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Ovulasi: Maksud, Tanda & Cara Kira Masa Subur

Ovulasi (ovulation) is when an ovary releases an egg, usually about 14 days before your next period. You are most likely to get pregnant in the 5 days before ovulation and on the day itself, but the exact day varies from cycle to cycle, even if your periods are regular. This guide explains the maksud ovulasi, how to estimate your masa subur (fertile days) with a simple table, the tanda ovulasi including egg-white discharge, whether ovulation test kits work, and when to see a doctor if pregnancy is taking a while.

Apa itu ovulasi (maksud ovulasi)?

According to the NHS, ovulation is the release of an egg from the ovaries. A woman is born with all her eggs. Once periods start, usually 1 egg develops and is released in each menstrual cycle. Occasionally more than 1 egg is released, which can lead to twins.

The cycle is controlled by hormones. Rising oestrogen causes an ovary to develop and release an egg, and the womb lining starts to thicken. Cleveland Clinic explains that a sudden surge in luteinising hormone (LH) triggers the release. After ovulation, progesterone helps the womb prepare for a possible pregnancy. If the egg is not fertilised, hormone levels fall and the womb lining comes away as a period.

You cannot get pregnant if ovulation does not happen. This is how some hormonal contraceptives work: the combined pill, the patch and the injection stop ovulation.

Ovulation in Malaysia today. Many couples are having fewer children: the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) reported in October 2026 that the total fertility rate fell to 1.5 children per woman in 2025, from 1.6 in 2024. Understanding your cycle is a useful first step if you are planning a pregnancy.

Bila ovulasi berlaku?

The NHS explains the timing:

  • day 1 of your cycle is the first day of your period;
  • regular cycles from 21 to 35 days are normal, and the average is around 28 days;
  • in most women, ovulation happens around 10 to 16 days before the next period;
  • women with a regular 28-day cycle are likely to be fertile around day 14, but this does not apply to longer or shorter cycles.

Why the fertile window matters. In a well-known US study of 221 healthy women planning a pregnancy, conception happened only when sex took place during a 6-day window ending on the day of ovulation. The chance of conception was about 10% for sex 5 days before ovulation, rising to about 33% on the day of ovulation. According to the NHS, sperm can survive for up to 7 days after sex, while Cleveland Clinic says the egg survives only about 12 to 24 hours.

But the timing is less predictable than many apps suggest. A follow-up analysis of 696 cycles in the same study found that women had at least a 10% chance of being in their fertile window on every day from day 6 to day 21, and the fertile window fell entirely between days 10 and 17 in only about 30% of women. The researchers advise that the timing can be highly unpredictable, even when cycles are usually regular.

Cara kira masa subur (ovulation calculator table)

This table gives a rough estimate based on the NHS guide that ovulation is usually about 14 days (10 to 16 days) before your next period, and on the 6-day fertile window. It is not a substitute for tracking your own cycle, and it does not work if your periods are irregular.

Usual cycle length Likely ovulation day Possible range (10 to 16 days before next period) Estimated most fertile days
21 days Day 7 Days 5 to 11 Days 2 to 7
24 days Day 10 Days 8 to 14 Days 5 to 10
26 days Day 12 Days 10 to 16 Days 7 to 12
28 days Day 14 Days 12 to 18 Days 9 to 14
30 days Day 16 Days 14 to 20 Days 11 to 16
32 days Day 18 Days 16 to 22 Days 13 to 18
35 days Day 21 Days 19 to 25 Days 16 to 21

How to use it: count day 1 as the first day of your period, note your cycle length for a few months, and find the row closest to your usual cycle. Cleveland Clinic describes another calendar method: over 6 months, subtract 18 from your shortest cycle and 11 from your longest. For example, with cycles of 27 and 32 days, your fertile days would be about day 9 to day 21.

If your cycles vary a lot from month to month, see our guide to period lambat (late or irregular periods).

