What exactly is ovulation?

Ovulation is when one of your ovaries releases an egg, like a tiny little egg. It's the central part of your menstrual cycle because it's the moment your body prepares to, I don't know, if there's a sperm nearby, for the egg and it to join and start a baby. Which doesn't happen, unless you're way down the line, veeery old, okay? But the body always prepares.

How does it work?

Basically, your ovaries have a bunch of eggs from the moment you're born. Then, every month (or almost every month, because at the beginning the cycle is a bit messy), one of these eggs becomes the chosen one and matures inside the ovary. When it's all ready, the ovary releases it. It travels through a little tube called the Fallopian tube, and stays there waiting. If it's not "found" by a sperm, like within 12 to 24 hours, it breaks down and is absorbed by the body. And that's what ends up leading to menstruation, about two weeks later!

And why do we talk about it?

It's important to know about ovulation because it affects a lot of things you feel! Like, some girls feel a mild pain on one side of their belly, or the discharge might change a bit, becoming more elastic, you know? And your hormones are going wild during this phase, so mood and energy can also fluctuate. It's all part of your body working and preparing for a new cycle.