Want to understand your cycle? We encourage you to do so, because to us it’s clear: The female cycle is also a reflection of a woman’s health.
The female cycle begins on the first day of menstruation and ends on the day before the next period starts. Every woman has her own unique cycle! On the one hand, cycle length varies from woman to woman—from very short to extremely long. On the other hand, a woman’s cycles can also vary significantly from one to the next. How irregular or regular is your cycle? What do the lengths of the two cycle phases indicate? How can I tell if my cycle is healthy and fertile? You’ll find the answers to these questions here. This will help you understand your cycle and gain valuable insights for yourself.
Stress is certainly one of the biggest factors that can affect the menstrual cycle. An unhealthy diet and too little or too much physical activity can also contribute to this. In addition, extreme physical exertion, psychological or emotional stress, and various medical conditions can play a role.
OvulaRing can help you gain a better understanding of your cycle patterns and understand exactly what’s happening during your cycle. This way, you can find out whether your cycles are healthy and fertile or if there are signs of a hormonal cycle disorder .
Your menstrual cycle is regulated by a complex interplay of hormones. In fact, the maturation of the egg is initiated by signals from specific hormones. It all begins in the brain, more specifically in the hypothalamus. This is where gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH)—a hormone crucial to the cycle—is produced. Among other things, GnRH sends signals to the pituitary gland to produce follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH).
These hormones then send signals to the ovaries, triggering egg maturation and ovulation. The pituitary gland is a very sensitive part of our brain. It reacts, for example, to stress of any kind and controls the autonomic nervous system. When the body experiences stress, hormone production here is disrupted, which in turn can lead to a wide variety of hormonal imbalances and menstrual cycle problems.
The following hormones play a crucial role in the female cycle:
It is generally assumed that a healthy female cycle lasts 28 days and includes ovulation in the middle of the cycle. However, this so-called standard cycle applies to just 4% of all women. The vast majority of women have significantly longer or shorter cycles, and ovulation does not occur in the middle of the cycle. But these cycles can also be healthy. We can roughly divide a healthy cycle into two phases, or, upon closer examination, into four phases:
A new cycle always begins on the first day of your period. Bleeding is triggered by a drop in estrogen and progesterone levels. The uterine lining sheds because a fertilized egg has not implanted. All four hormones that influence the cycle (FSH, LH, estrogen, and progesterone) are at their lowest levels at this point. This can result in bleeding of varying intensity.
The cause of very heavy bleeding may be PCOS, endometriosis, or a thyroid disorder. Spotting, or brownish discharge, is not considered part of the period. Together with the uterine lining, approximately 50–100 ml of blood is expelled during the days of menstruation. A normal menstrual period usually lasts three to seven days.
During this phase, our brain releases increased amounts of follicle-stimulating hormone
(FSH).
This stimulates the maturation of approximately 40 to 100 follicles in our ovaries. The follicles produce estrogens, specifically the female sex hormone estradiol. Typically, only one of the follicles develops into a mature follicle ready for ovulation. The others usually regress, unless there is a hormonal disorder such as PCOS.
Shortly before ovulation, the increased release of estrogen triggers a rapid surge in luteinizing hormone (LH). The duration of this phase can vary greatly and ultimately influences the total cycle length. In cases of hormonal cycle disorders such as PCOS, this phase can sometimes be extremely long (> 30 days).
As estrogen levels in the blood rise, our brain receives a signal to release luteinizing hormone (LH). Together with the already elevated progesterone, LH triggers ovulation. A mature egg is released from the follicle in the ovary and travels into the fallopian tube. The egg’s outer layer (consisting of supporting cells) remains behind as the corpus luteum. An egg remains capable of fertilization for about 12 to 24 hours after ovulation.
The egg now travels through the fallopian tubes toward the uterus. The corpus luteum that remains begins to produce the hormone progesterone. Some estrogen is also still produced. Ideally, however, progesterone should be the dominant hormone during this phase of the cycle. Progesterone ensures that the uterine lining is optimally built up and “softened” so that the fertilized egg can implant properly. As progesterone is released, our body temperature also rises by approximately 0.25 to 0.5°C. This is why this phase of the cycle is characterized by a temperature peak.
If the temperature remains elevated for at least 3 days, you can be sure that ovulation has occurred. If the egg is not fertilized, the corpus luteum begins to regress and gradually stops producing progesterone (and estrogen). If a fertilized egg has successfully implanted, the corpus luteum remains intact for about three months. After that, the placenta takes over hormone production.
The length of the luteal phase is fairly consistent and should ideally last 12–16 days. If this phase of the cycle is consistently shorter than 12 days, there may be a luteal phase defect, which usually prevents a fertilized egg from implanting and can be a cause of infertility. If this phase lasts longer than 18 days, pregnancy is highly likely.
