Many women associate light vaginal bleeding, or spotting, with just their period. The truth is that spotting can also occur at other times of the menstrual cycle. A small percentage of women experience ovulation spotting, and it usually happens about two weeks before your expected period. It is rare to have this ovulation symptom, but it is considered a good sign of fertility for those who do.
Some women may confuse ovulation spotting with the spotting they have before their period starts, but this light bleeding should be seen about two weeks before the next period starts. It is usually pink or brown in color and lasts a day or two. Since ovulation spotting usually occurs a day or two before ovulation, it's a good idea to have intercourse on the day you're supposed to conceive. This is especially true if it is accompanied by cervical mucus that resembles egg whites, as this is the most fertile mucus.
There are a few possible reasons for detecting ovulation. One of the theories is that the egg causes some bleeding after it ruptures from the follicle when ovulation occurs. The other leading theory is that the bleeding is caused by changes in hormones. More estrogen than normal is released just before ovulation, and this sudden change could lead to some light spotting.
The bleeding is usually so light that it can be missed unless the woman is aware of it. It could be a few small brown or pink blood spots, or it could be a single streak that appears when wiping. It can also be confused with implantation bleeding, which usually occurs about a week after ovulation, when the fertilized egg implants itself in the uterine lining.
A good way to make sure the spotting is due to ovulation rather than menstruation or implantation is to watch for other signs. When the ovulation spot occurs, the woman should notice that her basal body temperature rises over the next few days. She should also see egg white cervical mucus, and her cervix should feel higher and softer than usual. Many women experience cramping during ovulation, called mittelschmerz, which is also thought to be caused by the ovum breaking through the follicle. When ovulation detection is combined with any of these signs, it is probably the best time to have intercourse if conception is the goal.