined using ultrasound). The doctor should be warned about the peculiarities of your cycle (late ovulations) so that he does not draw a conclusion about the developmental delay of the fetus and prescribe unnecessary additional examinations, as well as treatment with hormonal drugs.

There are discrepancies in the level of hCG in the blood. The concentration of this hormone increases as soon as the embryo begins to develop. Accordingly, with late ovulation at the time of measurement, the hCG level is below normal.

How to determine the moment when an egg leaves the follicle

Theoretically, a woman can understand that she has ovulated by some symptoms:

  1. For a short time after the follicle ruptures, a slight pain is felt in the lower abdomen.
  2. The nature of the discharge changes. Immediately after menstruation, they are almost absent, and by the onset of ovulation they become abundant, liquid, and resemble egg whites. After ovulation ends, the volume of discharge again noticeably decreases and becomes thicker.
  3. When the membrane ruptures, droplets of blood appear, turning the discharge pinkish-brown. The so-called ovulatory bleeding continues for several hours.

If the follicle matures later than expected, these signs will also appear later. But the difficulty is that such symptoms can be so mild that they are difficult to notice.

To more accurately determine the moment of ovulation (including late ovulation) during regular cycles, they resort to some home methods and carry out special diagnostics from a doctor.

Basal temperature

This is body temperature, which is measured in the rectum. The procedure is carried out at the same time in the morning, without getting out of bed. Measurements are taken every day for at least 3 months. Construct a temperature graph. It shows that just before the follicle ruptures, the temperature rises by about 0.5°, and then drops again to normal values.

Note: If the temperature does not decrease, then, most likely, conception has occurred.

Ovulation test

Pharmacy tests are used (paper strips soaked in a special substance). The principle of verification is the same as when confirming pregnancy. In this case, the indicator responds to changes in the level of luteinizing hormone (LH), which increases significantly at the time of ovulation. This is what contributes to the formation of the corpus luteum at the site of the egg released from the ovary. Late ovulation, like regular ovulation, is determined by the presence of two bright stripes.

Studying saliva under a microscope

It can be produced at home. The saliva is applied to a microscope slide and left to dry. The salt it contains crystallizes. It has been noted that salt concentration is maximum on the day of ovulation, which is facilitated by a surge in estrogen levels. As a result of crystallization, a pattern in the form of a fern leaf appears on the glass. In order to see it, you can use a special Arbor-Elite test microscope.

Laboratory and hardware diagnostics of late maturation of follicles

The most reliable methods for diagnosing late ovulation include:

  1. Gynecological examination. The doctor determines the onset of ovulation by a characteristic change in the appearance of the cervical pharynx.
  2. Microscopic analysis of vaginal mucus. Just like in saliva, salt accumulates in it as you approach ovulation. During ovulation, a “fern leaf” can be seen under a microscope.
  3. Ultrasound of the pelvic organs, folliculometry. Repeated observations of the growth of follicles are carried out, and the moment of rupture of the largest of them is determined.

Laboratory methods include analysis of the content of estrogens and pituitary hormones (FSH and LH) in the blood.

Video: Why and how folliculometry is performed

Causes of late maturation of follicles

Late ovulation may be a temporary phenomenon and not cause concern. At the same time, a constant delay often indicates the presence of pathologies.

The reasons that ovulation occurs several days later than normal may be:

  1. Natural changes in hormonal levels during certain periods of life. For example, a temporary delay is observed during the formation of childbearing function in girls. With the onset of perimenopause, when ovarian activity weakens, ovulation also occurs late.
  2. Hormonal imbalance during the postpartum period. The rhythm of menstruation and its character may change significantly. There may be an increase in the duration of cycles and a delay in the maturation of follicles with eggs.
  3. Diseases of the ovaries (formation of cysts or tumors), as well as dysfunction as a result of the development of inflammatory processes and damage by infectious agents.
  4. Disruption of the pituitary gland or thyroid gland, leading to changes in hormonal levels. If the level of testosterone in a woman’s body increases and against this background there is a lack of estrogen, the follicles mature more slowly than usual. Insufficient production of LH in the pituitary gland also contributes to delayed ovulation and late formation of the corpus luteum, which produces progesterone.

Addition: The biological rhythm of the body can change when climate and time zone change. A shift in the processes of the menstrual cycle occurs in women with strong experiences and stress.

The presence of diseases and pathological hormonal disorders is usually indicated by the appearance of symptoms such as menstrual disorders, the appearance of uncharacteristic discharge, as well as pain in the relevant organs, and others.

