What does Reflex Ovulation mean?

Cervical Mucus Quality

Cervical Mucus Quality - or how thick or thin the cervical mucus is - is a sign that the body is preparing for ovulation. Right after a period, the cervix will be closed and the cervical mucus will be thick, sticky, and white. As the body gets close to ovulation, the cervical mucus will get thinner, clearer and more slippery, and there will be more of it. In the fertile window, cervical mucus will be like raw egg whites. When cervical mucus is slippery, clear and stretchy it is called "Spinnbarkeit" and this is a sign that ovulation will happen within the next 12-24 hours. After ovulation, the cervical mucus will become thick, sticky and white again.

Basal Body Temperature

Women who are hoping to conceive try to avoid having intercourse the week leading up to ovulation, and instead to have intercourse as much as possible at the most fertile time. Some women track the basal body temperature and use this as a sign that ovulation is about to happen. The basal body temperature usually drops in the day preceding ovulation. This is called a "ferning" pattern, and it is another way to track ovulation because it is a sign of the body's preparation for ovulation.

Reflex Ovulation

It is also known that certain behaviors (such as intercourse, masturbation, or deep kissing) can also result in immediate ovulation, if the woman is at the right stage in her cycle; this concept is called reflex ovulation. Some fertility awareness practitioners advocate the use of reflex ovulation as an alternative to ovulation induction drugs, and other medical interventions, in women with low fertility.

For example, one fertility awareness specialist Dr. Thomas Hilgers said, "With women who are not having menstrual periods, it's helpful to suggest they get in the sack [and have sex] every so often with the goal of having several ejaculation experiences a week. For women who are having periods, the fertile window is the time to be in the sack as often as possible."