Facts you didn’t know about ovulation.

Ovulation is the fertile window in your menstrual cycle. It's when a mature egg (sometimes more than one) is released from your ovary, swept down the fallopian tube, and is available to be fertilised by a sperm.

Which ovary releases the egg is anyone’s guess, though - they don’t necessarily take turns.

Women (and men) sometimes tend to think of the average picture of ovulation as the only one. The fact is, every woman is different, and some can be quite different from the average. Here’s a collection of such facts.

• Ovulation can be affected by stress, illness, or unusual routines.
• Implantation of a fertilised egg takes place 6–12 days after ovulation.
• A woman is born with her lifetime quota of eggs, and much more—in fact, millions of immature eggs.
• A menstrual period may occur even if ovulation hasn’t happened.
• Conversely, ovulation can occur without menstruation.
• Some women feel ovulation pain or ache near the ovaries.
• Some women ovulate during their period and at other odd times.