Video: When to undergo treatment if you have an extended menstrual cycle

When is treatment required?

In some cases, the body is able to cope with temporary hormonal problems on its own. After 2-3 months, the deviations disappear. For example, this happens in women who have recently given birth. If late ovulation occurs due to stress, then after returning to a normal lifestyle, the nature of the cycle is restored.

Treatment is carried out when a woman cannot conceive a child, and it is discovered that her follicles are delayed or do not mature and rupture at all.

As a rule, treatment consists of eliminating the ailments that caused hormonal imbalance and cycle disruption. For this purpose, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial treatment, removal of cysts and tumors, and elimination of endocrine diseases are carried out.

In cases of extreme necessity, when the reason for the late arrival of ovulation and the inability to conceive is a hormonal imbalance, hormonal therapy is carried out. As a rule, duphaston is prescribed, an analogue of progesterone (the hormone of the second phase of the cycle). The drug is taken strictly in an individual dose and on schedule. It is not used directly during the period of planning conception, since the drug stimulates the onset of menstruation, and the fertilized egg may not take root in the uterus.

In the absence of serious pathologies, doctors give only general recommendations on how to speed up pregnancy in the presence of late ovulation. They advise not to be overworked, not to be nervous, to regularly have unprotected sex with a regular partner, to eat normally, to exercise, and to give up bad habits. It is necessary to undergo regular gynecological examinations in order to detect pathologies in time. This will help correct the timing of ovulation, the late arrival of which causes anxiety in the woman.


Is late ovulation normal or an obstacle to the desired pregnancy?

Almost all married couples are familiar with the concept of “”, they have been planning a child for a long time (perhaps unsuccessfully) and are thinking about how to speed up this process. Some, in desperation, decided to raise money for the procedure. After all, no matter how hard you try, month after month the test is negative. But maybe there is still a chance to become parents on your own without violating the mystery of nature? Perhaps the reason for the failure is an incorrectly calculated time for the release of the egg? Late ovulation may well regularly interfere with conception. But what does this term mean? Let's try to figure it out.

  • What it is?
  • Is it possible to get pregnant?
  • Signs and nature of menstruation
  • Causes
  • Menstrual cycle shift
  • What to do?
  • Cancellation of contraceptives
  • Diagnosis and treatment

Late ovulation - what is it?

It is believed that the average length of a cycle is 28 days and 14 days.

The concept of late ovulation is quite vague and often misused. Ovulation can very rarely be late or early. In a healthy body, it occurs 14 days before the start of the next cycle. If the menstrual cycle is 30–32 days and ovulation occurs on days 18–20, then this is not late ovulation, but normal for the specified cycle length. In simple words, it takes more time to mature under the conditions of your hormonal background, because ovulation is a hormone-dependent process.

True late ovulation is release of the egg during the 14 days before menstruation. For example, the duration of the cycle is 34 days, the normal period for the release of an egg is day 20 +/- 3 days. Ovulation will be late if it occurs after the 23rd day of the cycle. Conclusions - late ovulation occurs, but is extremely rare.

Yes, you can get pregnant, provided there are no other pathological changes in the woman’s reproductive system. Late ovulation is not a cause of infertility. In order to make correct calculations, you just need to know your cycle duration. The process of conception and the course of pregnancy are not affected by prolonged maturation of the egg.

When to take an ovulation test?

With a 28-day cycle, it is recommended to take an ovulation test closer to day 14. In the instructions for ovulation tests, there are recommendations that the study should be carried out several times with a break of 1-2 days. However, the female body is a very cunning and delicate “device”, the functions of which depend on many factors. happens and occurs after the 16th–17th day.

To find out on what day ovulation occurs for a different cycle length, you need to take into account that the duration of the first half of the cycle can vary, and the second half usually lasts 14 days. From here you can make calculations that determine the onset of ovulation during a cycle of any length. Add 2-3 days to the resulting date. Examples are collected in the table.

Table 1. Late ovulation and pregnancy: when will the test show

Cycle duration (in days) Ovulation is normal When to take a pregnancy test during normal ovulation (cycle day) Late ovulation Late ovulation: when the test shows 2 stripes
21 Around 8–10 pm On day 23–24 After 10 days Not earlier than 25–26 days
26 12–13 day On day 27–28 After 14 days Not earlier than 28 days
28 Day 14 On day 29–30 After 16 days Not earlier than 30 days
30 Day 16 On days 31–32 After 18 days Not earlier than 32 days
32 Day 18 On day 33–34 After 19–20 days Not earlier than 33 days

These calculations are very approximate - it is impossible to calculate everything with an hourly accuracy. But they will help determine how interconnected late ovulation and pregnancy, that is, when it’s time to go to the pharmacy for the test.

