How do you Know If You’re Ovulating?
You Can’t Boost Progesterone Without Ovulation. Here’s Why -
One of the most common questions I get asked is:
“How can I increase my progesterone naturally?”
It’s a great question, but here’s the thing: You can’t make more progesterone if you’re not ovulating.
Most people aren’t taught this, so if that’s news to you, you’re not alone.
Why Ovulation Matters for Progesterone
Every month (ideally), one of your ovaries releases an egg - that’s ovulation.
After the egg is released, the little follicle it came from transforms into something called the corpus luteum. This is the only structure in your body that produces significant amounts of progesterone.
So no ovulation = no corpus luteum = no meaningful progesterone.
Even if you get your period, that doesn’t guarantee you’re ovulating. And if you’re not ovulating, you’re missing out on one of your most powerful hormones.
You can’t rely on period-tracking apps or just assuming it happens around day 14. The best way to confirm ovulation is by tracking your cycle. Here's how:
1. Basal Body Temperature (BBT)
After ovulation, progesterone rises, and this causes your body temperature to slightly increase.
Use a BBT thermometer (you can grab one from Chemist Warehouse or your local pharmacy - it must go to 2 decimal places) and take your temp first thing in the morning, before getting out of bed (this is VERY important).
A sustained rise in temperature (usually 0.3–0.5°C) that stays elevated for 3+ days confirms ovulation has occurred.
Even more importantly, how long it stays high matters. A luteal phase (the time from ovulation to your next period) that lasts at least 10 days (but ideally 12-14 days) is a good sign that your body made enough progesterone to support that second half of your cycle.
If your luteal phase is consistently short (less than 10 days), that can be a sign of low progesterone.
**The rise in BBT is the ONLY way to confirm ovulation. So this is the most important metric.
2. Cervical Mucus
Around ovulation, you might notice clear, stretchy, egg white-like mucus.
The last day of your egg whites is usually your ovulation day, but excess oestrogen means you can see this again during your luteal phase.
3. Ovulation Pain
Some people feel a twinge on one side of their lower abdomen (called mittelschmerz) when they ovulate.
Tools to Make It Easier
BBT Thermometer: Buy from Chemist Warehouse or your local pharmacy.
App: Download a free app like Kindara to track your temps and signs over time.
It might feel like too much effort at first, but tracking your ovulation gives you a much clearer picture of your hormonal health - and lets you know if your body is actually in a position to make progesterone.
What If You're on Birth Control?
Here’s the thing: many forms of contraception stop ovulation completely, so these methods make ovulation tracking irrelevant:
Hormonal methods that suppress ovulation:
The Pill (combined oral contraceptive)
The Mini Pill
Hormonal IUD (e.g. Mirena)*
Implant (e.g. Implanon)
Hormonal Injection (e.g. Depo-Provera)
Vaginal ring (e.g. NuvaRing)
Hormonal patch
*Note: While some people still ovulate with the Mirena IUD, it’s inconsistent - so cycle tracking may not be reliable.
If you’re on any of these, your cycle is shut down and your body isn't making progesterone.
If you’re struggling with symptoms like:
Anxiety
Prolonged or heavy periods
Hair loss
Poor sleep
Spotting before your period
PMS, PMDD or mood swings
Multiple early miscarriages
Short cycles (less than 24 days is considered short - but you can increase to around 28 days with higher levels of progesterone)
Breast tenderness
…it’s worth checking if you’re ovulating.
Because without ovulation, your body can’t produce progesterone - and without progesterone, you’re missing a key part of what makes you feel calm, balanced, and resilient.
Ovulation is about way more than fertility - it’s a monthly marker of hormonal health.
If you want to dive deeper into how to track, support ovulation, or naturally boost your hormones - that’s exactly what I help my clients with. I’m available for 1:1 consultation for personalised support.
22 July, 2025