Tanda ovulasi: signs and symptoms

Not everyone notices signs of ovulation. According to Cleveland Clinic, the most common include:

  • clear, slippery cervical mucus (see ovulation discharge);
  • tender breasts and bloating;
  • pelvic or lower abdominal pain, in the middle or on one side, sometimes called ovulation pain or mittelschmerz;
  • light bleeding or spotting;
  • a higher sex drive;
  • a heightened sense of smell, taste or sight, and mood or appetite changes.

Cleveland Clinic also says basal body temperature rises slightly around ovulation.

Ovulation pain. According to the NHS, ovulation pain is common and usually nothing to worry about. It often feels like a dull pain or sharp sudden twinges on 1 side of the tummy, lasts from a few minutes to 1 or 2 days, and may switch sides each cycle. A warm bath or paracetamol or ibuprofen may be all you need. Similar pain can be caused by endometriosis, a cyst ovari, infections such as chlamydia, or an ectopic pregnancy, so the NHS advises getting urgent medical advice if the pain is severe and painkillers have not helped, it keeps coming back, or you think you may be pregnant. For the signs of an ectopic pregnancy, see our guide to mengandung luar rahim.

Ovulation discharge: what is normal?

According to the NHS, vaginal secretions change during the menstrual cycle. Around the time of ovulation, they become thinner and stretchy, a bit like raw egg white. Cleveland Clinic adds that in the days just before ovulation, the mucus turns clear and slippery, which makes it easier for sperm to swim up to the egg.

The NHS says discharge is often clearer and wetter, and more noticeable, when you ovulate. If your discharge changes in smell, colour or texture, it might be a sign of an infection; see our guide to keputihan for what is normal and what is not.

Ways to track ovulation, including test kits

Method How it works Things to know
Cycle tracking Record the first day of each period on paper or in an app for several months Gives an estimate only; the NHS says none of the fertility apps and devices are officially recommended by the NHS
Cervical mucus Check your discharge each day for the clear, stretchy, egg-white type Free; takes practice to recognise the pattern
Ovulation test kit (urine LH test) Detects the rise in LH in your urine; Cleveland Clinic says a positive result usually means ovulation within about 36 hours Follow the kit instructions on when to start testing; costs add up over several months
Basal body temperature Take your temperature every morning before getting out of bed, eating or drinking, and look for a slight rise Cleveland Clinic advises recording it for several months to see on which day of your cycle the rise usually happens

Do ovulation kits improve the chance of pregnancy? A 2023 Cochrane review of 7 trials with 2,464 women or couples found that timing sex with urine ovulation tests probably increases the chance of a live birth compared with not predicting ovulation, in women under 40 who had been trying for less than 12 months. The review estimates that if the chance of a live birth without ovulation tests is 16%, it would be between 16% and 28% with them. The review was uncertain whether fertility awareness methods based on temperature, mucus or calendars made a difference, and found too little evidence on stress or time to pregnancy.

A simpler option. NICE says that having vaginal sex every 2 to 3 days gives the best chance of pregnancy, so you do not have to pinpoint ovulation exactly. The Cochrane review also notes that predicting ovulation can bring stress, take time and cost money.

Not for contraception. Tracking ovulation to avoid pregnancy needs to be taught by a trained practitioner. The NHS says fertility awareness methods are 91% to 99% effective when used correctly every time, but only 76% effective otherwise, and they may not suit you if your periods are irregular.

Chances of getting pregnant

According to NICE, over 80% of couples in the general population will conceive within 1 year if the woman is under 40 and they have regular vaginal sex without contraception. Of those who do not conceive in the first year, about half will in the second year. The chance falls gradually with age:

Woman's age Pregnant within 1 year Pregnant within 2 years
19 to 26 92% 98%
27 to 29 87% 95%
30 to 34 86% 94%
35 to 39 82% 90%

Source: NICE fertility guideline, based on Dunson and colleagues (2004), assuming sex twice a week. The NHS says around 1 in 7 couples may have difficulty conceiving.