When to take an ovulation test? Perhaps in the middle of the cycle or a little later you will feel a small (but weaker than before your period) or see a small discharge with blood - more precisely, some kind of drop or trace on toilet paper - this day will be the most suitable for the test.

How late can ovulation be?

Everything here is so changeable that not a single doctor can answer this question unequivocally. An informative method of determination is individual monitoring of egg growth and maturation using folliculometry for three cycles.

Judging the timeliness of egg release based on cycle 1 is unreliable. Folliculometry during late ovulation is monitoring the dynamics of egg maturation using an ultrasound machine.

Late ovulation: signs and character of menstruation

Signs of late ovulation This:

  • a characteristic shift in the release of the egg towards the end of the cycle on the basal temperature chart. (this looks like a decrease in BT with a sharp rise);
  • receiving a positive ovulation test result later than the calculated period (see how to do the calculations above);
  • changes in well-being are an extremely relative sign.

If a pregnancy test at the right time shows a negative result and you are sure that conception has not occurred, then your period will come later. This is not a pathology. The nature, duration and sensations of menstruation do not change. They will be the same as if your period came on time. You should urgently seek medical help only when you feel that this month is unusually bright, the blood is flowing too profusely, or, on the contrary, menstruation is scanty. In a word, if something is not going as usual.

Late ovulation and delayed menstruation are a fairly common phenomenon; sometimes this is observed in completely healthy women (if this phenomenon is not permanent).

Late ovulation: reasons

Why does the body go on such “strikes” and “confuse the cards” for those planning a pregnancy? So, why does late ovulation happen?

There is no need to worry if the cause of late ovulation is:

  • stress;
  • vacation in hot countries or overheating in the sun;
  • any acute respiratory viral infection or exacerbation of a chronic illness;
  • treatment of gynecological diseases.

In all these cases, the body may react abnormally.

The question of whether there can be late ovulation disappears by itself. This is a protective reaction of the finely structured reproductive system to stress. The listed phenomena can cause under-ripening, over-ripening or premature in this cycle. Consider the shift in the release of the oocyte as the body’s protection from poor-quality conception. Adverse factors affect the quality of the genetic material of the embryo.

Menstrual cycle shift

Does the menstrual cycle shift - say, too much desire to get pregnant or, conversely, fear? It turns out yes! There is also a psychological problem that is most unexpected for many, sometimes lying at the subconscious level.

What to do?

To reassure yourself, you can undergo an ultrasound. The doctor will tell you how the follicles grew in this cycle and why there was such a delay. If you are worried about waiting for your period to arrive, get tested for hCG. This is the most informative diagnosis of pregnancy and its pathologies. The analysis will help to accurately determine whether there is a pregnancy.

It’s another matter when such a situation has become habitual, especially if the delay period is constantly increasing or ovulation does not occur at all. This already requires medical intervention, regardless of whether your cycle is normal or if it goes wrong. Lengthening of the cycle, late ovulation may be a sign of the onset of menopause (the woman’s age must be taken into account).

So, you have monitored your body for 2-3 cycles and discovered that late ovulation has become the norm for you. If this continues for more than 3 months after stopping the OC (and recovery from hormonal contraception, as is known, takes about 3 cycles), then it’s time to go get examined.

The duration of the recovery period after discontinuation of oral contraceptives is influenced by the duration of their use. The longer a woman takes “contraceptive pills,” the longer it takes for the body to return to normal function. Your goal is to find out whether ovulation is late or not, and then begin treatment.

Diagnosis and treatment

The doctor will prescribe a blood test for hormones and ultrasound monitoring. It will be necessary to check the level of FSH (stimulates the growth of follicles), LH (responsible for the maturation of the egg), estradiol (affects the quality of cervical mucus, where sperm can “live” for a while). It is necessary to find out the level of “male” hormones (they suppress ovulation and slow down the growth of follicles). Then it will become clear why the egg release is delayed. With late ovulation, the endometrium will grow longer, so on ultrasound by the middle of the cycle it may still be thin; by the time the egg is released, it will “ripen”.

