How Late Ovulation Can Impact Your Pregnancy (TTC Guide)

We know that everything comes in its time, but late ovulation can be frustrating – especially if you are actively trying to conceive (TTC). In this post, we’ll take a look at the primary causes of late ovulation and what they can mean for your TTC journey. We’ll also cover some of the treatment options available to treat late ovulation.

Can You Ovulate Late and Still Get Pregnant?

Yes. It is absolutely possible to get pregnant even if you ovulate late. Ovulation is considered late if it occurs anytime after day 21 of your menstrual cycle. 

However, it’s important to be aware that late ovulation can complicate the pregnancy process. This is because late ovulation often has a negative impact on egg quality, and it can also interfere with the implantation process. Late ovulation is also difficult to track, which can make it difficult to time intercourse during the fertile window. 

Understanding Late Ovulation

What Is Late Ovulation?

In an average 28-day cycle, ovulation typically occurs on cycle day 14. However, not all cycles follow this textbook pattern. It’s considered normal to ovulate anytime between days 8 to 21. If ovulation occurs after cycle day 21, it’s considered late. 

Why Does the Timing of Ovulation Matter? 

Before we dive into why the timing of ovulation matters, let’s first recap what happens during the menstrual cycle.

• The menstrual cycle starts on the first day of menstruation, with the first phase of the cycle being the follicular phase. This is the time when follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) stimulates the development of follicles holding eggs in the ovaries until a dominant follicle stands out. 

• Next is ovulation, usually occurring within a window of 10-12 hours after a peak in luteinizing hormone (LH). During ovulation, the dominant follicle breaks and releases an egg, which exits the ovary and travels through the fallopian tube to the uterus.
• After ovulation is the luteal phase. During this phase, the follicle closes off and turns into the corpus luteum. This mass of cells grows and produces progesterone, the hormone that prepares the uterine lining for pregnancy, while the egg is on its way to meet the sperm. 

According to research, the average follicular phase length is 17 days and the average luteal phase length is 12 days. Although timings can vary among cycles, the chances of conception are highest when each phase has enough time to complete the biological processes necessary for pregnancy. For example, if late ovulation causes the follicular phase to be too long, the uterine lining may not be prepared enough to support implantation.

What Causes Late Ovulation?

In most cases, late ovulation is typically caused by an underlying hormone imbalance – which may be temporary or long-term, depending on the cause. Here is a list of some of the most common causes of hormone imbalance that can interfere with ovulation and what you can do about them. 

Stress

Chronically high stress levels can disrupt ovulation and lead to irregular periods. This is because when the body is stressed, it releases cortisol. If cortisol levels are elevated, this can cause LH and FSH levels to become out of balance. 

If you frequently feel stressed, proactively managing your stress levels may help to balance your hormones. Common strategies for reducing stress include exercising regularly, journaling, meditating, speaking with a counselor or support group, and setting healthy boundaries at home and work.

To learn more about navigating stress and fertility, check out our article Stress and Fertility: How It’s Connected and How to Manage It. 

Thyroid Disorders

The thyroid is closely connected with the pituitary gland, which releases fertility hormones like luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). Because the pituitary gland is responsible for these hormones, which are vital to ovulation, having either an underactive (hypothyroidism) or overactive (hyperthyroidism) thyroid can affect LH and FSH levels. In turn, this may cause late ovulation. 

Common symptoms of a thyroid disorder include fatigue, unexplained weight fluctuations, irregular heartbeat, irritability, mood swings, difficulty sleeping, and muscle aches. 

Thyroid disorders must be treated by a doctor. If you are experiencing symptoms of thyroid disorder, make an appointment with your doctor. They can provide you with the very best advice based on your symptoms, medical history, and fertility goals. 

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)

PCOS is a condition caused by an imbalance of reproductive hormones. Women with PCOS produce too much testosterone, which can hinder normal ovulation. With PCOS, the egg may not develop as it should. Or, it may not be released during ovulation – resulting in an anovulatory cycle.

PCOS affects 1 out of every 10 women in the United States. One of the primary symptoms of PCOS is irregular menstrual cycles, which can make it difficult to conceive. 

The good news is that it is still possible to get pregnant with PCOS. The most common strategies for planning a pregnancy with PCOS include making healthy lifestyle changes and tracking ovulation with a hormone monitor like Mira. In some cases, hormone therapy may be necessary. 