A healthy cycle includes ovulation, a luteal phase that lasts 12–16 days, and regular menstrual bleeding. The total length of the cycle is less important as long as the other factors are met. To find out if your cycle is healthy, you should monitor it closely and determine whether:
OvulaRing can help you closely track what’s happening in your cycle. You can see if you’re ovulating, and if so, when it occurs, and whether your luteal phase is long enough. You can also identify which external factors are affecting your cycle and take targeted steps to stabilize it.
There are a variety of rather imprecise methods for calculating ovulation. Many of them rely on a single daily measurement and are highly error-prone. Therefore, they are primarily suitable for very disciplined women with a regular cycle and lifestyle.
Below you will find an overview of the various methods for determining your ovulation:
Your temperature reflects the hormonal changes in the female cycle. At the time of ovulation, the simultaneous release of the hormone progesterone causes your core body temperature to rise by 0.25 to 0.5°C. By measuring your morning wake-up temperature, also known as your basal body temperature, you can determine when ovulation has occurred. To do this, you must always take the measurement at the same time and in the same place. The most accurate temperature is your core body temperature, which can be measured orally, vaginally, or rectally. The data is then entered into a cycle chart, a cycle app, or a cycle computer. The results are plotted on a cycle chart, allowing you to see when the temperature rises. If the temperature remains elevated for at least 3 days, you can be sure that ovulation has occurred.
Determining ovulation by measuring basal body temperature is time-consuming and prone to error. For accurate results, you should have slept for the same number of hours each night. In particular, an irregular lifestyle, shift work, travel, alcohol consumption, stress, and restless sleep—e.g., due to children waking up, going to bed late, etc.—directly affect measurement accuracy and can very easily skew the results. Additionally, women often feel stressed when they think about taking their morning temperature and are afraid of missing the right time. Therefore, this method of ovulation tracking is only suitable for very disciplined women with a regular lifestyle and a relatively regular cycle.
With OvulaRing, we have objectified and simplified temperature measurement. You no longer have to think about taking your morning temperature, transferring temperature readings, or interpreting temperature charts. With high-resolution measurements every 5 minutes, 288 times a day, OvulaRing delivers precise results even with irregular cycles and lifestyles. Your temperature changes slightly even before ovulation. OvulaRing detects these changes and shows you when your chances of getting pregnant are highest.
Ovulation or LH Tests
An ovulation test measures the level of luteinizing hormone (LH) in urine. It is released in greater quantities during the fertile phase and, in a healthy cycle, triggers ovulation through a sudden surge. LH is excreted in the urine. An ovulation test can then measure the concentration of LH in the urine. The test reacts to the rise in ovulation-triggering LH in the urine. Until now, it was assumed that the highest LH concentration, the so-called LH surge, is reached about 24–36 hours before ovulation. So much for the theory. But be careful! An ovulation test that measures LH in urine cannot determine your ovulation exactly.
Scientists have shown that an LH surge in urine is not always followed by ovulation. On average, the LH peak occurred 1.2 days after ovulation, not before as previously assumed. In only 6% of cycles did the LH surge end before ovulation. In the overwhelming majority (94%), however, LH continued to rise after ovulation, and in 60% of cycles, it remained elevated for more than 3 days. Ovulation tests are also unsuitable for hormonal cycle disorders such as PCOS or during the onset of menopause. In these cases, the LH level is often persistently elevated, so the ovulation test frequently remains positive throughout. For example, elevated LH concentrations can be observed in 60% of all women with PCOS. Accurately determining ovulation with an ovulation test is therefore often impossible!
Women with long cycles need a large number of ovulation tests. Daily hormone testing is thus not only time-consuming but also nerve-wracking and expensive! Your LH levels can fluctuate significantly even over the course of a normal day. Additionally, taking antibiotics, psychotropic medications, hormone therapy, or Hormone testing in urine alone is based on a single measurement point per day and does not provide a comprehensive overview of your cycle. To fully understand your individual cycle, continuous cycle monitoring is essential. OvulaRing measures your core body temperature around the clock, records 288 data points per day, and reliably indicates your fertility window and ovulation, regardless of how long your cycle is or whether you have a hormonal cycle disorder.
There are a variety of different cycle trackers and computers on the market. Some determine fertile days using temperature, e.g., on the arm, wrist, or vaginally. Others measure LH levels in urine, progesterone levels in saliva, or hormonal changes in exhaled breath. With some, your fertile days are displayed in an app; with others, they appear on the device itself.
No matter what type of tracker or computer you use, they all have the following in common: They rely solely on a single daily measurement or an overnight reading. This makes them prone to error and unable to continuously track your cycle. They cannot provide you with comprehensive information about your cycle health. All products available on the market are suitable and tested only for standard cycles. 70% of all women whose cycles do not conform to the standard do not receive accurate information about their ovulation and fertility from these tools.
