Women with regular menses can easily predict their approximate ovulation period every month. For example, a lady with a regular 28-day menstrual cycle will most probably ovulate on day 14. Thus, sexual intercourse a few days before and after this day would offer the highest chances of conception. This period is hence termed the fertile period. Knowledge of the fertile period offers a woman control over conception at least to some extent. In fact, avoiding sexual intercourse during the fertile period is a form of natural contraception, although not a foolproof one. However, in cases of subfertility, this can be effectively used as a reproductive tool to increase the possibility of fertilization of the egg by the sperm.

The ovulation can also be recognized by some women by certain bodily changes such as breast soreness, thickening of the vaginal discharge, and a slight increase in the basal body temperature (BBT). Rarely, some women may even experience mild spotting during ovulation caused by the rupture of the ovarian follicle to release the egg. In such cases, the cervical mucus appears pink, being mixed with a few drops of blood.