When does ovulation usually occur in a menstrual cycle?

In a typical menstrual cycle, ovulation usually occurs at about the midpoint of the cycle.1

While the average menstrual cycle lasts 28 days, cycle lengths can vary among individuals. In women with regular cycles, the timing of ovulation is generally consistent, though it can still fluctuate unexpectedly. For those with irregular cycles, the date of ovulation is often uncertain, as these longer cycles are typically caused by a prolongation of the proliferative phase rather than the secretory phase.1

Because ovulation is a key factor in fertility, various methods are used to track it, such as monitoring basal body temperature—which rises by about 0.5 °C (1 °F) around mid-cycle due to progesterone production—or using test kits to detect the preovulatory surge of luteinizing hormone.2