If you're trying to figure out when you're ovulating, you're far from alone. It can feel a bit like cracking a code because cycles don't always follow a perfect calendar. Fortunately, you can get a long way with a few practical rules of thumb and a couple of simple ways to monitor your body.

A practical rule is that ovulation often occurs approximately 14 days before your next period starts. This means that the timing depends more on when you get your next period than on which "cycle day" you are on.

If you have a 28-day cycle, ovulation will often occur around day 14. If you have a longer cycle, ovulation may occur later, and with a shorter cycle, it may occur earlier. Stress, illness, travel, and major changes in daily life can also affect when (and sometimes if) ovulation happens.

The fertile window is the days when there is the highest chance of pregnancy with unprotected sex. Ovulation itself is short, but the window is longer because sperm can survive in the reproductive tract for several days.

In practice, it makes sense to think like this:

• The most fertile days are often the day before ovulation and the day of ovulation itself.
• It can also make sense to have intercourse in the days leading up to ovulation if you are trying to conceive.

If you want to be a bit more hands-on, it can be nice to plan the "effort" over a period rather than aiming for one specific day that the body doesn't always reveal completely clearly.

To calculate ovulation, start by finding your cycle length: Count from the first day of menstruation to the day before the next menstruation. Do this over 2-3 cycles to get a more realistic average.

A simple way to calculate backwards is:

• Expected menstruation minus approx. 14 days = approximate ovulation.

Apps can provide an overview, but they typically estimate based on past data. If your cycle is irregular, a calculator may therefore be inaccurate. If you are in a phase where "it works", it can be nice to look at relevant equipment and clothing for the time after, such as the Pregnancy collection.

Some people notice almost nothing, others notice a lot. Signs can vary from person to person and from cycle to cycle.

You may experience, among other things:

• Changed discharge, often clearer and more elastic
• Slight tenderness or pain in the lower abdomen
• Breast tenderness
• Slight spotting in some
• Changed libido

Signs are not a guarantee but can help you sense a pattern over time.

If you want to be more precise, you can combine methods.

An ovulation test measures LH hormone in urine. A positive test often means that ovulation is approaching, and that you typically have a greater chance of pregnancy in the next 1-2 days. Always follow the instructions on the test you are using.

Body temperature typically rises slightly after ovulation. The method can therefore especially help you confirm that ovulation has occurred, but it says less about when it will occur in advance.

If you get a positive test later, it can be nice to know that many prefer soft, flexible underwear when the body starts to change. An example is a seamless nursing bra, which can also be used throughout pregnancy and breastfeeding, such as the Seamless original maternity nursing bra or the Gel support maternity nursing bra, where gel support is an alternative to underwire.

If you need a quick overview of popular choices in the shop, you can also check out Bestsellers. If you are planning ahead in the process, it may make sense to look at complete Packs as needs change.