When ovulation does not happen

The NHS lists lack of regular ovulation among the common causes of infertility. Possible causes of irregular ovulation include:

  • PCOS (now also called PMOS): the NHS lists irregular periods or long gaps between periods among its symptoms, and says it can cause problems getting pregnant, usually because the ovaries do not release an egg each month; see our guide to PCOS symptoms;
  • weight: being overweight or severely underweight can affect ovulation;
  • severe stress, which the NHS says may affect ovulation in severe cases;
  • breastfeeding, which delays ovulation in the first months after birth.

The NHS notes that medical treatment is available for lack of regular ovulation, so talk to a doctor rather than waiting if your periods are irregular and you want to conceive.

Preparing for pregnancy

The NHS recommends these steps before and while trying for a baby:

  • take 400 micrograms of folic acid every day, ideally from 3 months before you try, and continue for the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. A higher 5mg dose is prescribed if you have diabetes or a family history of neural tube defects, among other reasons (see our guide to folic acid for pregnancy);
  • stop smoking and avoid alcohol;
  • eat a healthy diet and try to keep to a healthy weight;
  • check that your vaccinations, including rubella, and your cervical screening (pap smear) are up to date;
  • talk to a doctor before stopping any prescribed medicine, and if you have a long-term condition such as diabetes or epilepsy.

Once your period is late, see our guide to tanda-tanda mengandung for early signs and when to take a pregnancy test.

When to see a doctor

According to the NHS and NICE, see a doctor if:

  • you have not conceived after 1 year of regular sex without contraception;
  • you are 36 or older: NICE advises earlier referral to a specialist;
  • you have irregular periods, no periods, or a known condition that can affect fertility, such as endometriosis;
  • you or your partner have a long-term health condition or take regular medicine.

Fertility problems can affect either partner, so NICE recommends that both partners are assessed.

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

Apa maksud ovulasi (what is ovulation)?

Ovulasi (ovulation) is the release of an egg from one of the ovaries. According to the NHS, it happens once in each menstrual cycle, usually around 10 to 16 days before your next period. You can only get pregnant if ovulation happens, and you are most likely to conceive in the days just before and on the day of ovulation.

Bila ovulasi berlaku (when do I ovulate)?

In a regular 28-day cycle, ovulation is likely to happen around day 14, counting the first day of your period as day 1. In longer or shorter cycles it happens later or earlier, because ovulation is usually about 14 days before the next period. A study of 221 women found that timing varies a lot, even in women with regular cycles.

Apa tanda ovulasi (what are the signs of ovulation)?

Not everyone notices signs. The most useful is a change in vaginal discharge: around ovulation it becomes thinner, clear, slippery and stretchy, like raw egg white. Cleveland Clinic lists other possible signs, including tender breasts, bloating, mild one-sided pelvic pain, light spotting and a higher sex drive. Body temperature also rises slightly around ovulation.

What does ovulation discharge look like?

According to the NHS, vaginal secretions change during the menstrual cycle, and around the time of ovulation they become thinner and stretchy, a bit like raw egg white. If your discharge changes in smell, colour or texture, the NHS says it might be a sign of an infection, so see a doctor.

Do ovulation test kits work?

Urine ovulation tests detect a rise in luteinising hormone (LH), which usually means ovulation will happen within about 36 hours. A 2023 Cochrane review found that timing sex with urine ovulation tests probably increases the chance of pregnancy and live birth for women under 40 who have been trying for less than a year. They are optional: having sex every 2 to 3 days also gives a good chance of pregnancy.

Boleh mengandung selepas period (can I get pregnant right after my period)?

It is possible, although not very likely, according to the NHS. Sperm can survive for up to 7 days after sex, so if you have a short cycle or ovulate early, sex soon after your period can lead to pregnancy. This is also why counting days alone is not a reliable way to avoid pregnancy.

How long does it take to get pregnant, and when should I see a doctor?

According to NICE, over 80% of couples where the woman is under 40 will conceive within 1 year of regular sex without contraception, and about half of the rest will conceive in the second year. See a doctor if you have not conceived after 1 year of trying, or sooner if you are 36 or older, have irregular or no periods, or know of a possible fertility problem.

Disclaimer

This article is for general information only and is not a substitute for advice, diagnosis or treatment from a doctor. Health supplements are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

References

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