RIGHT TO OVULATE

One of the most important rights of a woman is the right to ovulate, but let me explain more about it.

First of all, what is ovulation?

On a physical level, ovulation is the process in the menstrual cycle when a mature egg is released from one of the ovaries. This typically occurs around the middle of the menstrual cycle, although the timing can vary. Once released, the egg travels into the fallopian tube, where it may be fertilised by sperm. If fertilization doesn't occur, the egg breaks down and is absorbed by the body, and the lining of the uterus is shed, resulting in menstruation.

On a psychological level, it represents what is called our Inner Summer, calling forth the mother archetype. This means that our energy is at its peak, thanks to high estrogen levels. We feel good, motivated, and sexy. We experience nurturing energy for ourselves and others, which is why this phase is often associated with the mother archetype. The other reason is that it is the phase of our menstrual cycle when our body is ready to conceive, so it is our fertile window.

How to recognize ovulation?

Ovulation is crucial for conception because it’s the time when a woman is most fertile. Signs of ovulation can include a slight increase in body temperature, changes in cervical mucus (it becomes clearer and stretchier), and sometimes mild pelvic pain or cramping. During this time, we feel motivated, with stronger and more nurturing energy. We also feel the desire to be seen by the world.

Why is ovulation important?

We tend to think about fertility only when we are ready to get pregnant, but there is more to it than that. Ovulation is key to our health, and also our mental well-being.

Fertility and motherhood play a significant role, but our culture and society often direct us solely to conceive.These aspects are also linked to creating or conceiving a project, for example—not necessarily a physical child. A project can be like a child to us.

We deny this right when we are not ready to conceive a child and/or when we have menstrual issues such as PCOS, Endometriosis, or other hormonal imbalances.

If we go to doctors, we are often prescribed the pill, which completely denies the right to ovulate! There may be many reasons to use the pill, and I am not here to judge, but I can share my personal experience.

I have PCOS, and I was diagnosed around the age of 28. Still, some doctors don’t believe I have PCOS. Every time I saw a gynecologist, they recommended taking the pill to help with irregular cycles and cramps. I tried it twice when I was younger, but I listened to my body and recognized that it wasn’t right for me because I could feel a negative reaction to the artificial hormones. The most significant reaction was that I became depressed, but doctors didn’t believe I had such a strong reaction. However, when I shared my experience with other women with PCOS, we realized we had the exact same experience.

So why do we deny our right to ovulate?

I’ve been thinking a lot about this lately, as I’ve also struggled with infertility, and it’s become a big topic for me—especially now in my 40s, as I approach the last phase of my menstrual cycle before menopause.

The answers I’ve come up with these days are a mix of:

·       Being scared to welcome the energy of fertility and motherhood, and to bring a physical child or a project into this world.

·       Not feeling worthy of motherhood, or not deserving it. Feeling shame and guilt… this may stem from ancestral trauma or our childhood in most cases.

·       Being too busy to focus on things and denying our feminine energy.

And what is your experience with ovulation?