Do you ovulate twice in a month? Can you get ovulation discharge twice a month? Why am I ovulating twice? 

These questions are frequently asked by couples trying to conceive and will hopefully be answered in this article.

What is an LH surge, and how often does it happen?

A surge in Luteinising Hormone (LH) is often an indicator of ovulation during your cycle. For many women, testing for their LH peak with an ovulation test reveals a single peak in a 24-hour window. 

That said, it is not uncommon to see more than one peak in an LH test lasting over a couple of days. If you see this result, does it mean you ovulate twice?

Several recent studies indicate three types of gradual onset of the LH surge, which may last anywhere from 2-6 days. Such surges can lead to positive ovulation tests for more than one day during your cycle. If that happens, you are not alone. Studies have found that up to 57% of women experience multiple LH surges. This is where the Fertility2family ovulation predictor kits (OPK) can come to your rescue to detect if you are having multi LH surges and potentially ovulating twice in the same cycle.

It is possible to release two eggs, one from each ovary, in the same 24 hours. This is how fraternal twins are conceived. However, this is still considered only one ovulation process. It is a myth that you can ovulate twice on two different days in the same cycle.

Ovulate Twice & Surges & Peaks:

Single peak

The most common LH surge consists of a single peak. LH levels increase gradually and reach their peak value, then decline to baseline gradually. Ovulation in such a case occurs just after the LH reaches the maximum value. Such a single peak or spike is observed in around 42% of women.

Plateau

If you observe that your LH levels are high for several days in a row, such a pattern is called a plateau. It is advised to keep testing until you see a decline in the LH levels. You will be most fertile the day the LH levels drop to their baseline. In other words, ovulation occurs after the last spike in LH levels.

Biphasic peaks (Multiple peaks)

Several ups and downs of LH during your cycle can confuse you. It is important in such a situation to make sure that you recognise the correct peak; otherwise, you stand a chance of missing your fertility period. 

Fertility2Family can help you find this correct peak so that you can be sure about the time of ovulation during your cycle. Testing several times after the last predicted peak is highly recommended to ensure you have no more peaks in a row.

The bigger question here is, why does it happen in the first place? Well, there are many reasons for it happening, most related to your lifestyle. A lot of stress, a prolonged illness, or even hormonal changes and fluctuations can lead to multiple peaks in LH levels. A consequence of two LH surges can be multiple follicular stimulations and ovulating twice in the same cycle, and this is why you are seeing a positive ovulation test twice in one month.

What are Multiple Follicular Stimulations?

For most women, ovulation only occurs once in their cycle. The eggs are produced in the ovaries in structures called follicles. These follicles must grow and mature before releasing the egg from the ovary through ovulation. At any given time, 15-20 such follicles are starting to grow simultaneously, but most will die off, leaving just the most dominant follicle. Just before the ovulation occurs, this follicle swells, ruptures and releases the egg from the ovary. Multiple LH surges might indicate that more than one such follicle is being developed in the ovary.

During such a time, your ovary releases the follicle intact without rupturing it. As the egg is never released, there is no chance of fertilisation and conception. Once your body realises this, it releases a second egg later in the same cycle. This is the reason you see multiple peaks of LH in your cycle.

This means that conception might not happen after the first LH surge, and if you just rely on one measurement, you might miss the next time when the ovulation happens. Hence, it is important to keep track of your LH surges even after the first peak, especially if you have seen that you tend to produce biphasic LH peaks during your cycle.

Is it possible to be fertile for more than a few days per cycle?

A group of researchers at the University of Saskatchewan experimented with answering this very question. They observed 63 women with regular periods and found two waves of LH surges during their cycles. According to the study’s lead scientist, Dr Roger Pierson, as many as 40% of women in the study could produce more than one egg during their cycle. Hence, assuming you will be fertile longer during your cycle than the previously assumed few days is safe.

Ultrasound techniques might allow the doctor to observe the follicle. However, when it comes to eggs, we still don’t have the technology to visualise the released egg as it is microscopic. You can keep track of your ovulation by measuring the LH surge using a quality ovulation kit. An ovulation test can help you determine if you have a biphasic LH surge or multiple peaks. It is even more important to keep track of your LH surges if you expect multiple LH peaks within a cycle. The measurement will allow you to keep close tabs on your ovulation, ensuring you do not miss out on your fertility window.

Hyperovulation and twins

If two different sperms fertilise two eggs at the same time, there is a dual pregnancy, and we get fraternal twins. This happens due to hyper-ovulation, in which your ovary releases two eggs during the same cycle. If these eggs happen to get fertilised, you get twins.

Factors causing hyperovulation

• One of the most common causes of hyperovulation is jumpstarting your ovulation cycle. It can happen if you were on birth control pills for a long time and suddenly stopped taking them. This can stimulate your body to produce more than one egg in a given cycle through the ‘Twinning Effect.’
• There is a genetic component to hyperovulation as well. The trait of hyperovulation runs on the mother’s side of the family, and hence we can see women with multiple sets of twins in their extended families.
• A hormonal disorder called Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) can also cause hyperovulation and irregular cycles.
• In-vitro fertilisation (IVF) techniques can also have a similar effect, significantly increasing the chances of multiple pregnancies.

Role of Age in Double Ovulation

Age is a significant factor that can influence the occurrence of double ovulation. As women approach their late 30s and early 40s, their bodies may start to release more than one egg each cycle to increase the chances of conception. This phenomenon is due to the body’s response to decreasing fertility with age. The body compensates by occasionally releasing more than one egg during a cycle, increasing the probability of fertilisation and conception. However, this also raises the likelihood of conceiving twins, especially fraternal twins, when two separate eggs are fertilised by two different sperm. Understanding the impact of age on ovulation can help women better navigate their fertility journey and manage their expectations when trying to conceive.

Medical Conditions in ovulating twice in one month 

Certain medical conditions can influence the likelihood of double ovulation. For instance, women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) may experience irregular ovulation, which can sometimes result in the release of more than one egg. PCOS is a hormonal disorder common among women of reproductive age, and it can lead to prolonged menstrual periods or excess male hormone (androgen) levels. The ovaries may develop numerous small collections of fluid (follicles) and fail to release eggs regularly. If you have a medical condition that could impact ovulation, discussing this with your healthcare provider is crucial. Understanding how these conditions affect your ovulation can help you manage your fertility journey better.

Use of Fertility Treatments and ovulation twice in a month 

Fertility treatments, such as in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) or medications that stimulate ovulation, can increase the chances of double ovulation. These treatments often aim to stimulate the ovaries to produce more than one egg to increase the chances of successful conception. However, this also increases the likelihood of multiple pregnancies, which come with their own set of risks and considerations. If you’re considering fertility treatments, discussing the potential risks and benefits with your healthcare provider is important. They can provide the necessary information and guidance to make an informed decision.

Ovulation discharge twice in a month?

Fertile cervical mucus discharge, also known as Egg White Cervical Mucus (EWCM), happens for up to five days before ovulation occurs, most commonly between 2-3 days.

Some women can have EWCM just before the beginning of their period. Having ovulation discharge at this time in your cycle is not a sign of ovulation and will not increase your chances of conception.

Fertility2Family is here to guide you

Evan kurzyp

Evan Kurzyp

Evan is the founder of Fertility2Family and is passionate about fertility education & providing affordable products to help people in their fertility journey. Evan is a qualified Registered Nurse and has expertise in guiding & managing patients through their fertility journeys.