Breastfeeding

During breastfeeding, the primary hormone responsible for breast milk production is prolactin. Prolactin prevents menstruation. So while you’re nursing, your periods may stop or become light and irregular. In some cases, it may even prevent or delay ovulation.

Keeping a close eye on your menstrual cycle is the best way to know if and when you’re ovulating while breastfeeding. This can be done by tracking changes in basal body temperature (BBT), cervical mucus, and hormones. 

Medications

Certain medications, such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and antidepressants, can delay ovulation. And if you’ve recently stopped taking hormonal birth control, it can take up to three months for ovulation to resume. 

If you are actively TTC, it’s a good idea to consult with your healthcare provider about the medications you’re taking and how they may interfere with your fertility goals. Your doctor will be able to advise on how to treat any existing medical conditions without disrupting ovulation. 

What Can You Do to Treat Late Ovulation?

If you are TTC and struggling with late ovulation, it’s worth seeking treatment to improve your chances of getting pregnant. 

A great place to start is by making an appointment with your healthcare provider. They can determine whether or not you have an underlying condition, such as PCOS or a thyroid disorder, which requires specialized treatment. 

Your doctor may also recommend a few immediate lifestyle changes to help regulate your cycle – such as: 

• Healthy Diet – Maintaining a pre-pregnancy diet packed with vegetables, fruits, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats can help regulate hormones and keep weight levels in check.   
• Stress Management – Keeping stress levels low helps balance hormones, improves sleep quality, and boosts libido. 
• Exercise – Moderate exercise, such as walking, hiking, swimming, and dancing not only contributes to healthy weight management, but it can also help reduce stress. 
• Avoiding Toxic Substances – Refraining from smoking and/or consuming alcohol helps regulate hormones and sets the body up for a healthy pregnancy. 

If you are still struggling to become pregnant despite making lifestyle changes, your doctor may prescribe certain medications. Common medications for late ovulation include clomiphene, letrozole, and metformin. Certain hormone therapies can also help stimulate ovulation and support early pregnancy. Therapies may include a combination of hCG, FSH, LH, and/or progesterone supplements. 

Late Ovulation and Pregnancy

How Does Late Ovulation Affect Fertility?

Late ovulation can impact fertility in three key ways:

• Increases the risk of releasing a low-quality egg
• Interferes with implantation
• Makes it more difficult to track the fertile window due to cycle irregularities

Together, these factors can make it difficult to plan a pregnancy. To improve fertility in cases of late ovulation, doctors will want to address the underlying cause. Common treatments may involve a combination of lifestyle changes, fertility medication, hormone therapy, and in rare cases surgery. 

How Does Late Ovulation Affect Your Cycle?

If late ovulation is a regular occurrence for you, you’ve probably already noticed that your cycle can be very difficult to predict. For example, you may find that your period often catches you off guard. Or, you may struggle to predict ovulation when TTC. 

Maintaining a balanced lifestyle can help to improve cycle regularity. This includes eating a nutrient-rich diet, exercising regularly, minimizing stress, and getting plenty of sleep each night. If you are still struggling to balance your cycle despite making positive lifestyle changes, make an appointment with your doctor. They can assess your symptoms, explore potential underlying causes, and prescribe medication if needed. 

How Does Late Ovulation Affect Conception?

Late ovulation can be difficult to predict, which in turn makes the TTC process a challenge. Traditional ovulation predictor kits (OPKs) are not suitable for use with irregular cycles. Other cycle tracking methods (such as the calendar method and basal body temperature (BBT) method) will also likely not be very helpful for pinpointing ovulation with an irregular cycle. 

Instead, digital hormone monitoring systems (like the Mira Monitor) can provide a more personalized analysis to help you get pregnant. With Mira, you can see your actual hormone levels and curves. You can monitor peaks, declines, and menstruation through the Mira App, which allows you to see the length of your follicular and luteal phases. Through regular hormone tracking, you can identify your 6-day fertile window, predict ovulation, and confirm when ovulation occurred – even if your cycle is irregular. 

To learn more about how Mira can help you plan a pregnancy with late ovulation, visit How Mira Works. 

How Does Late Ovulation Affect Pregnancy?

Late ovulation increases the risk of a low-quality egg being released. In turn, this increases the risk of miscarriage. 

If you have been tracking your cycle and notice ovulation is typically late (after cycle day 21), it’s worth speaking with your healthcare provider. They can look at your charts and explore potential underlying causes that may be interfering with your ability to get pregnant. 

Frequently Asked Questions