Why Am I Ovulating but Not Getting Pregnant?
If you’re ovulating regularly, tracking your cycle, and doing “all the right things,” it can feel deeply confusing - and honestly unfair - when pregnancy still doesn’t happen.
Ovulation is often positioned as the marker of fertility. But in reality, ovulation is only one signal in a much bigger physiological picture. You can be ovulating and still not be in an optimal state for conception. Many of my clients ovulate regularly, track their cycle perfectly, and still struggle to conceive. If this is you, it doesn’t mean your body is “failing”. It means something downstream of ovulation needs attention.
At The Fertility Lab, we look at fertility through a physiology-first lens - because pregnancy isn’t driven by a single hormone or event. It’s the result of multiple systems working together and the body feeling safe enough, fuelled enough, and supported enough to prioritise reproduction.
Ovulation tells us that communication between the brain and ovaries is functioning well enough to release an egg.
What it doesn’t tell us is whether:
The egg is high quality
Hormonal support after ovulation is strong
The uterine environment is receptive
Inflammation or stress is blocking implantation
Fertility depends just as much on what happens after ovulation as the ovulation itself.
Is ovulation enough to get pregnant?
The short answer is no. Ovulation simply confirms that an egg has been released. But what it doesn’t tell us is:
Whether the egg is high quality
Whether progesterone is sufficient in the luteal phase
Whether the uterine lining is receptive to an embryo
Whether inflammation or immune activation is present
Whether the body feels safe enough to sustain pregnancy
Fertility is not a single event. It’s a physiological state.
Can you ovulate and still have fertility problems?
Yes, and this is incredibly common. Some of my clients come to me after 6 months of trying to conceive and ovulation is usually happening, however, we then do blood work and find issues such as:
Unstable blood sugar
Cortisol is elevated throughout the day
Inflammation is present (and we need to pin point where this is coming from)
Thyroid signalling is suboptimal
Nutrient status is inadequate
The luteal phase is under-supported (typical of deficient progesterone)
In these cases, the body may release an egg, but it’s not able to commit to implantation.
And we have to remember that reproduction is optional to our physical states and the body will always prioritise survival first.
What prevents implantation after ovulation?
Implantation requires a very specific internal environment. The most common blocks I see clinically are:
Inadequate progesterone support
Progesterone stabilises the uterine lining, modulates immune response, and signals “safety” to early pregnancy.
Low progesterone can occur even when ovulation happens — particularly under stress, inflammation, or energy deficiency.
Chronic inflammation
Inflammation alters uterine receptivity, disrupts embryo signalling, and increases immune rejection risk.
This is especially relevant in:
Endometriosis
Gut inflammation
Autoimmune patterns
High oxidative stress
Blood sugar and energy instability
If the body perceives under-fuelling or metabolic stress, it will prioritise survival — not reproduction.
This is one of the most overlooked causes of “unexplained” infertility.
Does stress affect fertility even if I’m ovulating?
Yes, but not in the way it’s often framed. This isn’t just about mindset or trying to relax more. You may be the most chilled person, but if you’re not eating enough food, managing stressors in your environment (i.e. from household chemicals, toxins) and sleeping well, this can all create micro-stressors on your body.
All of this stress can build up and starts to have this effect on the body:
Cortisol suppressing progesterone
Stress impairing thyroid conversion
Reduced uterine blood flow (we need this to bring nutrients to ovarian and uterine tissues)
Increased inflammatory signalling
When the nervous system stays in a threat state, implantation becomes biologically risky.
Can low progesterone stop pregnancy?
Absolutely. You can ovulate on time every month and still experience:
Short luteal phases
Spotting before periods
Intense PMS (especially before you period)
Early pregnancy loss (we need progesterone to create a stable endometrial lining in the uterus - think of is a secure scaffolding)
Difficulty implanting
Low luteal support is often driven by:
Chronic stress
Under-eating or over-training
Thyroid dysfunction
Inflammation
Poor nutrient absorption
This is why testing without interpretation can be misleading - progesterone needs context.
Does inflammation affect fertility?
Inflammation is one of the biggest silent fertility blockers. It can:
Damage egg and sperm quality
Disrupt implantation signalling
Increase immune rejection
Reduce IVF success rates
Inflammation doesn’t always show up as a physical pain, but more an an underlying heat. It can manifest as gut issues, skin breakouts/hives, fatigue, and hormonal symptoms. Clearing the environment matters as much as releasing the egg.
How long should you try if you’re ovulating regularly?
General guidance:
Under 35: investigate after 12 months
Over 35: investigate after 6 months
But if you have a clinical diagnosis of any of these:
Endometriosis
PCOS
Thyroid dysfunction
Short luteal phases
Recurrent pregnancy loss
Failed IVF cycles
…waiting isn’t always helpful and it’s important that you seek guidance from your GP or healthcare professional.
Fertility improves fastest when you address systems, not just timing.
The bigger picture
So what’s the bigger picture.
Ovulation doesn’t always equate to fertility.
Fertility is the outcome of:
Energy availability
Hormonal signalling
Immune tolerance
Inflammatory load
Nervous system safety
This is the framework we use at The Fertility Lab - it’s about restoring reproductive physiology in the right order, so the body can do what it’s designed to do.
If you’re ovulating but not getting pregnant, the answer is rarely “try harder”.
It’s usually: listen deeper.