Late ovulation – Duphaston and Utrozhestan

The doctor will prescribe a correction with medications if a problem is identified at the hormonal level. Typically, the drugs of choice are Duphaston and Utrozhestan, which must be taken according to an individual regimen, selected based on the concentration of hormones in the blood plasma. The drugs will maintain the required level of progesterone, ensuring. Often late ovulation occurs with multifollicular ovaries, then its stimulation is necessary.

How to calculate the due date if the pregnancy test “worked” after the “due” date?

Late ovulation, a delay after which began later than the scheduled date shifts the due date. You already know when to take a pregnancy test if you ovulate late. This is where you should “dance”, calculating the expected date of birth. Knowing exactly the day of ovulation and conception, you can add 280 days to this day - this is the expected date of birth. Again, this is approximate. After all, not immediately, but after a few days. Practice shows that calculations show the exact date of birth only in 4% of cases. Each pregnancy is also individual and develops with its own characteristics. Therefore, it can be difficult to determine exactly.

Who is more likely to be born if ovulation is “late”?

Sometimes pregnant women try to guess. Is it possible to get pregnant with a “planned” gender? The answer is ambiguous. The cause-and-effect relationship here is as follows. If the baby is conceived strictly on the day of ovulation, there is a higher chance that it will be a boy. If you have had sexual intercourse before, it’s a girl. Reason: sperm with an X chromosome (“girl”) are more tenacious and can wait longer for an egg, even in almost hostile conditions. Gentle “games” die faster. So, if your ovulation schedules jump around, you still have a slightly higher chance of getting pregnant with a girl.

Overall, if you ovulate late this cycle, don't worry. The main thing is that it is there, which means that you can get pregnant in any case. You just need to be patient - and everything will work out!

Pregnancy directly depends on a process such as the release of a mature egg from the follicle, which is fully prepared for fertilization. This process is called ovulation, which usually occurs in the middle of the cycle. But sometimes the egg is delayed in maturation and release. The reasons for late ovulation may be different, but the main thing is that such shifts can make it difficult to conceive if a woman follows the ovulatory calendar. Why do such disturbances occur and how to eliminate them, can such a deviation be the norm, how to correctly determine the date of ovulation if it is delayed - we will tell you everything below.

When is ovulation considered late?

Ovulation refers to the period when a mature female cell enters the abdominal space. It is difficult to say in advance exactly when day X will come, but approximately it falls approximately in the middle of the cycle. When it is 28 days old, the follicle matures on the 13-14th day, and when it is 36 days old, on the 18th day. If, with a 28-day cycle, maturation occurs on the 18th day or later, then late ovulation is suspected.

This condition occurs for a variety of reasons. Moreover, it can be detected with equal probability in sick and relatively healthy patients. Doctors say that menstruation is closely related to ovulation; the longer the cell matures, the longer the cycle will be and the more abundant the periods will be. Late ovulation is extremely rare, but it still happens.

Why is ovulation delayed?

As already mentioned, quite a variety of reasons can affect late ovulation. Sometimes they are caused by female physiology and are considered the norm, but there are also pathological factors. The most common factors why ovulation is delayed are:

  • Infectious pathologies of the reproductive system;
  • Recent childbirth, induced termination of pregnancy or spontaneous abortion;
  • Excessive stress of a psychological or physical nature, therefore, it is recommended to avoid such overloads during planning;
  • Hormonal disorders in the body;
  • Little weight. A deficiency of adipose tissue negatively affects estrogen production, causing a delay in the maturation and release of the female cell;
  • Uncontrolled use of emergency contraceptives in the past. Such drugs contain shock doses of hormones, which means that these drugs lead to hormonal imbalance, leading to a variety of ovulatory disorders;
  • Hard training and sports activities, strength training coupled with taking steroid medications.

In addition, factors such as menopause, unfavorable environmental conditions, etc. can provoke a delay in cell maturation.

Signs of delayed ovulation

Signs of late ovulation usually frighten patients, because they begin to think that serious disturbances are occurring in the body, or that there is a certain pathology. Signs of late maturation of a female cell are closely related to the reasons for such a deviation. Since stress or overwork is one of the common factors, such conditions are characteristic signs of a delayed ovulation. If a girl is planning on conceiving, then it is better for her to refrain from worries, categorically avoid a stressful environment and nervous strain. Excessively frequent air travel with changing climatic conditions and time zones is not recommended; any overwork, not only moral, but also physical, should be avoided.

