General characteristics

Ovulation is the process in which a mature, ripened egg (the ovum) is released from the females ovaries in order for fertilisation to potentially occur. Ovulation is an integral part of the a females menstrual cycle.

Knowing if and when you ovulate is important if you are trying to conceive a child as pregnancy cannot occur unless a ripe egg is released and is subsequently fertilised by a sperm cell. Conversely, knowing when you ovulate can be useful as a form of natural contraception.

The menstrual cycle (on average) is around 28 days, day1 being the first day of menstruation. Ovulation (again, generally) takes place around day 14 but some women will ovulate on day 8 or day 20 of their cycle. Ovulation times may stay consistent and steady throughout a woman's life or may vary from month to month. Signs of ovulation include a clearness and stretchiness to vaginal secretions, you may detect twinges of pain in one side around your groin area (as an ovary prepares to rupture and expel the egg), your body temperature (taken in bed after waking) will rise a little (by half a degree or so) just after ovulation so by checking this over a few months you should be able to predict when you will next ovulate, the cervix will feel softer (more like the feel of your lips) to your touch and more open when you are ovulating as opposed to feeling harder, like the tip of your nose when not ovulating, the sense of smell may be heightened, an increase in sexual desire and the breasts may become a bit more tender.

Factors that can prevent or upset regular ovulation include hormonal irregularities and disturbances, poor diet and nutritional deficiencies, stress and emotional excitement, disorders of the hypothalamus (the portion of the brain concerned with the release of reproductive hormones), thyroid disorders (under and overactive), disorders of the ovaries such as polycystic ovaries, the contraceptive pill (can upset ovulation for up to a year after coming off it), being overweight or underweight, high blood insulin levels, environmental toxins (such as pesticides, paints, plastics, body care products, petrochemicals etc), stimulants such as caffeine, excessive alcohol intake, recreational drugs, smoking,

It is also worth noting that male semen contains a chemical dubbed 'ovulation-inducing factor' or OIF, the presence of which triggers the release of ovulation inducing hormones from the hypothalamus of the female.

This webpage provides in-depth details of the biological processes leading to ovulation.

Advise will focus on ways of regulating ovulation or encouraging it to occur if the process is absent.

Useful herbs

Agnus castus ('chasteberry' or 'vitex') encourages regular ovulation and help to balance the hormones involved. Take 1 teaspoon of tincture in water twice daily. It can be slow to act so be prepared to take it regularly for at least 6 months before seeing positive results.

A really useful daily tea to provide plenty of nutrients, to help regulate hormones and to increase the overall health of the reproductive organs could include nettle, oatstraw, raspberry leaf and lady's mantle in equal parts. Use a heaped teaspoon of the mix up to 3 times daily.

A tried and tested 'female corrective' formula from the herbalist Dr Christopher consists of 1 part each of tinctures of blessed thistle, cayenne, crampbark, false unicorn, ginger, raspberry leaf, squaw vine, uva ursi (bearberry) and 3 parts barberry root. Dosage varies from 1-2 teaspoons of the tincture mix up to 3 times daily.

False unicorn root/Helonias root is a useful reproductive system tonic that improves many conditions that may contribute to irregular or absent ovulation. Take 0.5-1 teaspoon of the tincture 3 times daily.

A useful formula for regulating the hormonal cycle contains 2 parts (e.g. 50ml) agnus castus and 1 part (e.g. 25ml) each of black cohosh, squaw vine, chamomile and dandelion root tinctures.

The herbs liqourice root, rehmannia root and ashwagandha root can all be used to strengthen the adrenal glands, improve the bodys resistance to the effects of stress and may improve levels of the adrenal hormone DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone) which has shown to have a regenerative effect on ovarian function, especially in women with premature ovarian failure.