Ovulation
What does ovulation mean on a period tracker?
The ringed day on your calendar is a calculation. Here's how it's placed and what it can't tell you.
Ovulation is when one of your ovaries releases an egg. On a period tracker, the ovulation day is when the tracker estimates that happens. It isn't a record that it did.
How the date is placed
The part of your cycle after ovulation tends to be more consistent in length than the part before it. So calendar trackers work backwards: predict the next period, then count back about 14 days. Period Tracker Free marks that day with a teal ring on the calendar and a dot on the cycle ring.
It's a sensible rule, but the NHS points out that ovulation is hard to pin down and the second half of the cycle isn't the same length for everyone. If the period prediction is four days off, the ovulation estimate is off by about the same.
What it can and can't tell you
| It can | It can't |
|---|---|
| Show roughly where the middle of your cycle is | Confirm that you ovulated |
| Explain where the fertile window comes from | Tell you which days are safe from pregnancy |
| Give you something to compare with body signs | Detect or diagnose fertility problems |
Getting a better signal
Your body gives better clues than a calendar. Many people notice clearer, stretchier cervical mucus around ovulation. Basal body temperature rises slightly afterwards. Urine LH tests pick up the hormone surge shortly before it. You can compare any of these with the calculator's estimate.
If you're trying to conceive and are worried about ovulation, a GP can arrange proper tests.