If you want to know whether your cycle is healthy, it’s not just important to track your ovulation but to keep an eye on your overall cycle health. This is only possible with continuous cycle monitoring. OvulaRing automatically measures your core body temperature every 5 minutes—24 hours a day, 7 days a week. For this reason, OvulaRing detects your fertile days even if your cycles are extremely short, very long, or completely irregular. Additionally, with OvulaRing, you can determine whether there are signs of a hormonal cycle disorder despite ovulation. And unlike other products on the market, OvulaRing has been tested in three independent medical studies on women with a wide variety of cycles as well as hormonal cycle disorders, and is suitable for them to determine their fertile days.
Amenorrhea, oligomenorrhea, hypermenorrhea, and hypomenorrhea—what do these terms mean? They all have one thing in common: they are menstrual cycle disorders, deviations from a woman’s normal menstrual cycle. Menstrual cycle disorders are primarily characterized by menstrual bleeding that no longer occurs in the usual way. Deviations can affect the length of the cycles as well as the heaviness and/or duration of the period.
Gynecologists distinguish between various forms. In most cases, the cause of these disorders is a hormonal imbalance. As you’ve probably noticed, most of these disorders end in –menorrhea (or –menorrhoea). This is due to the meaning of the word, as menorrhea is the Greek term for menstrual bleeding.
If the intensity or duration of your period changes, this is referred to as a menstrual disorder.
Spotting or breakthrough bleeding is also considered a type of menstrual irregularity. This can occur before or after the actual period. A special form is implantation bleeding, which occurs in some women shortly after ovulation and is caused by the fertilized egg implanting itself in the uterine lining.
If a period does not occur at all, doctors refer to this as amenorrhea. This can be natural and harmless, such as during pregnancy or breastfeeding, as well as after menopause. However, there are also forms of amenorrhea that may indicate disorders or medical conditions:
Often, oligomenorrhea (long intervals between periods) progresses to amenorrhea (absence of periods). This means that the intervals between menstrual periods become increasingly longer until they eventually stop altogether. Conversely, however, oligomenorrhea can also be a sign that the cycle is resuming after a prolonged pause.
You should see a doctor if…
There are many factors that can disrupt hormonal balance. Mental and physical stress, poor diet, delayed follicular maturation, luteal phase deficiency, fibroids, endometriosis, estrogen deficiency, serious illness, etc. All of these can be potential causes of menstrual cycle irregularities. Therefore, it is always very important to have your doctor identify the specific cause of your cycle irregularity and treat it.
With OvulaRing, your cycle is recorded completely and completely unnoticed and essentially “measured.” This allows you to determine, regardless of your menstrual period, whether your cycles are healthy or if there are signs of a hormonal cycle disorder. You can also compare individual cycles at a glance and note any special details in the cycle diary. Additionally, you have the option to request a free cycle consultation. Our cycle experts will review your recorded cycles and provide an assessment of your cycle health! This also helps your treating doctor with diagnosis and treatment.
Are you already an OvulaRing customer? If so, you can use the form below to request a free personalized cycle analysis. Our experts will review the cycles you’ve tracked so far and provide you with an assessment of your cycle health.
OvulaRing is inserted into the vagina immediately after your period, worn throughout your entire cycle, and removed only to transfer the data. Once inside the body, OvulaRing automatically measures and records your core body temperature every 5 minutes. You won’t even notice it’s there, so you can continue with all your usual activities and enjoy your life.
OvulaRing has no side effects and has been tested for good tolerability as part of its approval as a medical device.
To transfer the data, remove the OvulaRing. Once outside the body, the sensor automatically switches to Bluetooth mode and sends your temperature data to the app in encrypted form. Your data is fully secured at all times and cannot be accessed by third parties. After the data transfer, simply put the OvulaRing back in. How often you transfer the data is up to you.
For natural contraception, we recommend removing the OvulaRing daily and transferring data until the app tells you that the fertile days for this cycle are over.
In the app or the web-based software, you can view all the important information about your cycle. During the first cycle, OvulaRing gets to know you. You’ll find out exactly when you ovulated. Starting with the second cycle, every time you sync new data, you’ll see your current fertility status and know how likely it is that you could get pregnant on that particular day.
In addition, OvulaRing tells you when the fertile phase for the current cycle is over. After the third cycle, the software calculates a forecast for your ovulation and your fertile days in the next cycle.
Get started with your application now
Starting at €45 per month
🔥 Hot Summer Deal! ☀️
Get 10% off all OvulaRing packages and save up to 158€. Make this summer unforgettable! ❤️
Code:
SUMMER10
valid until 09.08.2026 only
You are currently viewing a placeholder content from Facebook. To access the actual content, click the button below. Please note that doing so will share data with third-party providers.
More InformationYou are currently viewing a placeholder content from Instagram. To access the actual content, click the button below. Please note that doing so will share data with third-party providers.
More InformationYou are currently viewing a placeholder content from Trustpilot. To access the actual content, click the button below. Please note that doing so will share data with third-party providers.
More InformationYou are currently viewing a placeholder content from X. To access the actual content, click the button below. Please note that doing so will share data with third-party providers.
More Information