Hormonal imbalance or imbalance of pituitary hormones also refers to late ovulatory manifestations. To clarify the ovulatory state in the first half of the cycle, the patient is recommended to undergo a hormone test. If a woman suffers from reproductive infectious lesions, then a delay in the ovulatory period is inevitable. In addition, against the background of infectious processes, various menstrual irregularities occur, and there are often delays that make one think about pregnancy. Therefore, infectious pathologies of the genital area are characteristic signs and causes of the late onset of the ovulatory phase.

Gynecological pathologies such as cystic processes, infections and absence of menstruation are also characteristic companions to the late arrival of ovulation. It is also worth expecting ovulatory delays for girls during the 3-month post-abortion and one year postpartum period, as well as for women after 40 years of age.

How to calculate ovulation if it is late

It is quite possible to calculate such a state yourself. For this, basal measurements, the woman’s internal sensations and special ovulation tests are used. Each of the methods is simple in its own way, but requires certain conditions to be met in order for the data obtained to be as reliable and correct as possible.

To determine the exact date of ovulation, professional medical help is needed. They perform gynecological examinations and laboratory tests of pituitary hormone levels, as well as ultrasound monitoring. Similar procedures are also carried out over several cycles, which allows you to most accurately determine all the manifestations of late ovulation. Such measures are necessary only for those patients who are trying to get pregnant, because against the background of the late ovulatory period, various deviations can occur, which prevents conception.

How does late cell maturation affect pregnancy?

Having figured out what late onset of ovulation is, patients are often worried whether they will be able to conceive and give birth to a baby with a similar condition. Yes, it is quite possible to get pregnant in such a clinical situation, but it is quite difficult. This condition is quite often associated with various difficulties in conceiving. Why does this happen? If this ovulatory shift occurs only in rare cycles against the background of completely harmless factors, then such a feature will not be an obstacle to conception. In the first or second cycle, pregnancy will indeed be impossible due to temporary hormonal imbalances, but by the third cycle the condition will stabilize and nothing will prevent pregnancy.

If late ovulation is a regular occurrence, then this is a more serious problem for pregnancy, but it is also completely solvable. For many women, a cycle of more than 30 days is considered normal, while the egg matures only on the 15th day or later. This is their physiological norm, in which there are no deviations and the reproductive system is completely healthy. In such a situation, there will also be no problems with conception, the main thing is that the second, postovulatory phase is no shorter than 13-14 days.

If late ovulation is caused by pathological disorders, then such factors can cause serious problems with pregnancy. This is usually observed with ovulatory delays due to gynecological ailments or serious hormonal imbalances, genital infections and age-related features such as the postmenopausal period. Miscarriages and abortions, flu and colds, irregular cycles - all this also affects ovulation and leads to problematic conception.

When ultrasound diagnostics will show conception with late ovulation

If the patient knows for sure that her follicle is growing and maturing longer than usual, and the ovulatory period begins later, then this feature must be reported to her gynecologist, otherwise he may give inaccurate pregnancy dates, which will entail a variety of worries, worries, and sometimes unnecessary appointments , which you can completely do without. But a woman can definitely say about late ovulation only if, from cycle to cycle, the patient experienced a late onset of this period on basal charts or when measured by ovulation tests.

  • When such mothers are registered with the LCD, their card indicates two probable dates: one according to the date of their last menstruation, and the other according to the date of late ovulation.
  • After the patient undergoes an ultrasound examination, it will be possible to accurately determine at what stage of pregnancy a reference point should be taken.

An ultrasound examination can detect a fertilized egg in the uterus at about 4 weeks of gestation. It is pointless to carry out ultrasound diagnostics before this time. If the gynecologist has established an approximate period based on the last menstruation, then you need to add 2-3 weeks to this period, then you can go for an ultrasound.

Sometimes women during pregnancy are prescribed maintenance treatment that is not necessary. The reason for this error is some features of late ovulation. For such patients, the gestation period is often incorrectly determined, so in the future the doctor discovers some delay in fetal development. Sometimes a pregnant woman is misdiagnosed as anembryonia only because the actual gestational age does not correspond to the obstetric one.

How to restore a cycle

Before determining the need for treatment, the patient needs to be fully examined. There is no specific therapy to eliminate late ovulation, since this is not a pathology, but a consequence of certain processes in the body. Therefore, to eliminate it, you need to identify the cause of the deviations and neutralize it. Typically, therapeutic measures are started if a woman wants to conceive, but late ovulation prevents this. To do this, they resort to stimulating ovulatory processes with the help of medications, diet therapy and lifestyle correction.